OF THE LAW SOCIETY OF SCOTLAND - The Journal Online

Journal
Videoconferencing
A modern way to meet
David Steele reports on a quiet growth in the use of videoconferencing by the legal profession
The conduct of complex legal conferences, involving
lawyers and clients from across the globe, is in the midst
of a major revolution.
While in the past legal teams, their clients and
sometimes bundles of documents and evidential
material have had to move thousands of miles at great
expense in travel and chargeable hours now all parties
can be brought together by the wonders of technology.
There has already been a remarkable growth in the use
of videoconferencing in the legal profession and now a
number of major companies are gearing themselves up
to improve the service available even further.
Much has been written and said about the growth of
the use of video links to protect children and other
vulnerable witnesses in delicate criminal proceedings
but the growth of its use in commercial practice has
been an altogether quieter affair.
For understandable reasons the profession was initially
somewhat nervous about conducting business which for
personal or commercial reasons requires the highest
levels of confidentiality.
With the increasing sophistication of the video
equipment itself, and more significantly the encryption
of the signals which keep them away from prying
electronic eyes, the use of such systems has become
more and more attractive to legal firms.
The advantages can be looked at in two ways – from a
business perspective and what cost savings are involved
and from a client service perspective and how that can
be achieved in the best possible way.
From the former the firm will see improved accessibility,
increased productivity and faster decision making with
the added advantage of considerable cost savings due to
reduced travel and “down time” of key personnel.
As far as client service is concerned there are many
potential advantages including faster resolution of
difficulties, a reduced need to travel and be face to face
with an adversary or business rival and in most cases a
more relaxed environment in which to do business.
Lesley Wilson, senior administrator in the Law Society of
Scotland’s Update Department, is seeing an increase in
interest from legal firms in videoconferencing as a
business tool.
She said:“We have facilities in our offices which are used
not only by the society for conducting business but by
legal firms who want to hire the rooms, the equipment
and the expertise.
“It now has global possibilities and only a week or so
ago we had a solicitor in who wanted to conduct a
meeting with a colleague in Australia.”
Lesley Wilson sees the growth continuing and hopes
that more firms will try the technology.
She added: “We have conducted business meetings,
including council meetings because some members
including the President work in remote locations, and
also use videoconferencing for training and seminars.
“It is ideal for lectures and discussion groups although
workshop based seminars are perhaps better
conducted with all the participants together. I believe it
is the way forward.”
Heidi Berry, marketing manager of Global VideoCom,
one of the country’s leading providers of
videoconferencing facilities, sees the legal profession as a
natural progression of the work they have been doing in
the public and private sectors.
47 May 2002 Volume 47 No 5