It's no secret that technology is transforming the way we live and work. Whilst a robotic lawyer and artificial intelligence judge might be a while off, I've noticed a huge impact on the legal industry - particularly on legal support staff.

The role of legal support staff

Traditionally, legal secretaries and legal assistants/paralegals were two completely separate roles. The legal secretary took care of the administrative tasks while the paralegal was the sole researcher and case manager. Two very different roles, they'd work as a team to support the fee earners and the practice of law.

How is it changing?

Technology is now blurring the lines between the two. Today, law firms want to reduce expenditure and increase efficiency, and sadly this means cuts in legal support jobs. Back in the day, a secretary would support one or two lawyers, whereas now they could be working with up to as many as five or more.

So, how can you ensure that your job is safe and you remain highly employable in the market? 

The great news is that you have the power to take this technology into your own hands and use it as a weapon to leverage your success.

If you are a legal assistant or legal secretary, here are my top tips to keep you ahead of the game so you can continue to build a meaningful career amid the evolving tech-world:

1. Embrace technology. Become tech-savvy. Law firms are becoming more and more paperless, meaning everything is saved electronically, which brings us onto the next tip;
2. Be adaptable. Be flexible, open to change and keen to take on new challenges. A tireless hunger for learning and development will set you apart when others are resisting change.
3. Communicate effectively. New technology and workflows call for the need to ensure all of the relevant project information is being shared between lawyers and support staff, in a timely manner. Take initiative to make sure there is a seamless communication process in place.
4. Work collaboratively. Be a team player when dealing with everyone from fee earners to fellow support staff to recent grads. The only way a law firm can reap the benefits of technology is if everyone cooperates as a team.

The future: a whole new support structure

Law firms are slowly beginning to reclassify and create new job descriptions to bring them up to date and better reflect support staff's actual responsibilities. We are also starting to see a total organisational restructure for them to be able to deliver the best client services.

A possible new structure is the development of client service teams, which is based on all members working as a collective. The most important roles are:

• The client service coordinator
• The production coordinator
• The production assistant

It goes without saying that law firms also need to invest in their people and provide comprehensive training programs if they want to build a team of digital enthusiasts.

But who needs typewriters and filing cabinets when you can have smartphones, laptops and tablets anyway? Use them to your advantage and you will prosper!

If you are a legal secretary or legal assistant thinking about your next steps, I would love to help you put a career progression plan in place.

Give me call on 0477 112 101 or contact me via email on kbusuttil@morganconsulting.com.au today.

Kayleigh Busuttil is an expert Legal and Business Support Consultant servicing the Sydney and NSW markets.