Legal Department Digital Transformation
Publié le :
24/08/2023
24
août
août
08
2023
A company’s digital legal transformation is not a simple technical project. It is a major step in the company's development that involves changes in several areas. Tools, work processes and collaboration are constantly changing. Here we share nine key success factors defined from the feedback of our customers' experience over the last 20 years.
1. Legal department digitalization is a business project
Heads of Legal, typically the General Counsel or CLO, are usually responsible for initiating digital transformation projects.
However, they will need visible support from senior management and, even more importantly, in convincing the legal department to join in the new initiative.
It is this endorsement from upper management that makes it possible to accomplish a legal department’s digital transformation under the most favorable conditions.
However, they will need visible support from senior management and, even more importantly, in convincing the legal department to join in the new initiative.
It is this endorsement from upper management that makes it possible to accomplish a legal department’s digital transformation under the most favorable conditions.
2. Bringing clear benefits to internal customers
Convincing operational teams is the second essential step. This will be made easier if they find it in their best interest. The key therefore is to highlight the benefits of digital transformation for everyone.
These include:
These include:
- Saving time by reducing processing times for legal matters
- Lowering costs to increase productivity
- Eliminating boring tasks with no added value
- Accelerating contract negotiation times for sales representatives, for example
3. Adopting more collaborative governance
Digitizing legal departments has an impact on corporate governance.Legal processes implemented through business software quite often result in a style shift from vertical to horizontal. This implies a change in collaboration from less hierarchical to more collaborative.
4. Involving the CIO
All departments are impacted when the legal department is digitized. However, it is not possible to leave each department to itself to digitize on its own.
Legal directors must therefore convince the CIO to move the project forward.
The CIO’s IT team will be responsible for overseeing data security in the chosen tool.
Legal directors must therefore convince the CIO to move the project forward.
The CIO’s IT team will be responsible for overseeing data security in the chosen tool.
5. Drawing a new internal customer journey or path
Digital transformation of legal services also involves digitizing the customer journey. This must be clearly defined.Selected tools will then have to satisfy this customer journey optimally.
6. Communicate plans
Giving visibility into a digital transformation project’s progress is important.This will make it easier for legal departments and internal clients to buy in.
Project schedules should be regularly communicated internally.
7. Get results quickly
Digital transformation implies the questioning of well-established practices. It is a collective effort that deserves credit.Demonstrating results and communicating quickly on successes achieved helps maintain everyone's involvement over time.
8. Limit customization of legal software
It may seem simpler at first to modify legal software to adapt it to its users.However, changing practices to adapt users to the software is a much more sustainable option.
Yielding to pressure from a few users does not create a differentiating advantage in the long term.
9. Choosing your vendor
Finally, choosing the right partner is crucial to successful digital transformation.This partner should meet the following criteria:
- Technical mastery
- Experience in change management
- Expertise in the legal profession
They must be able to help your teams overcome obstacles before, during and after the deployment of the digital transformation project.
Historique
-
Top 5 Trends Expected To Impact Most Legal Organizations
Publié le : 12/03/2024 12 mars mars 03 2024BlogIn-house counsel already deals with many challenges. They have high-pressur...
-
Human-AI Collaboration: Striking the Right Balance in Legal Departments
Publié le : 19/02/2024 19 février févr. 02 2024BlogThe integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the legal industry has b...
-
How To Ensure Successful Software Adoption in Legal Departments
Publié le : 06/11/2023 06 novembre nov. 11 2023BlogSoftware has become an integral part of nearly every industry, including th...
-
Is data privacy/security becoming a blocking point for in-house legal department productivity?
Publié le : 12/10/2023 12 octobre oct. 10 2023BlogOver the past few years, there has been a greater emphasis on protecting pe...
-
4 Major Challenges Legal Professionals Should Be Preparing for Within the Next Five Years
Publié le : 13/09/2023 13 septembre sept. 09 2023BlogThe past few years have not been easy for the legal profession. Indeed, eve...
-
Strategic Empowerment: Unleashing Technology's Potential to Elevate the Legal Department and Showcase Its Value
Publié le : 31/08/2023 31 août août 08 2023BlogThis article explores how in-house lawyers can leverage technology to stren...
-
Legal Department Digital Transformation
Publié le : 24/08/2023 24 août août 08 2023BlogA company’s digital legal transformation is not a simple technical project....
-
How General Counsel Can Leverage Technology & Empower The Legal Department
Publié le : 24/08/2023 24 août août 08 2023BlogHOW CAN THE GC LEVERAGE TECHNOLOGY TO EMPOWER THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT AND DEMO...
-
Automating a Company's Legal Process: Challenges and Key Steps
Publié le : 24/08/2023 24 août août 08 2023BlogFreeing corporate lawyers from daunting tasks by automating various legal p...