Why the Right Legal Department Technology Matters

Leveraging technology can significantly enhance an in-house legal department’s productivity, accuracy, and timeliness. But are all technologies created equal? According to a Thomson Reuters article, having legal department technology aligned with specific needs improves workflow, provides information on demand, and helps manage the budget effectively by allowing the legal team to do more with less. 

In determining the correct legal department technology, the article suggests a focus on these essentials:

• E-billing systems eliminate spreadsheets and paper invoices, providing instant data on spending.
• Contract management systems centralize contract storage and management, enabling quick access and efficient handling of contract details.
• Legal research tools facilitate legal research and access to sample contract templates.
• Generative AI solutions act as fast, intelligent assistants, enhancing various legal tasks.

As you explore which legal department technology to implement, consider the following factors:  

Understanding your use case. Begin by identifying the specific problems you want to solve with the new technology, pinpointing the pain points, and evaluating whether the technology can address them effectively. Key considerations include identifying the problem, current manual processes, technology costs, benefits, ROI, and organizational support.

Drafting a requirements document. Initiate a requirements document outlining the necessary features and prioritizing your department’s needs. This document serves as a checklist to guide the evaluation of different products. 

Surveying the marketplace. Explore available products through web searches, legal tech trade shows, and LinkedIn polls. Ask for in-person or webinar demos, and get free trials if possible. 

Picking your vendor. Choose a vendor who acts as a partner in the implementation process. Consider their reputation, user base, and the quality of the implementation team. Understand the true cost, including support, upgrades, training, and data transition. 

Creating a project plan. Create a detailed project plan for the technology implementation. Include milestones, responsibilities, budget, data migration, training, and user acceptance. Develop “super users” who can champion the new tools, assist other users, and provide feedback. 

Considering these factors will help in-house teams understand how selecting the right legal department technology can empower current workflows to become even more effective.