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Nowadays, innovation and technology play an essential part in ensuring firms can operate efficiently and effectively. Integrating technology such as automation into business processes can help firms to reduce costs, better utilise human capital, ensure greater compliance, produce more consistent output, and more. For this reason, there has been significant investment in developing and/or adopting technology to help improve the ways in which professional services are delivered. And because some firms do this better than others, you might be able to discuss a firm’s investment in technology and track record of innovation in your firm motivation answer. 

Automation

Has the firm invested heavily in technology designed to automate certain internal processes? More so than many of its competitors? If so, show your research by mentioning some of the technology developed or adopted and explaining its impact. Perhaps also look for examples of clients praising the firm’s progress in this area, or of the firm winning work in part because of its investment in technology.

Explain why you care

Does the firm’s investment in technology indicate that it wants to remain at the cutting-edge of innovation? If this helps it to operate more efficiently and cost-effectively, could this place the firm in a stronger position when it comes to pitching for work, given that clients are increasingly seeking more efficient and cost-effective professional services? If the firm is consequently able to win more market-leading mandates, does this indicate you’ll have constant exposure to cutting-edge, intellectually challenging work? 

Alternatively, do you have a demonstrable interest in technology (perhaps you have studied technology-related courses, or you code in your spare time) which has led to you wanting to work in a firm that effectively integrates technology into its processes? 

Moreover, if technology has been adopted to automate some of the more administrative or labour-intensive legal processes, does this mean that juniors can focus on more substantive work, and therefore develop more quickly? Be careful with this last point however, as you don’t want to come across as unwilling to get stuck in to the more mundane work. 

Tip: remember that automation isn't there to replace the substantive decision-making, analytical and problem-solving aspects of legal work. Clients still very much rely on human skill and experience to help tackle their tougher challenges and facilitate their business needs in practical and innovative ways, so don't talk about automation in a way that loses sight of this. After all, law firms are people-centric businesses, and it is human capital that enables firms to truly stand out (and for which firms can charge a great deal!). As a generalisation, automation is more about making administrative, repetitive and labour-intensive processes more efficient, cost-effective and/or consistent.

Innovation

Does the firm do anything particularly unique in relation to innovation? For example, does it run its own incubator, develop its own software, get involved in technology conferences and so on? If mentioning this, be specific.

Explain why you care

If there are opportunities to get involved in innovation-related initiatives, could this ensure you gain a broader base of experience as a junior, as well as the chance to develop skills that you will likely need in the future? For example, are there opportunities to undertake a placement in the firm’s incubator, or to represent the firm at a conference? Does the firm crowdsource ideas for innovation from its employees and let employees contribute to the development of those ideas? Will this provide a more varied and interesting experience?

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