Like all other industries, the legal industry has not been insulated from the tremendous changes in information technology over the past decade, and the challenges and opportunities it presents. If anything, the changes have more bearing on law firms & departments because information management is at the core of what they do – consulting with clients, colleagues or experts; increasing compliance & regulation demands, wading through a constantly expanding sea of legislation and case law; managing outsourcing partners; keeping abreast with latest developments; or managing a mountain of matter files.
Web conference technology has changed the way people communicate with each other. Unlike the need for a physical conference room, web conference allows employees attend the meeting from their respective work spaces. This could be inside the same company or a different branch in a far away location.
These days, web meeting tools are the most important developments in legal technology and are likely to remain so for the foreseeable future. Using this technology, advocates can focus on highly practical and usable ideas by working together with their colleagues from anywhere anytime. Most importantly, lawyers started using this technology to beat the time and geographical differences, because they are the ones who don’t bother about these two things.
Now, technology has advanced so that you can communicate online through video conferencing just like you can communicate on the phone. The only difference is now you can actually see and hear the person on the other end! Conferencing online is a method of performing interactive video communications over a regular high speed internet connection.
Using a conferencing solution for online collaboration, you have a live, face-to-face communication experience that empowers you to collaborate like never before, and all without having to step foot out of your office. This new technology helps people meet, share content, create high-quality video meeting recordings and presentations, consult with experts and deliver powerful personalized messages.
Online Collaboration allows greater possibilities in the areas of information management, productivity and remote collaboration. Data and information can be transferred over the internet with higher levels of security. For example, lawyers could make depositions to courts over the Internet, rather than traveling to another city to deliver their statements. This internet conferencing is useful for legal professionals to record witness statements and the deposition of persons under trial who are lodged in jails for it removes the need to bring the prisoner to the court, saving on the huge costs of taking those under trial to the courts. It has helped to reduce the backlog in judicial cases for the shortage of policemen to escort the prisoners to court has led to delays in the trial process. And unlike yesteryear, law firms can access these technologies without hefty costs
Here you can find some of the best web conferencing options on the market that offer a variety of pricing options and convenient features to consider.
1. MeetMeNow from WebEx
MeetMeNow a conferencing software, produced by WebEx is quite user-friendly, with easy software installation and meeting setup capabilities. WebEx is quite accommodating, as it caters to individual needs, small-to-medium business ventures, and large companies and enterprises. Consumers are often satisfied with the price of the software.
Individuals are able to enjoy unlimited meetings with up to 10 participants for $39 per month with an annual commitment or $49 per month without a commitment. This service also provides access to document sharing, presentations, and decent customer collaboration.
2. Citrix GoToMeeting
GoToMeeting is one of the best web conferencing options, wherein potential buyers can try out services for a free trial period of 14 days. A wide range of features is offered, accompanied by a high level of user friendliness, effortless meeting setups, easy installation of software, and a decent cost.
3. RHUB Communications
RHUB Communications solves the escalating cost problem with the TurboMeeting series of conferencing appliances, which not only bring web conferencing services in house, but also adds remote support, remote control and remote access technologies. RHUB Communications offers several models of the TurboMeeting appliance, starting with the entry level TM-200 for just $995, which offers two meeting rooms and 10 concurrent users.
For instance, the legal industry, you may say the security is among the top selection criteria. An on-premise deployment such as a web conferencing appliance from RHUB is a better option to consider.
4. MegaMeeting
MegaMeeting simply provides the effective marketing tools that allow small, medium, and large businesses to thrive across the Internet. Face-to-face web conferencing, video conferencing services, and VoIP capabilities are just some of the things offered with MegaMeeting. The price is also decent, as unlimited meetings are supplied for $75 per month.
5. Acrobat Connect Professional:
Adobe offers many different features with their web conferencing software, which accommodates a wide range of operating systems, as well as provides a high–level of security. Many consumers enjoy the ability of customizing and elevating their functions through the Collaboration Builder SDK. The software quickly helps buyers generate, establish, and track online meetings, trainings, and on-the-spot presentations. Convenient pay options include software licenses, annual subscriptions, monthly payments, or pay-per-use arrangements.
Some of the Benefits of Internet Video Conferencing for the Legal Industry:
• Legal professionals could easily consult experts regardless of distance or geographical location.
• Witnesses or experts can give their critical testimony, which is very beneficial for victims who are fearful of being in the same room with the accused.
• Lawyers could make depositions, schedule and conduct hearings more efficiently.
• Conduct conferences globally at any time without a reservation.
• Accelerate cases faster through the system.
• Legal professionals could even record the conference/hearing for the future reference.
That’s where web conferencing helps – it lets you ‘travel’ without the actual cost of traveling. It lets you ‘be’ there without actually being there. It lets you tighten those relations with your clients without spending time, energy and money on traveling and money.
With online meeting software, you can save thousands of dollars, and do your work more efficiently and faster than ever before