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How Access Legal plans to unlock the true benefits of technology for law firms Doug Sawers
“We’ve quickly recognised how hard it is for law firms to access the insights and data they so critically need. That's thanks to a multitude of overlapping but disconnected systems. From speaking with our customers, we know they are crying out for a more holistic and joined up approach to tech. This is key to help them unlock the true benefits of technology, which will, in turn, enable their business to operate more profitably.” Better serving the legal sector For Access, there’s been an appetite to better serve the legal sector for some time, as Doug Sawers, Managing Director at Access Legal shares: “Our ambition is to transform the legal sector’s efficiency and experience of technology. This, whilst of course respecting law firms' individual needs. There are some strong legal pointsolutions available. But to benefit these practices, these tools often need to work with many other systems.” Access has served many legal clients for some time with its HR and finance solutions and was able to bring its legal tech solutions and clients together with the creation of the Access Legal division. The division comes from the acquisitions of Riliance, Socrates, Eclipse and DPS Software. The Access Legal division now offers best-in-class case and practice management software; compliance and risk management services; and an online legal learning platform. But that’s not all. In time, Access plans to unlock even greater efficiencies for law firms. Helping to tackle their frustrations with disjointed systems by delivering one single solution. And this one solution doesn't stop at helping fee earners manage cases, compliance and legal learning. It touches on every aspect of a law firm’s operations. From managing people, payroll and employee engagement and recognition, right through to finance and accounting, payments as well as CRM. Doug Sawers stresses the importance of how these systems are served up and accessed by law firms as being critical to unlocking the value. This will all be possible through Access’ single sign on platform Access Workspace for Legal. This will house all the products and modules a firm may ever need across their practice. 28 | SURREYLAWYER
“Access Workspace for Legal will offer firms the ability to not only access and process core legal matters but action HR and compliance tasks, see financial data or new training all in one place.” Access Workspace for Legal will help users to access the information and tasks they need in their specific role quickly and easily. But it will also provide a far superior level of business intelligence to managing partners. By connecting multiple products via Access Workspace, management will have a complete view of your firm on one screen. With legal, HR, finance, learning or compliance software, the possibilities are endless. For example, you can look at new business compared against your financials or productivity and opportunity pipeline. Not all firms will be in a position to take it all. But the attractiveness of Access Workspace is that as a firm grows, Access Workspace grows with it. The firm can turn on the solutions or modules that are relevant for them, at the right time. Access Legal is not only excited about bringing much-needed innovation to the sector. The business is clear on its vision and strategy, as Doug highlights: “For Access Legal we’re clear on our purpose – to help firms to reach their unlimited potential and enable them to free up their time to focus on delivering a better client service, achieve better client outcomes and look after their people.” ■
Doug Sawers
Managing Director Access Legal
