Why Aren’t General Counsel Delegating to Legal Ops More?

A recent survey conducted by FTI Consulting, in collaboration with Relativity and legal sector adviser Ari Kaplan, unveiled a significant insight regarding the hesitation of General Counsel delegating to Legal Ops. The survey found that 45% of general counsel and chief legal officers expressed a lack of willingness, or “appetite,” to delegate operational decisions to dedicated Legal Ops professionals, according to an article by Artificial Lawyer. 

Despite glowing endorsements from general counsel about the importance of Legal Ops experts in transforming work streams, optimizing spending, managing contracts, and enhancing overall operational efficiency, the reluctance to delegate operational decisions raises questions about the practical implementation of Legal Ops initiatives. 

The primary concern is that if key operational tasks remain undelivered due to the overburdened schedules of general counsel, it could stagnate cost-efficiency efforts and impede the adoption of new technologies. Furthermore, insufficient attention to contract management and data analysis could elevate corporate risks. 

The underlying reasons for this hesitancy to delegate vary. Some attribute it to budget constraints, indicating that companies with larger legal teams may afford Legal Ops professionals but companies with smaller teams may not be able to do so. Others speculate on potential territorial struggles or concerns about overloading the Legal Ops role with too many tasks. The survey data indicates that the issue may stem from a lack of clarity on the division of labor within legal teams. 

Further research is warranted to explore the intricacies of delegation within legal teams of varying sizes and budgets. While the survey sample provides valuable insights, it may not fully represent the diverse landscape of in-house legal departments. A deeper examination of delegation dynamics and the balance between legal and Legal Ops labor is essential to understand the root causes of reluctance and optimize the integration of Legal Ops expertise within legal departments.