Solution Benefits

  • Reduced Costs
  • Increased Security
  • Improved Sustainability

Customer Profile

  • Legal
  • 3 Locations
  • 450+ Staff

About Ward Hadaway

The cutting-edge systems at the heart of top 100 law firm Ward Hadaway.

Technology is vital to Ward Hadaway, which is one of the UK’s Top 100 law firms and has offices in Newcastle, Leeds and Manchester. Not only for the day-today running of the business, but also to ensure it wins and retains contracts with some of the biggest organisations in the country.

The firm’s clients are largely in the healthcare, house building, manufacturing and retail sectors. Its biggest client is the NHS and nothing illustrated how vital technology is to that giant than events in May 2017, when the service was hit by an unprecedented global cyber attack, leading to chaos, cancelled procedures, and cyber criminals demanding ransom money.

Working with the NHS, Ward Hadaway has to show that its own systems are secure and capable of protecting confidential information. Ward Hadaway IT director David Bullock says: “We need to be cyber secure to treat data correctly.

“We’re patching on a regular basis to ensure there aren’t any security vulnerabilities. We’re one of the few law firms in the country to have Cyber Essentials Plus accreditation, which is the highest level of a Government-backed cyber security certification scheme.”

“This allows us to bid for Government contracts that involve the handling of personal and sensitive information. The criteria is stringent. If there’s one thing wrong on one PC or laptop, then you fail.”

The firm has also introduced a new system for the NHS in Lancashire, which allows members of staff to access legal advice others in the trust have already received, rather than potentially duplicating services and costs.

Ward Hadaway’s emphasis on cyber security encompasses every piece of equipment in the firm, which has recently upgraded all of its photocopiers to multi-function devices through United Carlton, to ensure greater efficiency and security, as well as cost savings.

”So there’s no more printing something off and then forgetting about it. If I’m heading to Leeds, I can set it to print and release my documents when I arrive.

Managing PartnerWard Hadaway
The result

How we helped

Ward Hadaway’s emphasis on cyber security encompasses every piece of equipment in the firm, which has recently upgraded all of its photocopiers to multi-function devices, to ensure greater efficiency and security, as well as cost savings.

The new system has resulted in a 35% saving on print costs. “My pet hate is paperwork being left on a printer,” says David. “Because that is someone’s personal data. Our printers were at the end of their life and this new fleet only releases prints when you arrive at the printer with your ID card. So there’s no printing something off and then forgetting about it.

“The document management system also allows users to scan documents and email them, or send them straight to the relevant folders on their desktop system. So if I’m heading to Leeds, I can set it to print and collect my documents when I arrive.

“There will always be a place for paperwork, when it comes to deeds and wills, for example, and we make 12m copies every year, but we are using electronic copies wherever possible. Courts are also becoming much more digitised. While law firms can have a reputation for being fuddy duddy, we always have an eye on future technology.”

Results

The new system has resulted in a 35% saving on print costs and this new fleet only releases prints when you arrive at the printer with your ID card. So there’s no printing something off and then forgetting about it.

Ward Hadaway already uses an array of technological solutions, including Big Hand, a dictation solution which allows notes and letters to be typed up automatically, although they are still subject to checks before being sent out.

Automated processes, particularly in conveyancing and debt collection, also continue to be developed, as well as systems which make searching through hundreds, or thousands, of documents a simpler process.

Overall, this new strategy has resulted in increased productivity of staff, allowing them to focus on more pressing tasks than the laborious scanning process.

  • Reduced printing costs
  • Increased security and compliance
  • More time efficient process
  • More productive office