| Everyone is taking a hit in these economic times. | | | | do with saving costs on their IT needs. |
| Large law firms that once seemed unsinkable are in | | | | Virtualization basically means something doesn't exist |
| fact going under. The salaries of associates are | | | | in a hard, concrete, physical sense. Well, with server |
| shrinking and in fact, some law school grads are left | | | | virtualisation, this means that a server is basically |
| evening wondering if they will find a job. Law firms | | | | created via software and doesn't necessarily exist in |
| are increasingly looking to off shoring and other | | | | a physical sense. |
| solutions to reduce costs. Some lawyers see this as | | | | Because in law firms it's important that everyone |
| an opportunity to go solo and work for themselves, | | | | from the receptionist, to the clerks, secretaries, |
| often from a home office to keep overhead even | | | | paralegals, and attorneys have access to computers, |
| lower and utilize the services of virtual assistance, | | | | that often means a large closet or room filled with |
| who also works from home, on an as needed basis, | | | | expensive hardware. With server virtualisation a firm |
| to eliminate the need of having any employees. | | | | can get by with less physical servers thereby saving |
| Off-shoring, working from home, and using virtual | | | | money on the hardware, as well as the electricity |
| assistants are just some examples of how law firms | | | | and maintenance. If the saving of money doesn't |
| are looking to go virtual to save money. | | | | interest the firm, as law firms are historically behind |
| An area that doesn't always come readily to mind | | | | the curve when it comes to technology, then |
| when one thinks of law firms is their IT needs. In | | | | perhaps environmental greenness will be of interest. |
| fact many firms, even those with only a few | | | | It's been proven that using server virtualisation cuts |
| attorneys, have IT people on staff. Security | | | | down on carbon emissions as well. |
| requirements are very important to the legal world, | | | | Since the life of a typical firm computer is about |
| and with electronic filing, it is imperative that | | | | three years, perhaps when a firm is next looking at |
| computers don't go down. | | | | making IT purchases, they can look into the |
| Another area that firms can look at to save money | | | | advantages of using server virtualisation and discover |
| is server virtualisation. This has nothing to do with | | | | how much it could save their firm. |
| ordering food for lunch meetings, and everything to | | | | |