Client Profile
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| Industry | Family Law |
| Firm Size | ~45 employees |
| Location | South Bay, California |
| Services Used | Managed IT, Microsoft 365 Cloud Migration, Cloud Application Modernization, Practice Management Migration (Clio), Identity & Access Management, Endpoint Management, Security Monitoring |
| Timeline | Several months for core migration, followed by ongoing managed IT and security |
The Challenge
As a growing family law firm, the organization relied heavily on a local, on-premises server to run critical systems and applications. This setup increasingly became a bottleneck for both productivity and reliability. Attorneys and staff needed to be in the office, or connected through fragile remote access methods, to work effectively. Any server maintenance, update, or outage created immediate disruption for the entire firm.
One of the most persistent pain points was a court-essential forms application that required frequent updates on the local server. These updates were time-consuming, error-prone, and often resulted in staff being unable to work until fixes were applied. During high-pressure periods — especially when court filing deadlines were involved — even short interruptions created frustration and risk for the firm.
At the same time, the firm was expanding and onboarding new employees regularly. Managing user access, workstations, and permissions in a server-centric environment required constant hands-on IT involvement. Leadership recognized that their technology was holding the firm back from operating flexibly, securely, and at scale. The American Bar Association’s 2023 Tech Report found that cloud adoption among law firms continues to grow year over year, driven by the need for mobility and remote access.
The Solution
One82 partnered with the firm to transition them from a server-dependent environment to a cloud-first Microsoft 365 model designed around mobility, reliability, and simplicity. The goal was not just to move systems, but to remove friction from daily work and eliminate recurring operational headaches.
A key part of the engagement was modernizing how critical applications were delivered. The Essential Forms workflow was redesigned so attorneys and staff no longer depended on a locally updated server to function. This removed the recurring disruption caused by updates and allowed staff to work smoothly from any location without waiting on IT intervention.
In parallel, One82 guided the firm through a practice management migration to Clio, aligning case management, documents, and workflows with a modern cloud platform that supported remote and hybrid work.
The Results
- Eliminated dependency on an on-premises server for day-to-day operations
- Removed recurring disruptions caused by Essential Forms application updates
- Enabled attorneys and staff to work effectively from any location
- Successfully migrated the firm to a cloud-based practice management system (Clio)
- Standardized onboarding and access management for approximately 45 employees
- Established ongoing managed IT and security monitoring
- Continued multi-year client relationship with One82
“Everything just runs so smoothly now.”
— Firm Administrator
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to move a family law firm from a local server to Microsoft 365?
For a firm of this size, the transition typically takes several months, followed by ongoing optimization and support. One82 phases the migration to minimize disruption to attorneys’ workflows and court deadlines.
What compliance and security needs does One82 support for family law firms?
One82 supports identity security, access management, monitoring, and incident response aligned with the confidentiality requirements common to family law practices. Law firms handling sensitive client information — custody records, financial disclosures, protective orders — need IT infrastructure that protects attorney-client privilege and meets state bar technology competence obligations.
How does One82 reduce disruption from legacy legal applications?
One82 focuses on eliminating local dependencies, modernizing application delivery, and ensuring updates no longer interrupt attorneys and staff during critical work. Court-essential applications that previously required server-side updates are redesigned for cloud-based delivery.
Can One82 help with practice management system migrations?
Yes. One82 has experience migrating law firms to cloud-based practice management platforms including Clio, and coordinates the transition to minimize data loss, downtime, and workflow disruption during the move.
