Law Firm Technology
Technology Assessment Checklist
Ten questions that show where a law firm’s technology environment may have gaps — in attorney productivity, data security, day-to-day operations, and cyber insurance readiness.
Attorney productivity
✓
Attorneys rarely lose time because of technology problems.
Slow computers, frozen apps, Wi-Fi drops, and printer issues should be uncommon, not part of the daily rhythm. If attorneys have built workarounds around the same friction every week, that friction is eating billable time whether anyone logs it or not.
✓
Outlook works consistently without freezing or slowdowns.
Outlook should open quickly and stay usable through the day. Regular waits to load, mid-morning restarts, or people working around Outlook instead of in it usually point to a configuration or hardware problem that needs diagnosing — not another “Outlook tip.”
✓
Wi-Fi is reliable throughout the office.
Attorneys should get consistent wireless at their desks and in conference rooms. Dropped Teams calls, slow file access, and dead zones in the same corners of the office are signs the network was never designed or maintained for how the firm actually works.
Data security and compliance
✓
Client files are backed up and recoverable.
Backups should run automatically, get tested on a cadence, and survive ransomware — meaning a threat actor who reaches the network cannot encrypt or delete the only good copy. “We have backups” and “we have verified, recoverable backups” are not the same statement.
✓
Multi-factor authentication is enabled across the firm.
MFA is a common cyber insurance requirement and a baseline expectation from many corporate clients. It should cover Microsoft 365, remote access, and other systems reachable from outside the office — including senior attorneys and administrators. Exceptions are where incidents start.
✓
Cyber insurance requirements are documented and met.
Plenty of firms only learn about control gaps when renewal paperwork shows up. Insurers often want specific technical practices — MFA, endpoint protection, backup discipline, locked-down admin access — and missing them can put coverage at risk when a claim arrives.
Day-to-day operations
✓
Remote work works smoothly for attorneys and staff.
People working from home should reach files, applications, and communication tools as reliably as they do in the office — without VPN failures, sluggish file access, or app problems that never happen on-site.
✓
New employees can be onboarded quickly and securely.
A new hire should get the accounts, applications, and access they need in hours, not days. Slow onboarding usually means missing documentation and a loosely managed environment — and it delays the day that person can bill or support matters.
Strategy and planning
✓
Technology projects stay on schedule and on budget.
Migrations, hardware refreshes, and security upgrades that slip deadlines and overrun budgets often mean technology work is managed as a series of surprises. A steadier environment runs projects with clear timelines, predictable costs, and defined outcomes.
✓
You know your technology roadmap for the next three years.
Replacing gear only when it dies, or upgrading software only when the current version stops working, almost always costs more than planned investment. A three-year roadmap makes budgeting honest and keeps decisions strategic instead of crisis-driven.
What your score means
9–10 checked
Strong technology foundation
Most fundamentals are in place. An assessment can still catch remaining gaps, confirm cyber insurance readiness, and shape a roadmap that holds up as the firm grows.
6–8 checked
Room for improvement
Some practices are solid, but the gaps are real — for billable time, client data security, or insurance coverage. A focused assessment helps decide what to fix first and what it takes to close each item.
5 or fewer checked
A technology assessment is worth doing soon
Several gaps may already be costing the firm in ways that are hard to see day to day: lost billable hours, security exposure, compliance risk, or all three. An assessment gives a clear picture of where you stand and a practical plan for closing the distance.