Survey shows a definitive edge for law firms using dictation. BigHand's latest survey finds attorneys save an average of 84 minutes a day by dictating rather than typing.

BigHand, the leading provider of voice, workflow and document creation technology, today announced the results of a recent survey, which gathered data from 126 US-based attorneys.

The survey, which was sent to BigHand Dictation clients in November 2017, found that attorneys save an average of 84 minutes each day by dictating rather than typing their documents. Over the course of a year, this time savings adds up to 351 hours, or 50 additional working days per person. Assuming conservatively, that 25% of that time is converted into additional billable hours (at an average rate of $425), it can be calculated that attorneys have the potential to bill an additional $37,400 a year, just by dictating. 

As law firms’ clients continually stress the need for more efficient and cost-effective representation, it is clear that dictation can be an integral part of the equation.

BigHand has been developing efficiency software for the legal market since 1996. The technology is well established, with over 545,000 BigHand licenses currently in use across 3,000 global organizations. It is also well-liked, having been voted as the number one digital dictation platform in the US for the past two years in the prestigious ILTA Technology Survey.

BigHand North America President, Eric Wangler comments: “We understand that working in the legal space is complex - and that it’s becoming more challenging every day. With increased scrutiny around billable hours, the proliferation of fixed-fee arrangements and alternative legal service providers continuing to appear, it’s essential that firms have the tools to remain competitive. Having worked collaboratively with law firms for over 20 years, we have a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of their needs, which puts us in the ideal position to develop technology that has a real impact on their business.” 

Wangler continues, “Although some see it as a traditional practice reserved only for well-seasoned attorneys, we see the future of voice technology for the masses. The birth of AI and voice-centric products like Siri, the Amazon Echo and Google Home have re-focused peoples’ attention on voice technology, and the efficiency benefits it brings. Progressive law firms are leveraging voice technology not only for dictating documents, but also for task delegation and taking notes on client matters.

"The results we’ve gathered from those actively dictating rather than typing show just how effective dictation can be, and the significant potential it has to impact the bottom line. We want to thank everyone who took the time to participate in our survey and help us confirm the compelling case for dictation.”