Practice Overview
New technologies and processes are transforming in-house legal departments, but staffing models, too, are shifting to create new efficiencies and respond to the need for updated departmental skills and expertise. Meet the legal department operations (LDO) professionals – a new position in corporate legal departments that is increasingly helping free up attorney time to focus on legal matters instead of operational ones. The recognition that operations, innovation, technology, and procurement should actually be the responsibility of an identifiable individual, rather than part of the portfolio of the general counsel is the biggest emerging trend in legal operations. The legal department operations (LDO) professional is typically occupied with project management, financial planning, and managing outside counsel. But these legal department operations (LDO) professionals are also responsible for strategy, goal setting, and managing budgets, people, and vendors. Additionally, legal department operations (LDO) professionals play a crucial role in change management, which might explain their recent popularity. The legal department operations (LDO) professional is often the person to decide what technology changes make sense and to determine how those technologies should be implemented with consideration of financial and operational implications such as budgeting, staffing requirements, outsourcing, and training.
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Support your team with targeted professional training Current reality Many In-House Legal Departments do little to onboard new hires, missing an opportunity
MoreInnovate, automate, and solve problems with technology Current reality In-House Legal Departments often rely on manual, time-consuming, and fragmented point solutions. They may
MoreCurrent reality Many In-House Legal Departments are completely short-term and reactive in their planning, guided by the incoming work rather than larger
MoreMatch the right work to the right resource Current reality In-House Legal Departments often assign work indiscriminately today, sending it to a
MoreLaunch and support special programs and initiatives Current reality Most In-House Legal Departments lack specialized program management skills and experience, making it
MoreFree up your legal teams through focused practice operations Current reality In many In-House Legal Departments, lawyers often wear many hats out
MoreBuild effective and motivated teams Current reality Often, In-House Legal Departments are assembled without a clear overall vision, meaning they may hire
MoreTap the knowledge and capability of your entire organization. Current reality Today, In-House Departments often struggle to find and retain knowledge and
MoreDevelop firm and Design information policies that fit your business and minimize riskvendor relationships that deliver value Current reality In many cases,
MoreDevelop firm and vendor relationships that deliver value Current reality Today, firms and vendors are often selected either for tactical reasons or
MoreMaximize your resources through sound financial management Current reality In-House Legal Departments may operate with little clarity or predictability in their budgeting.
MoreMake better decisions through data. Current reality In-House Legal Departments today often make minimal use of data and metrics. These departments may
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