I remember being a young attorney, walking up the steps of the courthouse, after driving some distance to get there. Some days I would be there for hours, representing clients in hearings, while other days I would be there no more than 10 minutes to file a document or case pleading. Whatever circumstances it may have been under, I had to take time out of my day to go there to complete a task. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed my scenic drives to the courthouse and interacting with the clerks and judges face to face, but compared to today’s world, things have really changed.

Now, the document that would have previously taken time out of my day to personally deliver to the courthouse can be filed at the click of the mouse from my office PC. The legal document is essentially e-mailed or submitted from my computer or account directly to the courthouse’s online filing system. This is known as electronic filing, or “e-filing.” Though not all courts have implemented e-filing systems, many large courts, such as the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, uses almost entirely e-filing systems only. While this is a godsend for many busy attorneys, some are fighting the transition.

Undoubtedly, there are some convenience aspects associated with e-filing. It saves time, allowing the document to be filed and the parties to be served almost instantly through e-mail, without the attorney ever having to set foot in the courthouse. This in turn saves money. The court charges less in court costs and fees that would be associated with an in-person paper filing and therefore the client is charged less by the attorney for time spent on the matter. Another likeable feature about the e-filing system is that it essentially gives the filer the ability to file the document at any hour of the day, even if the court is not physically open for business.

Many of the older attorneys in the area are not so thrilled with the e-filing system. It forces them to use and understand computer software and hardware they have no experience with. Furthermore, if there’s a malfunction in the software or hardware it can become extremely difficult if not impossible to file or retrieve documents. But, like all technology before it, there are going to be a few bugs to work out.

In such a fast paced world of technology it seems like we are constantly rushing, cramming even more into our already busy schedules. As cliché as it may sound, I still like to take time to stop and smell the roses. I do not like feeling like I am in a constant rush, nor do I want my clients to feel that way. So, I would like to let my clients know that even though the methods by which my work is done may be changing, I am still here to be a caring and compassionate attorney, devoted to helping my clients, no matter the time it takes.