Attorneys spend a significant amount of time accessing research, client information, and historical data. When this information is slow to retrieve and not up to date, client service levels can be affected. The information communication path becomes a barrier to retrieving documents quickly, and accessing “fresh” or “consistent” information. This also creates unnecessary, nonbillable tasks.

In a distributed law firm environment with multiple office locations, data is needed across many points of service, which presents challenges like data sprawl and replication as well as slow WAN performance times.

Law firms are attempting to meet attorney and client requirements by consolidating data and removing it from branch offices. By centralizing data, there is less chance that it will mysteriously ‘walk out’; information is up to date for all users; and the data can move quickly between office locations.