Law Firms on Global Warming: What We Can Do

Greener Law Firms Adopt Creative Ways

In many states across the country, a growing number of law firms have begun to practice ways that are not only economical but environmentally sound as well, giving rise to the emergence of so-called "greener law firms."

Heeding calls to arrest global warming, many law firms tried to help and contribute to reduce emission of gases that result in global warming.

A survey conducted across the country revealed how several law firms have adopted new and creative ways to contribute to this noble campaign.

The legal technology community has offered several ways on how to reduce carbon footprint. One of these includes the simple, inexpensive yet valuable and economical practice of turning off non-essential computer systems to reduce energy consumption. IBM has estimated that IT infrastructure is responsible for up to 40 percent of an office's entire electricity use.

Another method involved reducing the amount of junk mail that an office receives, thereby helping save trees that prevent carbon dioxide from being released into the air.

Data revealed that the average American receives about 11 pieces of unsolicited junk mail every week, which account for the loss of nearly 100 million trees, to be processed as paper products, yearly.

A weekly task of reducing junk mail can help save at least two trees that can take up about 92 pounds of carbon dioxide to be released into the atmosphere.

A law firm staff said another way they contributed their share is by removing their name off the mailing list of companies that send out paper catalogs. Another office staff said that they make their small contribution by recycling office materials and becoming more paperless at meetings and in daily work.

Distributing reports electronically or "digitizing" paper documents to support a client's litigation-preparedness process and then recycle the paper-based documents are also some of the ways on how to conserve paper materials in the office.

In California, many firms have begun using remote video conferences in place of in-person meetings. This method is actually cheaper than flying or traveling across the country to meet clients. It also proved to be more efficient as it yields more quality information as data gathered in personal meeting.

Technically speaking, one way to green up a law firm is to take advantage of new software models which provide server and storage consolidation, thereby reducing power consumption and a greener outlook for business.