Deacons in the Media 28 June 2007 The June issue of The Law Society's monthly journal, Hong Kong Lawyer, carries an article by Deacon's Managing Partner Lindsay Esler on the challenges of implementing new technology in law firms. Deacons is one of the most technologically advanced law firms in Asia, having won in 2005, 2006 and 2007 the top Hong Kong government award for e-filing. Deacons has also been the pioneer in Hong Kong for the introduction of items of software, such as our Billback system, which are now used by many other firms. Later this year we will become the first firm in the world to adopt a Chinese language compatible version of Resourcelink (our new Human Resources software). Lindsay stresses in the article that for new technology projects to succeed, any investment in new technology has to address a clear business need; that the new technology should be seen to improve business efficiency and reduce workloads; and that the partners and lawyers need to be consulted and feel they are involved in the project to maximise acceptance. Lindsay advocates that the IT staff need to be well-briefed and able to explain the benefits of the technology in simple commonsense terms which lawyers can understand. Lindsay also writes about the benefits of communicating clearly to the firm at large the general directions of the firm's IT strategy and to give warning of the timing of project implementation.