By Elisabet Hardy, Chief Product Officer, Elite

The end of the year is a great time to reflect on legal tech developments and prepare for the future. Change is accelerating—digital transformation is now central, and law firms are eager to leverage technology for competitive advantage. With intense competition and growing awareness of innovation’s benefits, urgency is at an all-time high.

Firms are moving faster…

The shift to the cloud is a prime example. Not long ago, firms debated if and when to migrate. Now, the focus is on how quickly the transition can happen.

This urgency is driven by hardware renewal deadlines and the diminishing appeal of costly on-premise upgrades. Firms are questioning traditional approaches and exploring cloud opportunities, with many ready to scale and seeking the tools to do so now and in the future.

Cloud security concerns have largely been addressed. Most CIOs and CTOs agree that cloud-native systems offer superior security compared to on-premise solutions. However, integrating additional applications requires careful diligence, and firms may consider consolidating their tech stack during migration.

…and evaluating the potential AI can bring

Artificial intelligence (AI) was the defining topic of 2024, especially at events like ILTA. Discussions have matured, with leaders recognizing that many AI advancements require cloud infrastructure—prompting firms to ask how much they risk falling behind by delaying adoption.

While the possibilities are exciting, it’s vital to ensure AI is used securely and delivers real value. Today’s priority is using AI to automate and streamline processes, and rearchitecting operations for greater efficiency.

Gearing up for 2025

At Elite, we’re committed to leading with innovation, enhancing financial management, and business operations for law firms. We’re also expanding integrations and our partner ecosystem to deliver a seamless user experience. With the pace of change set to accelerate in 2025, we’re ready for what’s next!