In late 2022, Wolters Kluwer ELM Solutions published a checklist of steps that could help legal departments ensure that this would be a successful year. Now that Q1 is over, we want to remind our readers of that advice while there is still time to get on track for 2023.
Law departments, and their companies more broadly, continue to face economic uncertainty, which makes it more important than ever to run the most effective and efficient legal operations you can. It is key to balance short-term and long-term planning so that you remain agile and responsive to changing conditions while positioning the organization for future success.
Here is a recap of the five steps we suggest and what goes into each one:
1. Establish a legal technology roadmap
- Identify areas where automation, technology, and/or process improvements can help
- Define technology investments that deliver value and advance legal operations maturity
- Improve cross-functional buy-in to align on critical goals
- Visualize and communicate the steps necessary to reach long-term goals
2. Commit to data-driven decision-making
- Leverage technology to improve data quality and set the stage for better-informed decisions
- Implement data-driven outside counsel selection, rate negotiation processes, and reliable benchmarking practices
- Increase knowledge and documentation of alternative supplier capabilities
- Define KPIs that signal critical red flags
3. Do more with more
- Advocate for greater resources by showing incremental value expected from those resources rather than settling for “doing more with less”
- Introduce AI-powered bill review to take rote tasks off the plates of your staff
- Integrate systems for greater visibility and long-term cost savings
4. Focus on retention
- Invest in technology that allows for more flexible work arrangements
- Prioritize technologies that make employees’ lives easier
- Anticipate potential disruptions and proactively manage change to make transitions smoother
5. Embrace ALSPs
- Partner with a variety of ALSPs to be more responsive to unexpected changes
- Consider temporary attorneys as a stopgap to fill specific voids within the legal team
- Evaluate the benefits of moving traditional law firm work (like eDiscovery) to ALSPs for time and cost savings
In reality, these steps represent a valuable approach to implement at any time. It is never too late to begin making changes that will improve the performance of your legal department. However, if you are hoping to show the first results of those efforts during this calendar year, now is the time to get started!
