The widespread tech budget cuts that started in 2020 may be over. Law firm chief information officers contacted by Legaltech News say their IT budgets won't shrink again this year. In fact, some have even secured slight increases. While most firms' 2021 tech budgets are still focused on a transition to a remote workforce, some funds are also being directed at non-COVID-related internal business needs.

To be sure, law firms' tech budgets aren't set in stone, and there's an understanding that the continuing pandemic and unexpected business disruptions may throw plans into disarray. "All of us involved in the [tech budgeting] process understands that like in 2020, we may have to make changes and we are willing to [quickly] adapt like in 2020," said Benesch CIO Jerry Justice.

With the past year fresh in firm leadership's mind, Justice said his tech budget was slightly increased with a focus on cloud-based remote working software and leveraging previously licensed collaboration tools. "If it's not on the cloud or mobile—if it doesn't meet that mark—it will be mothballed," he said. Justice didn't provide exact details on what software may be on the chopping block, but he noted heavily on-premises tech that requires significant maintenance could be cut.