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I would guess that what the anonymous contributor at 1.41pm is describing is this - http://uk.varidesk.com

Obviously we all react subjectively to proposed change, as indicated by the comment "...I like my paper files too much..."

Practices have to 'weigh up' the cost of collating, storing and retrieving paper for years after a client's matter is finished - often paying substantial rents to house paper files off site. In comparison, an electronic file takes up a few megabytes of space on a cheap archive drive and can be retrieved via a few keystrokes - not a van having to travel to the storage facility.

I visit dozens of law firms each year, and it is clear that the culture of most is still centred on printing everything (often when it is also held electronically) and retaining territorial office space. Many practices invest in case and document management systems and then fail to implement them effectively and continue to rely on paper files because it is the easier option and doesn't require change.

Working electronically does often mean shifting some members of staff out of a 'comfort zone' that they have spent decades cultivating and no-one should underestimate the extent of the job (and patience required) to implement change.

I am no longer in a fee-earning role in practice, but I self- employed in a full-time role and have not generated paper in the course of my work at least five years.