Hardboiled Firm Embraces Software

Dmitry Gorin Partner Eisner Gorin LLP, Van Nuys In 2012, Dmitry Gorin made headlines by defending a paparazzi photographer accused of chasing singer Justin Bieber on the San Diego (101) Freeway. A former Los Angeles deputy district attorney, he has more than 20 years’ experience in criminal defense litigation. The boutique firm specializes in white collar crimes, drunk driving, drug offenses and sex crimes. It also handles complex criminal appeals. What is the biggest impact of digitalization? Digitalization has made our law firm operate more efficiently. Multiple people can view the same document at different locations without having the physical copy. It has made trial preparation easier, expedited client communication and streamlined document storage. Does it have a special effect on small firms? It has put smaller and larger firms on the same playing field. What about your relationships with clients? In criminal defense, clients tend to want immediate updates to deal with the stress and anxiety from facing the risk of jail time. With email and cloud storage, Eisner Gorin provides case updates and relevant documents immediately to the client. Additionally, in large cases state or federal prosecutors now provide discovery on disc. We upload these files for the client to review and assist with the case strategy. What is the biggest challenge of digitalization? Less technologically savvy attorneys may have a difficult time adapting in their practice. How about the biggest opportunity? Speed of information flow and availability leads to better communication and decision-making due to having the information at your fingertips anywhere in the world. Has it changed your prices? It has not affected prices in our practice. Who are the biggest winners in the shift to digital? Software providers, cloud providers, computer hardware manufacturers. The biggest losers? The paper industry and the U.S. Postal Service. Has digitalization cut into your revenue? Not substantially. Have you laid off workers? Eisner Gorin is a four-attorney criminal defense boutique with a paralegal and secretary. The firm is larger than most criminal defense practices, which are typically sole proprietorships. But we have not had any layoffs due to digitalization. We also use independent contracts on information technology and electronic storage issues. Do you write your own briefs (with software) or does an assistant do it? Partners and associates prepare briefs using Word and online legal research. How will digitalization change the legal profession in the next decade? Everything will be in the cloud and we will have paperless practices. A law practice will be run by way of a phone app. Office space will be used to meet with clients rather than for storage. – Joel Russell