Technology Can Improve Law Department Performance

A survey conducted by the author’s firm examined the current workflow environment in legal departments and identified three key challenges: keeping track of matter details and tasks; managing work product; and meeting increased expectations of 24/7 availability and global collaboration. Respondents identified specific problems, such as document retrieval, task management, prioritization difficulties, and trying to manage tasks while mobile. Respondents outlined what their ideal technology requirements would be to successfully meet those challenges.

Respondents identified critical tasks currently being addressed through use of vendor-provided automated software tools. Vendor-provided tools were in wide use for legal research, matter and spend management and contract management. Fewer organizations currently deploy automated vendor solutions to address legal holds, complex transactions, compliance and entity management. Legal departments are actively seeking innovative technology that will fill those gaps. In some cases, such as legal hold and compliance, more than 25 percent of legal departments intend to purchase solutions within the next two years.

Respondents identified currently unmet needs for greater integration between tools and mobile offerings that can handle complex tasks. It is important for information, software and user interfaces to work together to simplify and streamline work flows, rather than merely offer another layer of technology and complexity to an already overloaded work flow. Effective solutions must involve more than simply automating manual tasks. They need to provide more powerful analytics, collaboration and mobility that can be embedded within existing work flows.