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Our 10 Principles of Legal Transformation
10 Principles for successful Legal Transformation
1. Start with the desired outcome
What is the problem you are trying to solve and is it a high enough priority or big enough pain point to devote resources to? Clearly define the problem and how it’s managed currently - the pros and cons - then define what success looks like and how you’ll measure it.
3. Transformation equals change
Change requires management and is a specialist skill that can’t be underestimated. However beneficial the change to your people and organisation, it can still be met with resistance if it challenges the status quo. Make sure you prioritise change management throughout your project.
2. It's about humans, not technology
Technology is a tool, not the solution. Humans are the most important aspect of any legal transformation project - technology enables them. Make sure you understand the human requirement.
5. Get buy in from all levels
It’s vital to get support from all stakeholders impacted by your legal transformation project, from all areas of the business, in different roles and at different levels. Do they understand how the transformation will help them personally in their role and are they prepared to adopt new ways of working.
4. It's a journey not a destination
Legal transformation is about the evolution of how things are done. It is rarely a case of doing something, putting it in place and then sitting back. Every process improvement or technology deployment will open completely new ways of doing things. There will undoubtedly be some refinement required before the full benefit is experienced.
6. Resources
Just as you need buy in at all levels and roles for the transformation work, you also need all the key stakeholders to invest resources in the project. Time, skills and financial investment are all needed, and stakeholders need to agree and commit to a timeline. Identify the Executive Sponsor, the Evangelist and the Super Users.
7. Internal ownership
Whichever supplier or consultancy you deal with, you still need someone within your organisation to own the project and ensure it’s aligned with your specific requirements, environment and culture. A transformation programme without an internal owner is high risk, there’s a high probability it will not deliver on your expectations.
8. Ongoing training and adoption
When a new solution or process is deployed, early life support is key. Training, adoption programmes and end-user support are vital for a successful legal transformation. So are internal communications. Post-purchase dissonance doesn’t just come from the buyer. Everyone needs to be reminded of what life was like before and how good it's going to be in the future.
9. Cloud-native first
The landscape is changing rapidly, so the flexibility to change functionality and scale quickly, efficiently, cheaply and without breaking everything is a must for any business. Only cloud-native applications can do this. Don’t get caught out with expensive code that creates technical debt.
10. Design for the future, not the past
Don’t look to replicate exactly what you do now with a digital version. What you put in place may mean that you no longer do something the way you used to. Instead, look to optimise what works however fresh and new, replace what doesn’t and future-proof your investment with solutions that can support your organisation’s strategic goals.
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These are the 10 principles we apply to our legal transformation projects.
If you would like to understand how to apply them to yours, please get in touch.
Book a Discovery Call
Whether you already know what solution you want to deploy, or if you're just starting to explore legal transformation, we can help. But before we can, we need to get to know you, which is why we suggest a Discovery Call.
For a non-sales chat about your requirements, please complete the form.
Legal transformation improves the way legal teams operate so they can add value to the business.
But many transformation projects fail, including a staggering 77% of all legal tech projects. The reasons are varied but generally fall into the following categories: lack of time (from planning to implementation) and lack of investment (financial and human).
To help ensure your legal transformation is a success, whether it’s an in-house or law firm project, we recommend you follow our 10 principles.
1. Start with the desired outcome
What is the problem you are trying to solve and is it a high enough priority or big enough pain point to devote resources to? Clearly define the problem and how it’s managed currently - the pros and cons - then define what success looks like and how you’ll measure it.
2. It's about humans, not technology
Technology is a tool, not the solution. Humans are the most important aspect of any legal transformation project - technology enables them. Make sure you understand the human requirement.
3. Transformation equals change
Change requires management and is a specialist skill that can’t be underestimated. However beneficial the change to your people and organisation, it can still be met with resistance if it challenges the status quo. Make sure you prioritise change management throughout your project.
4. It’s a journey not a destination
Legal transformation is about the evolution of how things are done. It is rarely a case of doing something, putting it in place and then sitting back. Every piece of technology will open completely new ways of doing things. There will undoubtably be some refinement required before the full benefit is experienced.
5. Get buy in from all levels
It’s vital to get support from all stakeholders impacted by your legal transformation project, from all areas of the business, in different roles and at different levels. Do they understand how the transformation will help them personally in their role and are they prepared to adopt new ways of working.
6. Resources
Just as you need buy in at all levels and roles for the transformation work, you also need all the key stakeholders to invest resources in the project. Time, skills and financial investment are all needed, and stakeholders need to agree and commit to a timeline. Identify the Executive Sponsor, the Evangelist and the Super Users.
7. Internal ownership
Whichever supplier or consultancy you deal with, you still need someone within your organisation to own the project and ensure it’s aligned with your specific requirements, environment and culture. A transformation programme without an internal owner is high risk, there’s a high probability it will not deliver on your expectations.
8. Ongoing training and adoption
When a new solution or process is deployed, early life support is key. Training, adoption programmes and end-user support are vital for a successful legal transformation. So is internal communications. Post-purchase dissonance doesn’t just come from the buyer. Everyone needs reminding of what life was like before and how good it's going to be in the future.
9. Cloud-native first
The landscape is changing rapidly, so the flexibility to change functionality and scale quickly, efficiently, cheaply and without breaking everything is a must for any business. Only cloud-native applications can do this. Don’t get caught out with expensive code that creates technical debt.
10. Design for the future, not the past
Don’t look to replicate exactly what you do now with a digital version. What you put in place may mean that you no longer do something the way you used to. Instead, look to optimise what works however fresh and new, replace what doesn’t and future-proof your investment with solutions that can support your organisation’s strategic goals.
These are the 10 principles we apply to our legal transformation projects. If you would like to understand how to apply them to yours, please get in touch.