Inside Job: Yes, It’s Time to Start Checking Your Existing Software Tools Before You Buy New AI

One of the more solid pieces of advice I’ve come up with over the course of my consulting practice has been to advise attorneys that they should never buy a new software until they check whether one of their existing tools does not already include the feature. This has saved countless law firm owners from buying, for an example ripped from the headlines: an esignature product when it was already included in their law practice management (LPM) software or customer relationship management (CRM) software subscription.  Literally, dozens of dollars saved. Of course, now, as more and more primary software products begin to feature AI, this strategy takes on an elevated status.

Now you’ve also got to check whether: (1) the AI feature you need is already included in a product you already have; and, (2) whether you need to pay more to get access to it in said product.  You see, sometimes your product subscription will include all the AI (Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 do this); but, sometimes that’s an add-on if it isn’t a subscription upgrade.

If you don’t have the AI you need as an existing inclusion, or an upgrade – then, it’s okay to buy.  But, also consider whether you will need/want to integrate that product with a primary software of yours – and, whether there is a direct introduction, or if you’ll need a bridge software to get it done, if you can get it done at all.

Q followed by A, as it should be.

. . .

To talk more about your AI software options, contact us today!

The Wyoming State Bar offers free law practice management consulting services through Red Cave Law Firm Consulting.

To request a consult, visit the Wyoming State Bar’s law practice management page, and start running your law firm like a business.

Share on Social Media