City partners say managing the rising tide of modern communication hinders how effectively they work, but extol the benefits of improved technology for boosting flexibility. Rose Orlik reports

Many senior lawyers believe the sheer volume of modern electronic communication is bad for partner productivity, with almost 90% acknowledging the challenge of 'information overload', according to new research.

Eighty-five percent of respondents to Legal Week's latest Big Question survey described managing the flow of information in a typical working day as a challenge, including 53% who said it was either 'difficult' or 'very difficult'. The vast majority (93%) of respondents said dealing with the flow of data is tougher than it was 10 years ago, yet only 15% believed their firm could effectively shield partners from information overload.

"It is just not practicable," observed Eversheds head of litigation Ian Gray (pictured). "Clients expect direct engagement with partners, who are no longer shielded by PAs and voicemail. You're available on your mobile at all times."

Working in a large organisation also makes it hard to regulate the flow of information, Gray continued: "Internally, information flows naturally upwards, with people copying you into emails for all sorts of reasons. Firms work hard to make sure important information doesn't get buried, but I find myself frequently pushing back unnecessary emails and trying to limit the data I receive."

Thirty-four percent of respondents stated that both instantly available information and mobile communication are having a damaging effect on partner productivity, with a further 4% saying that it 'greatly damages' their output. Juggling tasks and competing demands for attention were described as either 'very stressful' or 'stressful" by 59% of partners, with 41% saying it is hard to delegate to more junior staff.

Slaughter and May executive partner Graham White commented: "We have always had a guideline of responding to clients within 24 hours, but the number of channels of communication and the sheer quantity of messages makes this harder to achieve now."

However, around one third (34%) of respondents to the survey said modern technology has had a positive impact on their productivity. White added: "Mobile communication does enhance productivity, not least because it makes it easier to get some things done – for example, it has brought an end to the ritual of sitting around in the office late at night waiting for a fax with a simple 'OK' so that a document can be finalised. You can now go home and deal with it by email.

"However, certainly in my case, it brings with it an increased risk of things getting overlooked, with emails more likely to get lost among a mass of others, or missing the important paragraph at the bottom of a message."

White's view was echoed by partners who welcomed the flexibility that improved technology and communications bring.

Pinsent Masons finance partner Matthew Heaton said advancing IT "gives you more control over your life, as you're not tied to your desk" and makes it "easier to manage transactions and win new work from anywhere". Addleshaw Goddard real estate partner Jane Hollinshead agreed, noting instant communications are especially useful for flexible working, saying: "Work doesn't stop just because I'm not in the office, so the benefit of a BlackBerry is immense."

More than a quarter (28%) said client expectations are the biggest challenge when it comes to managing the flow of information at work, while almost 45% said 'online communications in general' were the primary challenge. Twenty-four percent argued internal bureaucracy causes the most serious data overload.

Mishcon de Reya partner Andrew Goldstone (pictured) said: "Too many emails get in the way of the important stuff, often sent without thought by colleagues. Sitting in one building, I don't need to know someone in the other building has lost their favourite coffee mug. Less still do I need to know it's been found. Clients aren't the real offenders, law firm staff are."

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