Is the Price Right? Don't Let Technology Upgrades Become Financial Downgrades

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Computers will never replace lawyers; they have, in fact, made the work of the law firm much easier. The time savings, efficiency, and commoditization of routine tasks and services afforded by computers and other electronic technology have freed most lawyers to focus on the creative, problem-solving aspects of their law practices. However, it is always necessary to remember the ways in which the price – or rather, the cost – of technology can in part offset its value. Awareness of what technology can consume from a firm's cash flow, as well as from lawyers' billable time, gives a true picture of the return the firm gets on its technology spending.