Accelerate Decision-Making
Law firms recognize the need provide sophisticated and streamlined ways for people to communicate with each other throughout the day in order instill greater teamwork within firms and to improve client responsiveness. Cisco Collaborative Workplace is a comprehensive IP communications solution converging voice, video and data over a single network to deliver innovative communication capabilities, including enhanced collaboration tools like unified messaging, IP video and audio conferencing and IP telephony. This results in a collaborative workplace — including greater collaboration between the internal staff and satellite offices, as well as greater collaboration with external colleagues and clients.

Collaboration tools include:

• Messaging applications, as well as advanced communication applications which converge email, voice mail and faxes on the same network so that an attorney can retrieve all of his or her messages and enclosures from a single source like a laptop or PDA and respond to an issue in one phone call.
• E-learning applications which educate the staff on new laws around legal or industry-specific topics, such as employees' rights -- without having to leave their respective offices.
• IP audio and video conferencing applications which improve case management by enabling firms to conduct remote depositions, weekly partner meetings, team case collaboration and reviews, contract negotiations and client updates — all from a conference room, avoiding extensive travel costs and time away from the office.
• Access to online discussion groups to seek advice from colleagues and other professionals in the industry.

June 2004