Implementing the right technology can transform a law practice. And there's a good chance it isn't the shiny new tech object everyone is talking about.

"Often times with solo and smaller firms, and larger firms too, there is a feeling that a particular technology is required at your firm - where there's pressure or recommendations from consultants or colleagues that you should absolutely have a particular type of technology," says Jennifer Ramovs, director of practice management at Affinity Consulting. "And often we make decisions based on that pressure."

Instead, attorneys and law firms should assess their particular needs and choose tech tools that meet them, says Ramovs, who presented an ISBA-sponsored webinar titled "Beyond the Buy, Understanding the Why." She offers advice about five types of technologies to improve efficiency and client service: practice management software, document assembly, document management, unified communications, and time, billing, and accounting software. As she notes, legal-specific tech tools often do a better job of meeting lawyers' needs than generic or DIY alternatives.

Learn the details in the April Illinois Bar Journal cover story.