IS YOUR IN-HOUSE LEGAL TEAM LOOKING TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY AND PRODUCTIVITY – SO THEY CAN SPEND LESS TIME ON ADMIN AND MORE TIME ON HIGH-VALUE WORK?
Technology today plays an increasingly important role in helping corporate legal teams optimize their time and resources. The transformation of working practices over recent years, with the continued (and increasing!) trend for remote working, means IT tools are becoming more critical than ever for communication, administration, data management and knowledge sharing at work. Additionally, legal teams require specific LegalTech software to manage and automate everything from spend management and billing to matter management, reporting and administration.
Your LegalTech vendor checklist
With so many options available, how should in-house legal teams go about selecting the right technology vendor for their needs? To help you, we’ve compiled a handy checklist of key considerations:
1. DOES THE TECHNOLOGY MEET DATA SECURITY REQUIREMENTS?
The data usually handled by legal teams is way too sensitive to take any risks. You need to be confident that the technology you choose meets every security requirement of your IT department. Look for solutions that offer data security assurances, such as banking-grade encryption, single-jurisdiction hosting, and compliance with regulatory standards, such as ISO 27001 and GDPR.
2. DOES THE TECH VENDOR MEET COUNTRY–SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS?
Define your requirements by thinking through in detail about your daily work and identifying what’s missing. How can technology help? Ask vendors how their technology can address your specific challenges. For example, can the technology meet country-specific requirements in Europe, such as taxation and invoicing requirements?
3. WHAT LEVEL OF CUSTOMER SUPPORT IS ON OFFER?
Does the vendor you’re selecting have a professional customer service team? Will you be assigned a dedicated customer success manager? Does the vendor have dedicated GCC region support capabilities? How many languages are supported? Do they have the resources to provide the support you need?
4. IS THE VENDOR TRUSTED BY CLIENTS AND INDEPENDENT COMMENTATORS?
Always check out testimonials from clients, read case studies and ask to speak to clients. Find out if the vendor and its solutions are trusted and valued. Look for independent approvals or verifications from respected organizations. Does the vendor have a network of trusted partners to support and champion its solutions?
5. DOES THE NEW TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATE WITH ALREADY EXISTING IT SYSTEMS?
We all use an array of software and IT systems in our work to support efficient collaboration and communication. You need to opt for suitable legal technology that integrates fully with common software from Microsoft, Google, and others. Always try and choose interoperable legal technology tools that meet you where you work.
6. CAN YOU REQUEST A FREE DEMO?
Ask all shortlisted vendors for a detailed demonstration of their software and its application to a practical example. Before committing to new software, make sure you take it yourself for a test drive. Most vendors offer a free trial to test features, benefits, and usability.
