The Future of Private Client Law: Why Tech-Enabled Firms Will Win

The private client sector has always been built on trust, discretion, and personal relationships. But the reality is that the expectations of today’s clients are fundamentally different from those of even five years ago. People expect speed, transparency, and convenience, all without compromising on quality or security.

As Head of Growth at LEAP Estates, I speak daily with solicitors, partners, and practice managers across the UK. One theme keeps coming up: the traditional ways of working simply aren’t keeping pace with client demands. Manual processes, paper-heavy workflows, and siloed systems are creating bottlenecks that hold firms back.

Forward-thinking firms are starting to recognise that technology isn’t a threat to the profession, but rather it’s the key to scaling it sustainably.

The Pressure Facing Private Client Lawyers

Let’s be honest: private client teams are under more pressure than ever. Whether your focus is wills, lasting powers of attorney, trusts, probate, or court of protection, the challenges are strikingly similar:

• Heavy administrative burdens: Manually entering data into multiple systems, chasing clients for signatures, and checking precedents for each matter waste hours every week.

• Rising compliance requirements: From AML checks to GDPR considerations, the regulatory landscape is becoming increasingly complex. Keeping track of what’s required (and proving compliance) eats into billable time.

• Higher client expectations: Clients want digital engagement, instant updates, and transparency at every stage of the process. They expect the experience to feel as seamless as booking a holiday or ordering a taxi online.

The result? Lawyers are working longer hours to stand still, risking burnout and leaving less time for high-value advisory work that truly builds client relationships.

The Competitive Advantage of Digital Transformation

The firms that will thrive over the next decade are those that adopt technology not just as a convenience, but as a core part of their strategy. Digitally mature firms are already seeing measurable results:

• Faster turnaround times, allowing them to take on more matters without adding headcount.

• Higher client satisfaction, thanks to smoother onboarding and better communication tools.

• Improved compliance with automated risk checks and auditable workflows.

Far from replacing lawyers, technology enables them to focus on the work that matters most: offering advice, building trust, and delivering value that clients cannot obtain elsewhere.

How LEAP Estates Transforms Private Client Work

At LEAP Estates, we’ve built on years of experience from LEAP Legal Software to create a platform designed specifically for private client lawyers. We know the pain points because we work with hundreds of firms that live them every day.

Here’s how our software helps:

• Smart Automation: Automatically generate wills, LPAs, and other documents using our in-built integration with WillSuite, cutting drafting time dramatically while reducing the risk of error, or through our Estate Administration app to automatically create your IHT400 and other relevant schedules and Estate Accounts at the click of a button.

• Integrated Matter Management: Keep all your matters, documents, and correspondence in one place, accessible from anywhere, whether you’re in the office, at home, or meeting a client.

• Client Collaboration Tools: Our LawConnect portal enables you to not only securely share documents with your clients but also have them upload their ID, complete onboarding paperwork, and more, thereby speeding up the turnaround and improving engagement.

• Built-in Compliance Features: From conflict checks to AML risk assessments, compliance is streamlined and fully auditable.

The result is a practice that operates more efficiently, delivers a better client experience, and is well-positioned for growth.

Case in Point: Firms Leading the Way

We’ve seen firms of all sizes benefit from embracing technology. Small boutique practices are utilising LEAP Estates to compete with larger players by providing a sleek, modern client experience. Larger firms are unlocking scalability by standardising workflows across multiple offices, ensuring consistent quality and freeing up senior lawyers’ time for strategic growth initiatives.

One managing partner recently told me that since adopting LEAP Estates, their average turnaround time for a standard will has been cut nearly in half, allowing them to take on more matters and boost revenue without hiring additional staff.

A Future-Proof Practice

It’s clear that the market is shifting. Clients are increasingly choosing firms that can offer not just expertise, but also convenience. A younger generation of clients will soon dominate the market for wills and estate planning.

Firms that fail to modernise risk falling behind, but those that embrace digital transformation will be better positioned to:

• Scale without proportionally increasing overheads.

• Attract and retain top legal talent by reducing burnout-inducing admin work.

• Deliver a client experience that meets and exceeds modern expectations.

Ready to See What’s Possible?

Technology is no longer optional – it’s a competitive advantage. If you’re ready to explore what a fully integrated, tech-enabled private client practice could look like, we’d love to show you.

Book a free demo of LEAP Estates today, and you’ll see how we can help your firm save time, improve compliance, and deliver a client experience that sets you apart.