What Paralegals Need to Know About Going Paperless

Going paperless seems to be one of the top new trends among law firms due to cheaper and better hardware and software, refined processes, and effective consulting. And it is especially important for paralegals to know the do’s and don’ts of implementing a paperless office as they may be the ones in charge. So why are so many firms going paperless and how is it done effectively?

In this episode of The Paralegal Voice, Vicki Voisin interviews practice management advisor and former paralegal JoAnn Hathaway about why law firms should go paperless, the risks and perils of improper execution, and the important role paralegals play in this process.

Topics include:


JoAnn’s journey from paralegal to practice management advisor

Can a law firm or business actually go completely paperless?

Gaining the competitive edge with efficiency and organization

What hardware, software, and processes you need

Mobile lawyering and cloud computing options

Implementation risks and the ten perils of bad policy

Assigning specific tasks to law firm staff members

Why and how to get everyone on board

The importance of having a paralegal intricately involved

Synchronization and compatibility of hardware and software


JoAnn L. Hathaway works for the State Bar of Michigan as a practice management advisor. She previously worked as a litigation paralegal, a legal liability claims director and risk manager, and a legal administrator. JoAnn is an Adobe Acrobat Certified Expert, and holds software certifications in LexisNexis Time Matters and Billing Matters software.  She is active in the ABA Law Practice Management Division, serving on the Publications Board and the State and Local Bar Outreach Committee. JoAnn is a frequent speaker on law firm technology, insurance, and risk and practice management topics.

Special thanks to our sponsors, Boston University, NALA, and ServeNow.