2. Collaboration Technologies: Types of Collaboration Tools
Last Updated: 5/13/25
The evolution of collaborative technology has opened the door to new and unprecedented methods of communication, within the physical office and well beyond. Organizations have been given the opportunity to expand their operations far beyond the constraints of physical location. Hiring qualified candidates, providing excellent client services, and collaborating with other agencies have become easier than ever before. Teams of providers composed of people located all over the country can work together efficiently towards a common goal. This efficiency is not a given, however, and organizations must ensure that collaborative software is used effectively and consistently.
This section discusses various collaboration tools, including virtual meetings, chat and texting, cloud storage, document collaboration, and project management. The types of software will be defined, along with a discussion of best practices and policy considerations when using these tools.
Virtual Meetings
Introduction
With the shift towards remote collaboration and the reliance on technology for effective communication, these phrases have become part of our shared experience:
“You’re on mute.”
“Can you hear me now?”
“I am not a cat.”
Perhaps one of the most significant pandemic-influenced changes in law firm communication is the way that virtual meeting software is used with co-workers, clients, third parties, opposing counsel, and, importantly, the courts. Law firms that traditionally relied on in-person meetings to communicate with clients were forced to embrace this technology. Using video conference software to communicate can help advocates overcome geographical limitations, improve time management, and deliver legal services more efficiently. We will discuss the benefits and considerations of using virtual meeting software and how using this technology in a legal aid firm can improve productivity while maintaining the lawyers’ duty of technological competence.
Here we are defining “virtual meeting” software as that which allows for a synchronous meeting experience with video, text chatting, and screensharing capabilities. The key distinction between this and a telephone call or conference call is the ability to see the participants and to share a screen view. For this toolkit's purposes, webinar-specific software is considered separately from collaboration software and will be discussed in turn.
Key Features and Requirements for Virtual Meeting Tools in Legal Aid
9. YouTube. "'I’m not a cat': lawyer gets stuck on Zoom kitten filter during court case" YouTube video, 0:48. Published 2021. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGOofzZOyl8