Why Legal Operations Teams Are Turning to AI for Workflow Automation
As in-house legal departments strive for efficiency, AI-driven solutions like Sandstone help streamline workflows and support legal operations teams. This article explores the best practices in…
Legal Automation
The New Age of Legal Operations
In the world of in-house legal operations, the push for efficiency is more than just a trend — it's a necessity. According to recent surveys, over 70% of in-house legal teams are actively seeking ways to streamline their workflows. This shift is not merely about keeping pace with technological advances but about building a foundation for future growth. The landscape for General Counsels (GCs) and legal operations leads is shifting dramatically, driven by innovative technologies like AI. Leveraging these tools signifies a profound evolution in how legal teams approach their processes.
The Strength of AI in Legal Operations
AI technologies manage tasks that consume valuable time and resources, allowing teams to focus on more strategic initiatives. Platforms like Sandstone are designed to support this transformation by integrating seamlessly into existing workflows rather than imposing new methodologies. By offering modular workflows and layered data management, legal teams can refine their operations through tailored, precise solutions that suit their unique needs.
Actionable Insight: Identify Workflow Bottlenecks
Before adopting AI solutions, it’s crucial for legal teams to thoroughly understand their workflows. Conduct a detailed survey of current processes to identify bottlenecks or repetitive tasks that could be streamlined through automation. This sets the stage for introducing AI where it will have the greatest impact.
Best Practices for Implementing AI in Legal Ops
The integration of AI into legal operations is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Here are some best practices that GCs and legal operations leads should keep in mind when considering AI solutions:
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Assess Your Team’s Needs: Every legal team is unique, with its own set of challenges and workflow dynamics. Conducting an internal review allows you to customize AI tools specifically for your operations.
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Start Small and Scale: Focus on automating one process at a time. Once the team becomes comfortable with a particular application, expand AI use to other areas. This strategy minimizes disruption while maximizing learning and adaptation.
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Train and Communicate: As you introduce AI tools, provide adequate training for your team. Emphasize the tool's benefits and how it can help them in their daily tasks, ensuring that everyone is on board with the changes.
Ground Your Strategy in Practicality
To illustrate, let’s consider a common task: contract management. Traditionally, managing contracts involves multiple manual steps – drafting, revisions, approvals, and compliance checks. An AI agent can automate each phase of this workflow, freeing up team members for more important tasks such as compliance strategy or client advisory. Using a platform like Greyball can allow teams to equip AI with templates and past contracts to generate documents quickly while ensuring every contract meets compliance standards.
Measuring Success Through KPIs
To truly understand the impact of AI on your legal operations, embrace KPI tracking. Some KPIs to consider include:
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Reduction in Turnaround Time: Measure how much faster contracts or legal documents are processed when using AI.
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Increased Compliance Rates: Monitor how AI-assisted processes aid in meeting regulatory requirements.
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Team Satisfaction: Surveys assessing team morale can indicate whether automation is appreciated.
Final Thoughts on Streamlined Operations
The use of AI in legal operations is a transformative leap toward creating a scalable, efficient legal environment. In a world where agility and responsiveness are increasingly vital, embracing AI solutions enables legal teams to enhance their resilience and focus on strategic objectives. Sandstone embodies this philosophy, providing tools that are built on the foundation of intelligent integration, much like its namesake. As teams lean on innovation to reshape the landscape of legal efficiency, the returns on investment will speak for themselves.
Get started on your journey today by evaluating your workflows through an AI lens – it's the first step toward building a stronger, smarter legal operation today.
About Jarryd Strydom
Jarryd Strydom is a contributor to the Sandstone blog.