Translator：Wang Yichun

In an era marked by technological leaps, digitalization has emerged as a pivotal trend across industries. On October 24, 2023, Liu Yixing, Director of Landing's Global Management Committee, and Zhang Zhixin, founder of FaChan, convened for an insightful discussion themed "The Present and Future of Digital Transformation in Law Firms," drawing upon the digitalization journey of Shanghai Landing Law Offices.

Director Liu Yixing commenced the dialogue by reflecting on Landing's experiences, highlighting the realities and obstacles faced in the digitalization of law firms today. In China's legal sector, characterized by a partnership model and commission-based operations, lawyers often work in isolation. Although Landing exhibits a more collaborative ethos compared to its peers, altering the traditional mindset of lawyers is a significant hurdle. Landing's strength lies in its ability to foster robust common values among its lawyers, particularly the partners, which considerably mitigates the challenges of digital adoption. The primary challenge is balancing financial growth with stability against the backdrop of an economy affected by three years of pandemic-related disruptions. Nonetheless, Landing has laid down a foundational strategy for its digitalization and is set to advance ambitiously in this domain.

The digitalization initiative at Landing Law Offices is multifaceted, focusing on several key areas: Firstly, infrastructure. It is crucial that systems like Office Automation, human resources, and finance align with the standards of modern society. Secondly, the firm emphasizes integrating state-of-the-art and forward-looking technologies. Thirdly, Landing prioritizes enhancing partnerships with third-party experts, ensuring specialized tasks are managed by professionals. Moreover, the digitalization strategy will capitalize on Landing's distinct advantages. Landing's ascent is closely linked to its keen understanding of global and international trends, especially in the context of Chinese corporate investments abroad. Remarkably, about 95% of Landing's international operations can be conducted online, offering substantial opportunities for digitalization.

From a broader perspective within the legal services sector, digitalization is poised to revolutionize the delivery of legal services. Consider the example of AI business cards: their primary function is to facilitate information exchange and client interaction. Digitalization can create detailed data profiles, significantly boosting efficiency by 5 to 10 times. With an increasing proportion of clients familiar with electronic technology, and their preference for digital tools, it's imperative for law firms to adapt and stay abreast of these evolving trends.

Reflecting on the creation of the nation's inaugural metaverse law firm by Landing, Director Liu Yixing remarked that despite ongoing advancements in metaverse technology, he is confident that with technological progression, the metaverse will prove to be a trustworthy domain. The strong synergy between the metaverse and legal spheres presents an opportunity for the Chinese legal industry to capitalize on China's forefront position in metaverse technology, potentially catapulting it to global preeminence. On the topic of AI, a current trendsetter, Director Liu emphasized the need for a balanced perspective towards novel entities, cautioning against overemphasis on any single aspect. He noted that while AI has replaced certain legal roles, it has simultaneously spawned new job opportunities.

Concluding his remarks, Director Liu underscored the significance of digitalization in an era dominated by internet and big data, which has thoroughly integrated into every facet of life and work. For law firms, essential platforms for legal practice, keeping pace with digitalization is not just imperative; it is a strategic necessity for the Chinese legal industry to leapfrog traditional practices and embrace further evolution. This necessitates shedding conventional mindsets and synchronizing with the evolving digital era.