2023 Trends That Solicitors Need To Keep In Mind

Lawyer CPD requirements in 2023 can be met by attending the various sessions made available through Legalwise Seminars, which offer many interesting topics both online and in person. By staying up-to-date with the trends in the legal industry, you can ensure you are on top of your legal game and professionally competent.

Here are several of the trends affecting the legal industry in 2023 that, as a solicitor, you may want to be aware of as you go about securing your CPD points:

Cyber resilience

The risk of cyberattacks and the vulnerability that technology poses to both individuals and companies alike is something that lawyers increasingly have to be cognisant of. Solicitors need to ensure that both their clients and their own practices are resilient against cyber threats at all times. 

It is important to advise your clients, particularly high-level ones, on how to manage and mitigate the risk of cyber threats at both an organisational and personal level.

Solicitors CPD are required to ensure the protection of their clients’ confidential information and to also protect their own firm, as information regarding clients and legal activities is highly sensitive and at greater risk today than ever before.

The digitalisation of the legal profession has also led to an increase in the risk of cyberattacks. Therefore, it is essential that you stay up-to-date with antivirus software and other necessary protections to ensure the risk of cyber attacks is mitigated. Failing to provide reasonable protection can open you up to legal repercussions.

Workplace Health And Safety

Workplace health and safety has become a major issue over the past few years, and 2023 is expected to place even more emphasis on it, legally speaking. Included in this is mental health, which relates to issues of gender equality, inclusivity, and more, which have risen to the fore as ESG practices have become more and more prevalent.

A lot of focus is being placed on this right now, and it applies to your own practise as a legal professional as well as that of your clients. Scandals in terms of workplace health and safety are no longer able to be kept quiet thanks to the prevalence of digital media. Social media and workplace health and safety have also received a lot more attention since the outbreak of COVID-19.

Burnout

This is closely linked to workplace health and safety, but it is more about you as a professional than your clients. Burnout is no longer an acceptable state. In years past, pre-COVID-19, it was almost seen as commendable for professionals to work themselves to the bone. 

However, it is increasingly becoming apparent that burnout among professionals is not as admirable as it was once viewed but rather a result of irresponsible self-management. 

The pandemic caused disruptions to the way we work that further emphasised the need for a healthy personal/professional life balance. With a greater emphasis on the need to protect the mental health of professionals across the board, it is important as a legal professional that you are in good condition so that you can provide the best possible service to your clients.

Legal professionals are expected to make no errors, and burnout is one of the largest contributors to oversights and catastrophic errors being made that can lead to cases being lost and penalties being applied.

As a legal professional, it is important to remember that your clients depend on you to protect themselves and their livelihoods. Therefore, it is expected and necessary that you are well-rested and capable of focusing clearly. It is important to ensure a good balance to avoid unnecessary stress triggers, maintain your health, and ensure that you do not overburden yourself as it can backfire.

Meet all of your lawyer CPD requirements by attending one of the many sessions we offer here at Legalwise Seminars. Register today! VIEW NOW