Over the last decade there has been a lot of talk about climate change and how our daily actions are largely contributing to the depletion of the earth’s natural resources. One phrase often tossed into conversations about the environment is our “Carbon Footprint”. For those unfamiliar with the term, your carbon footprint is, by definition “the amount of carbon dioxide and other carbon compounds emitted due to the consumption of fossil fuels by a particular person, group, etc.” For example, when you drive a car, fly on a plane, or even ride the subway, the vehicles used to get you from point a to point b have engines that burn fuel. When fuel is burnt it creates a greenhouse gas known as CO2 that is released into the air.
The legal industry as a whole has made an effort to help the environment by being aware of its carbon footprint and working to reduce carbon emissions. One way this has been done is by reducing the amount of travel attorneys are required to make. As a whole the legal industry has always relied heavily on travel during the litigation process. With events like depositions, hearings, arbitrations, and mediations happening on a daily basis and across the world, attorneys log thousands of hours of travel time each year; but with the help of web-based remote technology they are now able to decrease the amount of time spent traveling and even participate in litigation events without ever starting up their car, jumping on an airplane, or riding the subway.
Modern day remote litigation technology is made up of many different features, such as realtime streaming, videoconferencing, live chat, and electronic exhibits. In addition to cutting back on travel, remote litigation technology helps attorneys reduce their carbon footprint in an environment that mimics physically being present. Here is how:
- One-way video streams – allows attorneys to study a witness without being seen.
- Two-way video streams – allows attorneys to be visible and communicate with other parties.
- Group and private chat – allows attorneys to share their private thoughts with other team members on and off the record.
- Realtime streaming – allows attorneys to follow along with a testimony in realtime as it is being entered for the record by a court reporter.
- Electronic exhibits – allows attorneys to introduce, manage and collaborate on digital exhibit files without the need to print and ship paper exhibit copies.
By providing attorneys with the tools needed to participate in depositions, hearings, arbitrations, and mediations from the comfort of their own office, all-in-one litigation event solutions like LiveDeposition help attorneys do their part in securing a better environment for our future by providing alternative methods that drastically reduce their carbon footprint. Every little bit counts, so next time you are asked to attend a litigation event, request the ability to do it remotely.