24 October 2017

In-house legal professionals

For a long time, there has been a prevalent expectation that in-house legal teams are to do more with less; that is, to complete a heavy workload without the resources that are available to many law firms. As a result, some tasks are outsourced to external legal firms who are equipped with the correct specialist resources to handle the required work. 

The adoption of improving technologies within the legal industry has seen an increase in efficiency and productivity. In relation to in-house legal teams, implementing new technologies will allow you the opportunity to increase your capabilities and decrease your reliance on external firms. 

What technology is being used within corporate in-house legal teams? 

A recent InfoTrack/Lawyers Weekly survey of more than 100 Australian in-house legal professionals found that it was rare that in-house counsel had access to a wide range of software or tools to assist them in their roles. The most commonly used technology was security software (48%), while only a third had access to project management software (32%). Very few in-house legal teams had access to eCourt technology, eContracts and Data Visualisation tools. 

Using new technology boosts productivity, increases efficiency and drives innovation 

According to the InfoTrack/Lawyers Weekly survey, an increase in productivity and efficiency were the perceived outcomes of having a wider variety of technology-based tools. The majority of participants (63%) indicated that they’d spend less time processing work, and would, therefore, have more time to allow them to drive efficiencies and growth within the business (60%). 

Adopting new technologies is beneficial to in-house counsel teams in the following ways: 

  • Productivity increase: Using tools that alleviate the burden that comes with heavy processing work means that you’ll be able to complete routine work quicker, giving you have extra time to spend on the work that matters. 
  • Monetary: Providing in-house counsel with software tools that are already available in other law firms negates the need for work to be outsourced. Meaning that your organisation will be saving money on sending work out to other law firms, as tasks can be completed in-house. 
  • Business growth: Adopting tools that help to minimise time spent on repetitive process work means that in-house counsel teams can focus on finding solutions that will allow them to drive efficiencies and growth within the business. 

Where to now? 

As demands on in-house legal teams increase, so too does the need for teams to be fully equipped with the right technology. Despite the majority of respondents (32%) listing cost as the biggest hurdle to their company adopting new technologies, not doing so puts your business at risk of falling behind. As 2017 draws to a close, now is the perfect time for companies to start practising new workflow methods in order to ensure a productive 2018. 

To view the full survey results, download the report today. 

John Ahern

John joined InfoTrack in 2015 as the Chief Technology Officer taking charge for establishing the company’s technical vision and leading on all aspects of InfoTrack’s technology development. John was appointed to the role of Chief Executive Officer in May of 2015 where he is now responsible for maintaining the extensive growth of InfoTrack in the Australian market. John has over 20 years' experience in the Information Sector, having worked in a number of engineering, sales and executive positions. With a strong technical background, he has vast experience in designing and developing products and has delivered platforms from inception to production.

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