The Growing Role of Automation in In-House Legal Teams
When in-house lawyers are asked about their most pressing challenges, it’s not just about doing more with fewer resources. Instead, many are looking to expend less energy by using process and workflow automation powered by technology. Legal teams that have become adept at managing shrinking budgets and limited personnel are now eager to embrace digital tools that empower their productivity and streamline repetitive tasks.
Moving Beyond Legacy Systems: The Rise of Legal Operations
Although legal departments have traditionally invested in a host of disconnected systems that lack standardization and require manual processes, many are experiencing a significant shift that is fueling progress. With the renewed focus on legal operations – half of the ACC Chief Legal Officers 2016 Survey respondents reported having staff positions in their departments dedicated to this function, up from 20 percent in 2015 – they are undergoing an accelerating transformation.
In addition, the responsibility of law department leaders continues to expand. In The Rise of the GC: From Legal Adviser to Strategic Adviser survey, which polled U.S. corporate directors and executive officers earlier this year, NYSE Governance Services and BarkerGilmore found that 14% of general counsel act as the organization’s chief risk officer and participants expect that number to rise to 31% by 2020.
Standardizing Legal Processes to Drive Consistency and Reduce Risk
To maximize operational excellence and minimize risk exposure, many companies are recognizing the need for standardized, repeatable practices. Legal departments that automate processes can establish clear protocols, ensuring consistency, reducing confusion, and lowering the chance of error.
For example, when a team member receives a new matter, they can use a standard form to identify the project and request support. They can then track the request, archive its details, and assign follow-up tasks. The team can also select preferred providers, collaborate both internally and externally, and easily monitor performance through robust reports and notifications.
This is especially critical because legal departments often struggle with inconsistent processes for requesting legal support, redundant data entry, and unclear responsibility assignments—issues that are highlighted in the 2015 Law Department Operations Survey. The top two challenges identified were:
- Driving and implementing change
- Identifying opportunities for business improvement and cost savings
These are of particular importance especially since e-mail often ineffectively serves as the centralized means of distributing assignments and engaging with multiple parties.
Improving Collaboration and Accountability with Legal Tech
Legal teams are increasingly looking to run like efficient business units, and tools like the ASCENT™ Enterprise Legal Management System are helping make that a reality. This platform allows legal departments to create dynamic workflows, define actions, link processes with outside counsel, and capture data collaboratively. It also eliminates human error through standardized templates, while offering advanced features like configurable fields, custom dashboards, and cascading options.
Additionally, the tool includes accounting advancements like general ledger coding and adherence to pre-approved budgeting, ensuring both financial and operational alignment.
The Future of Legal Operations: Maximizing Efficiency Through Automation
Workflow automation tools are revolutionizing how legal teams operate. By eliminating isolated email requests and replacing them with automated tasks within an approved workflow, legal departments improve consistency and coordination. When there are no universal guidelines or standard processes, it leads to uncertainty, uncoordinated decision-making, inconsistent responses, and strategic missteps.
Software that standardizes workflows and eliminates errors is defining the future of legal operations. A new generation of attorneys is embracing automation, recognizing the value of repeatable, verifiable processes that lead to more efficient, effective outcomes.