WHY ISN’T IT WORKING?
Before we dive into solutions, let’s take a look at what’s holding back tech adoption in your firm.
1. Training That Fizzles Out
Day-one enthusiasm is there. But day 50? That’s when things start to fade. Training that stops after a single session is like planting seeds and never watering them. Without reinforcement, people fall back into old habits.
2. The Comfort Zone Trap
Change isn’t just uncomfortable; it’s a threat to the familiar. Law firms are steeped in tradition. If a tool feels like it’s disrupting the status quo, employees will step around it, not into it.
3. Too Much, Too Fast
When your team is already swamped, adding “learn this new tool” to their plate can feel like tossing a brick to a drowning person. Tech can’t be another burden — it has to be a lifeline.
HOW TO FIX IT
Now, here’s where you take back control.
Start with a Training Needs Assessment
Know what your team actually needs — not what you think they need, but what they’re telling you through their questions, their hesitations and their sighs when the new software opens. A training needs assessment is your cheat sheet to provide useful support.
A little support goes a long way. Make it okay to ask questions and share a quick tip or trick. Your team should feel like they’re on a journey together, not struggling alone.
Build a Real Digital Adoption Strategy
A digital adoption strategy is your plan for how training, reinforcement and support will work together. It’s how you turn tech from a forgotten tool into a natural part of the workflow.
Make it simple:
- Plan out training in phases.
- Set up ways for people to get answers when they need them.
- Track progress so you can see what’s working (and what’s not).
Offer In-Context Training
Nobody wants to stop what they’re doing to figure out how a feature works. In-context training is like having a coach on the sidelines. When someone’s in the middle of drafting a document or navigating a client file, guidance appears right there, ready to help.
Imagine this: Your admin needs to add a file to a new case management system. Instead of fumbling through tabs or calling IT, they get an instant, step-by-step guide in the tool itself using a digital adoption platform. Problem solved and stress reduced.
Create a Culture of Help and Curiosity
A little support goes a long way. Make it okay to ask questions and share a quick tip or trick. Your team should feel like they’re on a journey together, not struggling alone.
- Hold quick, informal Q&A huddles.
- Celebrate when someone nails using a new feature.
- Send out bite-sized video tips for common questions.
When people feel supported, they don’t resist change — they ride with it.
Roll Out Slowly, Win Fast
Too much at once can be overwhelming. Roll out new tech in chunks to let people get good at one thing before adding another. And when they master it? Celebrate that win. Build momentum.
Pro tip: Start with a pilot group. Get their feedback, make adjustments and then expand. They become your champions — the ones who help others see that the tool works.
THE PAYOFF
Adoption is all about making the tool work for your people. When that happens, you get:
- More Productivity: Less wasted time and more doing what matters.
- Fewer Mistakes: Tools are used correctly, and compliance improves.
- Happier Teams: Confident people don’t dread tech —they embrace it.
Take a look at the tools collecting dust. Ask the hard question: Why aren’t they being used?
Tech should work for you, not against you. Turn it from an investment you forget into one that fuels your team’s success.
