Legal practitioners have been forced to reconsider how to market their firm, perform work and run their practices. The need for change has forced many firms to change their models, relying heavily on technology.

COVID-19 has presented a significant reset in terms of how we work. While the pandemic initially forced many companies to hastily embrace remote working, it could in fact permanently shift working patterns as more organisations find that the virtual working model actually suits the needs of their business and its employees far better.

For most traditional workplace-based employees, remote working is still only an occasional perk. This is even though employees consistently cite flexible working hours and the ability to work remotely as important factors that would improve job satisfaction and work-life balance.

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of digital technology – and South Africa’s courts have not been left behind, despite the legal profession’s reputation of being slow to embrace new ways of working.  

With virtual or remote working here to stay, initiated by the current COVID-19 crisis, employers should address the legal concerns that may be faced.

Millennials (who now make up the largest portion of the workforce) will likely have their pick amongst companies competing for them. Thanks to Teleworking.

The COVID-19 lockdown left the property market high and dry and unable to operate, but it is now time for resourceful professionals to prepare for transitioning through the various phases to business in the new normal. A key factor in many industries, and one that can certainly be utilised in the property market, is the use of digital tools that make the prospect of long-term remote working more manageable.

Many experts have been quick to point out that the current status quo of working from home due to COVID-19 is very different from choosing to transition employees to a flexible, work from home contract. Employees and employers are in fact not merely working from home, but are at home during a crisis, trying to work.

] The national lockdown due to COVID-19 has disrupted the way the legal sector operates. Considered non-essential services under the initial lockdown ruling, legal professionals have had to find ways to navigate their roles without leaving their homes. Embracing technology and virtual working has become a priority, moving the industry towards reliable legal technologies to meet research and practice needs.

The COVID-19 pandemic triggered what many call a new normal globally. What are the advantages and disadvantages that this change brought to South Africa?

Employees are not the only ones who benefit from working from home; a company can benefit just as greatly from a remote employee. Telecommuting can limit absences, increase productivity, and save money. With telecommuting the idea of the office space is changing but many are saying that it is for the better.

The Covid-19 pandemic has seen a number of industries and organisations adopt virtual working over this period, but organisations will also need to take steps to safeguard employees’ mental health, say Phetheni Nkuna and Faatimah Essack of Lawtons Africa.

As Covid-19 sees organisations adapting and moving towards virtual or remote working, Phetheni Nkuna and Faatimah Essack of Lawtons Africaexplore the ways in which the legal system has embraced this “new normal”.

Companies and businesses need to be well equipped with the necessary knowledge, budget and resources to successfully implement remote working. Workers also need to ensure that they are mentally and resourcefully prepared to take on remote jobs. Communication and cooperation are the keys to ensure that both the needs of the employer and employee are met. In South Africa, government support will be needed to promote this idea so that resources and education are provided to businesses and current and future employees.

The Future of Lawyers: An interview with Richard Susskind - Legal Tech, AI, Big Data And Online Courts what you need to know about how AI, big data, and online courts will change the legal system.

Robin Gerhold unpacks the implications of WhatsApp’s Privacy Policy which was updated on the 4th of January 2021. The updated Policy will take effect on 8 February 2021 and users have been advised that they are required to accept the updated Policy in order to continue to use WhatsApp from the 8th of February 2021.

Technology is evolving at a rapid rate – it informs how we live, work and interact with the world, at home and in the office. Is your business ready?

Increased user and usage statistics of free Wi-Fi provided by LexisNexis South Africa in 16 Courts across the country show an uptake in the use of technology in the legal space.