Client communication: from bad to worse?

 

One regularly reads that the use of email to communicate with clients is problematic for lawyers. The focus here is on unsatisfactory confidentiality, since the sender can never know who all in an organization has access to the recipient's mailbox. Behind this is the desire to put client communication in general on a new footing and to replace Outlook & Co. with shared workflow systems.

The online magazine THE ARTIFICIAL LAWYER has now investigated the question of which methods (products) lawyers regularly use in their professional activities. The magazine surveyed 2000 lawyers, including attorneys and other members of the legal industry. The result: two out of three respondents use cell phones and Microsoft Outlook, followed relatively closely by WhatsApp (!) and Gmail. LinkedIn messages also come in at almost 50% usage, Slack at around one quarter. Facebook messages and Apple Mail rank below the rest.

In other words, if we disregard MS Outlook (mail and appointments), messenger services have gained a most prominent position in the legal profession. And the trend is probably upward. This will not please the data protectionists and certainly not those who are responsible for knowledge management in the company / organization. Those who are surprised now, however, must accept the following fact: We have known for at least 10 years that young people communicate exclusively via cell phones.

One could have been prepared.