Effective communication in the legal field with understanding and speed
Some everyday tasks are becoming more convenient and user-friendly due to technological advancements. Delivery apps, streaming platforms, and payment methods now aim to provide not only ease of use but also additional benefits such as discounts and personalized recommendations. Have you considered these improvements?
The business landscape is evolving with the influence of successful technology companies that are changing traditional industries and providing specialized products and services to enhance user experience through empathetic communication.
Essentially, the reason for doing so is beneficial for business and it also benefits everyone involved. Treating customers as allies rather than adversaries is the new approach, focusing on cordiality and attention rather than conflict and exceptions. This shift in mindset is here to stay for improved efficiency.
In the field of law, we are a part of a social science that develops along with the practices and customs of society. The evolving practices impact the law, and in turn, the law affects daily life. Currently, we are seeing an impact from the changing dynamics in the relationships between organizations and customers, and the more effective and compassionate communication methods being used.
The law, when overly focused on formalities and traditions rather than fairness, becomes a complex field understood only by a select few. This poses a problem as legal texts impact everyone, not just those with legal training, and it is expected that all individuals should understand and comply with the law.
Reality is quite different. The law should be accessible to all, not just a select few. To achieve this, legal documents need to be more user-friendly, concise, and visually engaging, with the reader at the forefront. This approach should be extended to all legal materials, including using cartoons, storyboards, one-pagers, and videos to enhance understanding and dissemination of legal knowledge.
The ongoing change, influenced by a broader context, is starting to result in the first instances in Brazil. This phenomenon is known as Visual Law, which involves the serious commitment to creating documents that are easily understood, drawing parallels with other societal movements.
Drafting legal content by applying design principles, simplifying information, and aiming to enhance comprehension and connection with the reader.
Visual Law aims to be user-friendly, compassionate, cross-disciplinary, creative, logical, and effective. It involves applying design methods to legal matters in order to enhance communication. While it does not require expertise in various fields, such as law, design, linguistics, psychology, data visualization, and statistics, embracing new approaches is essential for implementing Visual Law successfully.
It is time to let go of old ways of working and embrace new methods in order to thrive in the evolving professional landscape. Specialization is essential, but being a good communicator is equally important in the modern world where adaptability and interdisciplinary skills are valued. Embracing change is key to staying relevant and securing prominent roles in the future.
Every journey starts with taking the first step. You might be in the midst of a career change or just beginning. It’s normal to feel overwhelmed, but remember that change takes time. Brazil has an extensive legal collection, presenting opportunities for Visual Lawyers due to the complexity of legal texts and the limited time of many individuals.
Can you see the innovative possibilities of combining Visual Law and Jurimetry?
Ability to convert data into information and utilize vital indicators for decision-making.
Present solutions, content, and results in a more appealing manner than the gap between the average and the customer.
Jurimetry and Visual Law work together synergistically. Converting data into graphs and then infographics helps to tell a cohesive story, resulting in Visual Law. While it may be challenging to combine these techniques, it is achievable. Thomson Reuters, in collaboration with legaltech company Juristec+, successfully achieved this through the creation of Legal One Analytics. This platform, Brazil’s first Legal Business Intelligence tool, introduced innovative one-page templates, a key application of Visual Law. Users can now easily generate executive reports in the popular one-page format within seconds.
You can start by immersing yourself in the subject and exploring different resources such as articles, webinars, and books. Familiarize yourself with available examples and learn how to use user-friendly design tools like Canvas. Enroll in courses and be proactive in embracing the changes in the legal field. Your career will benefit from these actions.
Rui Caminha
Lawyer and digital entrepreneur who graduated from the University of São Paulo and holds a master’s degree from FGV-SP.
Founder and CEO of Juristec+, Co-Founder and Director of Villa | Visual Law Studio, Professor of Visual Law, international speaker with over 15 years of experience in legal innovation, technology development, and solutions in jurimetry, legal data science, AI in law, analytics, and Visual Law.
Discover more information about Visual Law to enhance your understanding of this pioneering legal methodology.