When thinking about digitalization, personal injury lawyers (Dutch: letselschade advocaat) or the personal injury sector are not the first that come to mind. Especially lawyers are part of a highly traditional profession where piles of dozens of files are more the rule than the exception. Even courts still predominantly work with physical mail. In the Netherlands, courts were still using fax machines until recently.
Fortunately, changes have been seen in the legal profession in recent years. But how does a personal injury lawyer in Amsterdam (Dutch: letselschade advocaat Amsterdam) now work when it comes to technological developments? What technologies are used in the personal injury sector?
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Meetings and Hearings via Microsoft Teams
Until a few years ago, meetings between a personal injury lawyer and a traffic accident victim or a workplace accident victim were mostly conducted face-to-face. Court hearings also still predominantly take place in person. However, there is a noticeable trend towards holding digital hearings in the courts.
A notable attempt to digitalize the legal profession took place in the Netherlands. A few years ago, a plan was devised to hold hearings via Microsoft Teams. Even legal documents could be submitted electronically.
After a pilot of about a year, it was concluded that the judiciary was not yet ready for digital litigation. However, partly due to the COVID-19 crisis, this seems to be changing!
Lawyers have fortunately made significant strides in technological advancements. Meetings with clients are increasingly being held not in person but via Microsoft Teams or a similar software program. This saves a lot of time and is also better for the environment as it reduces the need for travel by both the lawyer and the client.
Further Digitalization in the Legal Profession
Digitalization in the legal profession, and particularly in the personal injury sector, continues to advance. Where previously diary management and emails were stored separately and physical files were maintained, things are now different. Various systems have emerged that operate entirely in the cloud and include all necessary functions, from keeping track of schedules and emails to managing written correspondence.
The legal profession is thus changing, not only in data processing and scheduling. The paper library in many law firms has been replaced by computer systems that provide access to all necessary literature and case law. Courses are also increasingly attended online.
Where many law firms barely engaged with technological developments until a few years ago, they are now much more involved. This is a positive development. Although many law firms have not yet fully adapted and still operate in a traditional manner, it is time for change! Fortunately, many law firms are working hard on this. While large firms already work extensively in the cloud and have automated everything, it is primarily the small law firms that are lagging behind.