AMLAW TECH SURVEY

It's survey season, and the latest to come out is from our colleagues at Law Firm Inc., now home to the 12th annual AmLaw Tech survey, which polls law firm tech executives in the AmLaw 200 crowd.

Among the highlights:

• Average 2007 tech operating budget has jumped to $11,224,994, from $9,664,719 in '06 -- translating to almost $33K per lawyer. 

• 77% of firms are using web conferencing software, 33% are using blogs.

• Benefits cited for using web collaboration tools: 77%: increased productivity, 75% better client service, 44% improved processes, 38% better access to ideas, 38% cost savings, 26% improved innovation.

• Just about nobody (3%) is jumping to Microsoft's Vista this year, but 45% plan a migration next year.

• Only 2/3rds of firms have a 24/7 help desk/support center.

• Postini dominates as a spam filter, with 56% of firms onboard, followed by Tumbleweed's MailGate with 21%.

• Interaction (LexisNexis) dominates in the CRM arena -- with 71% using it.

• Firms have jumped aboard VoIP, with 35% reporting that they have between 76%-100% of their offices using it.

Finally, you may recall that yours truly has been on a campaign to get firm leadership to recognize the importance of treating non-lawyers (or non-billing-lawyers) as contributors to the firm. (Actually, that was the impetus for the 2003 launch of Law Firm Inc.)

I think that is an essential component of the move from running firms like private clubs to the brave new world of law where firms run like corporations -- valuing EVERYBODY on the team. It's foolish and old-school to not realize that practicing law isn't just about the attorneys.

Part of my effort is to shriek about the need to include firm EXECUTIVES and top administrators (read: IT directors) on their websites. Clients (and journalists) find it annoying to try to reach a top executive and find that leader missing in action on the firm directory. It sends a screaming message that the firm doesn't see that executive as a "real" member of the operation.

Well, with 116 firms responding, now 40% are listing their IT director (46 firms). It's a tiny step, but in the right direction.

And perhaps things are slowly getting better at the firms: For two years in a row now, 65% of respondents said they are, in general, satisfied with their job -- and this year, 63% report that they are treated with respect by firm lawyers. And it doesn't hurt that the firms at least recognize they have to cough out decent bucks to retain talent: 38% are making more than 300K a year, up from 29% last year. Thirty-nine percent are between $200K-$299K, and only 1% make less than $100K.

To read more (free but registration required):

Digital Dialogue by Bob Violini (cover story about the survey).
Satisfied CIOs, by Bob Violini

Also available -- charts on:
Collaboration
Basics
VoIP/IP telephone
Financial stats
Software
Quality of Life