A digital response to the Pandemic
“Let
us stop the spread of Covid 19 in our Country…”
This
is a message that we often hear, these days. It reminds us that we are waging a war against
the pandemic, and following precaution and government guidelines is the only way
for a victory. The preparations for the
worst are underway. All possible
measures are being put in place by the governments and agencies to face the peculiar
challenges offered by the vires, during its different waves. Life, living and the very existence is
directly and indirectly, threatened. Every
section of the community, may have an independent battle to wage, Let us consider
here, a lawyer’s possible response during these times.
The pandemic has proved that the medical infrastructure,
available is insufficient. This is quite
understandable, as even the global giants miserably failed to control the
spread, when the rates are in geometric progression. Our size and density of population do not offer many choices, but to lock down, until the test positivity
rate is brought down to some controllable limits. Locking down does not only mean, restricting
the movement of the citizens, but in most cases restrict the means of
livelihood, as well.
The proposal of the
Kerala High Court to implement e-filing in the state, has put many members of
the legal community in a state of double jeopardy, even if, none intended so. The
writing in the wall is clear, use of technology is inevitable to deliver
justice assured in the preamble of the constitution, to all the citizens. Whether
there is a pandemic or no pandemic, digitalization of legal institutions were in the
cards. But whether
there was sufficient preparation, amongst this community, is really doubt full.
One could reasonably anticipate that virtual court rooms,
though introduced as an ad-hoc arrangement is going to stay longer than
expected. More importantly, the dashboard for individual lawyers, facilitated
in the high court website, should give us better insights for preparing better. We could also look at the whole
scenario, differently, like all that is happening is for a good.
The
most popular grievance that was being projected is the loss of employment of
the legal clerks, that these digits could bring. It is a fact that
legal profession never had its existence without para legal support offered by
clerks. Therefore, their concerns also
need to be addressed, while some holistic solutions are proposed.
Let us now accept the fact that technology is offering the
major challenge. The answer obviously needs
to be searched there. Use of the right technology, is a possible solution. The question is, what is the so called ‘right
technology’?
‘Google’
is now a guru for all, and therefore, let us browse for solutions. Digitalization of the physical files and
moving to the concept of virtual offices are the two solutions that are emerging. We may now explore the
feasibility of the solutions.
Digitalization of physical files:
We are not sure, when the next lockdown is or
when we may acquire a primary contact status, and need to move to a
mandatory quarantine. In either case, we
need be in a state of hibernation, for long periods.
The availability of digital alternatives to physical files, is an
important starting point. It is
heartening to know that many in the profession had thought about the concept, much earlier. The articles in Sans Paper-A
digital prastanan[1],
has now become a must read blog, to know more about the digitalization of a law office.
The interesting part is that the essential gadgets for the digitalization
of a normal size law office would be just a ‘tablet with Adobe Acrobat DC Pro software’. Many of us might be already having these
gadgets, and all what may be needed could just be a change of the mindset, to
use it appropriately. A little training
to the legal clerks could equip them, as well, to continue in the
journey. The process is not a one-time
affair, and is sure to be an integral part of the profession for generations
to come.
Exploring Google
Google is not just a search engine, it has much more to
offer. ‘Blogger’, in which you read this
article is one of its incredible products. Google ‘docs’, ‘sheets’, ‘slides’, ‘meets’,
‘calendar’, ‘forms’ etc. are few others, which could support the virtual
needs.
Several people editing 'one word file', could still be a strange
imagination, for many. But, in
Google ‘docs’, this is possible, where we can have multiple editors, commenters and viewers, working in a single word file, remotely. Same is the case of Google ‘sheets’, slides
etc. In a personalized law office setting, a proper employment of these innovative
methods can offer solutions to many of the present challenges
Virtual Office
Let us now consider
the case of a non-personalized law office, where more lawyers work together. Covid protocols, does not permit such
gatherings, and obviously, the future of such large law houses or law firms are
in an uncertainty. Huge rental expenses without any serious activities, could
break its backbone. We need to find virtual solutions; digitalized case
files appear to be a pre-requisite for any such thought.
‘slack’[2],appears
to be one virtual platform, where our entire team can work remotely in an
office type environment. In this platform,
your associates could be included in sperate channels and assigned specific
tasks, as if the team is in a physical office.
The team members could chat, make audio and video calls, share files etc. We can find that most of the things that were
physically done, before, is possible here as well, and at time more effeciently. Integration of various applications, to this software,
could change the world, altogether. For instance, when the digitalized case files
in the ‘drive’ is integrated with ‘slack’,
the frequent visits that we used to make to the record room and the time wasted there
to trace an office file could possibly be a memory, for many.
The cost comparison of
the process, may be important and relevant.
A paid version of this software could cost something like Rs 210 per person
per month, The calculation would be, for employing some fifty associates, the organization
may have to spend Rs.10,500, per month.
These figures, would give rise to thought of a new set of victims of
this solution, ‘the landlords’. They have constructed huge buildings that accommodate
large law houses, in and around the legal institutions. Hopefully, we may need more business centers,
with suitable conference halls and other common para legal support, equipped to
meet the new challenges.
A product marketing was never intended and there may be
hundreds of others available, with better features. At the end of the day, digitalized legal
institutions and law houses are likely to be the good results of the pandemic
challenge.
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Good piece of information, Sir, reiterating the need for a change in mindset among lawyers...
ReplyDeleteVery informative
ReplyDeleteVery informative
ReplyDelete