Navigating the world of legal technology implementation can feel overwhelming, but with a clear strategy, success is within reach. We’ve worked with numerous legal teams and distilled our experience into four key pillars for a smoother, more successful rollout — especially when dealing with emerging technologies like Generative AI (GAI).
Before diving into these pillars, it’s important to note that stakeholder alignment, training and change management (CM), and leadership buy-in are non-negotiable. However, the way these components are addressed will vary by organization. Leadership support, ongoing communication, and a well-executed change management plan ensure your tech rollout has the foundational support it needs. The specifics of how each company handles these elements will depend on its culture and structure, but their importance remains universal.
Define Success
Before you begin, be crystal clear about what success looks like. Too often, legal departments set goals like “improving efficiency,” but that’s too vague. Instead, ask: How will we measure efficiency? What specific processes will improve? Will it mean quicker contract approvals, reduced manual tasks, or fewer emails clogging inboxes?
In Legal Operations, metrics are critical. Some essential metrics you can track include:
- Cycle time: Measure how long it takes to process key tasks such as contract approvals, dispute resolutions, or legal intake.
- Workload distribution: Analyze how work is divided among the team to spot inefficiencies.
- Cost savings: Calculate how much time or money the tech implementation saves by automating routine tasks or reducing outside counsel spend.
- Adoption rates: Track how many users actively engage with the new technology, especially within the first few months.
- Client satisfaction: Measure internal client satisfaction through surveys or feedback loops to assess if the tech improves response times and service delivery.
Define success in stages. For example, stage one could focus on reducing the time spent on routine inquiries by 20%. Stage two could be increasing the speed of contract execution by 30%. When you break down success into specific, measurable outcomes, tracking progress and making necessary adjustments becomes easier.
Assess Your Readiness
Rolling out a new technology without a readiness check is a recipe for frustration. Before implementing anything, take stock of your current workflows. What’s running smoothly, and where are the bottlenecks? Conduct a readiness assessment to identify where new tech will enhance your department and where it might create more friction.
Also, make sure your data and materials are updated. GAI is powerful, but it works best when fed clean, structured data. Test your workflows and policy materials first and start with a limited scope before expanding — especially if you’re automating processes like FAQs or legal request intake.
Encourage Simplicity
Implementing every shiny new feature that tech offers is tempting, but more complexity often leads to longer timelines and higher chances of failure. Focus on simplicity. If your goal is faster responses to employment-related inquiries, build the basic framework first — start with high-frequency, high-impact workflows and leave the edge cases for later phases.
Remember: Simplicity is not a lack of ambition — it’s about achieving your goals efficiently. You can continually iterate and expand once you’ve established a strong foundation. Avoid letting perfection get in the way of progress.
Let It Go
No implementation will go off without a hitch, and that’s OK. The key to success is flexibility. Be prepared to let go of things that aren’t working as planned. Maybe a key feature doesn’t perform as expected, or you need more time to get the team on board. Instead of holding rigidly to the initial plan, allow room for adjustments.
Iterate. Gather feedback. Stay agile. Your tech rollout should evolve as you learn what works and what doesn’t. Building in this flexibility not only prevents project burnout but also ensures long-term success.
Success Starts with a Practical Approach
Legal tech implementation doesn’t have to be a headache if you approach it with clear goals, an understanding of your department’s readiness, and a commitment to simplicity and flexibility. When done right, legal tech will transform how your team works — allowing them to focus on high-value tasks and leave repetitive work to automation.
Sumi Trombley practiced in law firms and in-house legal departments for more than a decade before coming to UpLevel Ops. Sumi previously served as Director, Legal at enterprise legal services provider Marshall Denning, LLC, where she managed and trained a team of junior and senior attorneys and developed and implemented resource optimizing processes for RFPs and pre-litigation disputes. She is known for her ability to provide strategic guidance and cost-effective solutions.
Brian Hupp was a founding leadership team member of the Corporate Legal Operations Consortium (CLOC) and served for many years on the CLOC Board of Directors. After more than 25 years in the legal industry, Brian has developed an expertise in building corporate legal operations functions from the ground up and has built a reputation for collaboration with legal technology partners to turn nascent technologies into essential, cutting-edge components of the legal operations arsenal.