Professional Edition
What is the Legal Tech Assessment (“LTA”)?
The LTA assesses how well timekeepers and staff use basic law practice technology, such as word processing and spreadsheets, to complete commonly encountered legal tasks. The tasks are embedded in assignments that constitute a single, continuous work flow. The test takers will finalize a redlined investors’ rights agreement (word processing). They will then be given data on dividend payments to investors to investigate whether payments were made equally to all investors (spreadsheets). Finally, they will prepare an e-filing attaching the agreement and spreadsheet (PDF).
The results of the LTA demonstrate how proficient, or not, a legal professional is with the basic technological tools at their disposal. The results can be used to assess individuals, as well as teams (e.g., a practice group) and organizations (e.g., a law firm). The individual results of the LTA can be used to create tailored training plans. The aggregate results can be used as one measure of how efficiently work is being done.
The LTA is not a game of gotcha. The LTA assesses core, labor-saving features of common software. A list of features that may be on the LTA
are here
and here.
In addition, we offer free access and a free trainers companion to any law firm or legal department trainer as long as they agree not to create a walkthrough—i.e., we want users to get trained and pass, but we don’t want anyone to provide step-by-step instructions so that users can pass without actually learning.
Who should take the LTA?
Legal professionals who spend an appreciable percentage of their time working at a computer should take the LTA to ensure they utilize technology to deliver accurate, efficient client service and do not waste their own time on unnecessary tasks that can be handled more effectively by common software.
How is the LTA scored?
Time. The time taken on each assignment will be compared to various benchmarks—target time, average time of all test takers, median time, etc.
The LTA tracks both time and accuracy. For ease of digestion, accuracy is translated into time. The assumption is that, eventually, the test takers (or their firms) are going to get it right. But getting it right will require extra time. Thus, if test takers simply skip the task or get it wrong, they are assessed a time penalty instead of their actual time. The time penalty equates to how long inefficient users would take to perform the task.
Why request LTA scores
Law firms may want to use the results as part of training initiatives or annual reviews to promote technological efficiency, lower costs, or increase realizations. LTA results also can be used to identify internal experts in particular applications and serve as a basis for assembling teams with complementary skills. Strong results can be marketed to clients and help improve a law firm’s realization rates.
Clients may use LTA results in isolation or as a part of more comprehensive RFP. Clients can use LTA data when selecting law firms, or teams within a firm, for particular types of legal work. In addition, LTA results can be used to negotiate appropriate hourly rates or to assist in the review of matter invoices.
Do I need specific software?
For the time being, the LTA can only be administered in Windows. You are tested in a completely live environment, your own or one provided by your firm/company. The application installs a Word plugin and opens mock documents for you on your computer. You can use whatever software is available to you to complete the assigned tasks. More detailed tech specs can be found here.
What about customized ribbons and third-party add-ons
No problem. The LTA only grades results. Is the final product correct? If so, how long did it take to get there? How you get to the end result is up to you.
What does the LTA cost?
LTA scores are free to clients. Prices for LTA administration vary based on the type of entity requesting the LTA (e.g., law department, law firm, government agencies, non-profits) and the number of people who will be assessed. Please contact us for a quote.
What does the license cover?
The LTA license is active for a year. Within that year, users can take the LTA an unlimited number of times.
Law School Edition
What is the Legal Tech Assessment/Law School Edition (“LTA/LSE”)?
The LTA/LSE educates students on how to use basic law practice technology, such as word processing and spreadsheets, to complete commonly encountered legal tasks. It also assesses how well students have learned to use technology to perform those tasks.
Who should take the LTA/LSE?
All law students. The goal of the program is to help law students learn how to use basic law practice technology in the ways that future employers and clients expect and demand.
Who can request the LTA/LSE?
Any professor or administrator at a law school in the United States.
Why request the LTA/LSE?
In addition to preparing students to use commonly encountered forms of law practice technology, students may be able to use their performance as a credential when seeking employment.
How is the LTA/LSE administered?
Any law professor or law school administrator who requests the LTA/LSE simply sends us a spreadsheet listing the students who should gain access to the LTA/LSE along with their email addresses. We send an email to those students and supply them with login credentials for the LTA/LSE. The LTA/LSE is online and can be accessed at the convenience of the student. The results of the assessment modules are sent to the student as well as the party (e.g., law professor or administrator) who requested the LTA/LSE.
How is the LTA/LSE Scored?
There are no “passing” or “failing” scores. Rather, users are assessed according to how long and how well they perform a variety of assigned tasks. The results will show this performance along with the relevant benchmarks. These benchmarks have been developed in collaboration with our advisory board and content partner (TutorPro, Ltd.) and can be used to measure the relative strength of the tested individual’s technological proficiency.
Who is in charge of the LTA/LSE?
Casey Flaherty (who pioneered the LTA) and Suffolk University Law School (through its Institute on Law Practice Technology and Innovation and the Institute’s director, Andrew Perlman).
When Will the LTA/LSE Be Available?
The general release of the LTA/LSE is targeted for September 1st, 2014.
What Software Solutions Are Being Tested in the LTA/LSE?
The LTA/LSE doesn’t test the software solution. It tests the ability to complete specific tasks. In general, the LTA/LSE will require the use of basic productivity tools, such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.
What is the Cost to Take the LTA/LSE?
The basic version of the LTA/LSE is free. Additional modules and more in-depth training can be purchased from TutorPro, Ltd. at supportus@tutorpro.com
Additional information is available here. You can also contact us at info@techassessment.legal
This site is the exclusive source of information about the Legal Tech Assessment/Law School Edition. If you need more information, please contact us directly at info@techassessment.legal.
