Developing Standards for Legal Technologies

Many tech solutions are emerging to enhance the value propositions of law firms. Blockchain offers the ability to provide secure communication of sensitive information, self-executing smart contracts that offer clients streamlined work processes. AI further enables lawyers to eliminate many mundane research and document drafting tasks, allowing them to devote more time to matters that require their expertise.

Yet, these solutions are emerging in multiple “flavors.” Various tech companies bring unique versions into the marketplace. Although these versions strive to be agnostic of the technology platforms that different law firms and their clients use, there is no guarantee they will work together seamlessly.

However, one of the chief benefits of blockchain is its promised ability to provide a secure platform where persons authorized to access a sensitive document can access it no matter where they are or what kind of platform they use to secure their internal networks.

Clear and easy communication is thus paramount to blockchain’s promise. The more different protocols emerge on competing platforms, the more blockchain’s promise of universal access is compromised.

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For these technologies to fulfill their promise, it is essential that technologists and legal professionals work together to establish standards and regulations that ensure the legal technology sector does not devolve into dueling platforms that hinder interoperability between law firms or their clients, siloing information in incompatible platforms.

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