Transforming the Role of In-House Legal Teams

Technology has transformed legal practices into an iteration of themselves unrecognisable from those of the past. The legal sector has traditionally been slow to adopt these innovations but, post-pandemic, many companies have realised the value of new tools and systems such as digital contracts and workflow management software. However, for many in-house legal departments there is still a long way to go. Those few that have committed to adopting technology throughout their organisations have been able to digitise entire contracting lifecycles and automate multiple components such as workflow and risk management. As businesses strive to become as cost efficient as possible, it is vital that in-house legal teams embrace the possibilities of technology as enthusiastically as other teams within organisations.

Beyond cutting costs, digital transformation can transform the role of in-house legal teams, taking them from being solely ‘guardians of risk’ to being key ‘growth enablers’ for businesses. As a result, there is now an expectation from CEOs that legal leaders will indeed drive this, with a recent survey finding that 53% of C-suite executives are now looking to their General Counsels to push forward with transformation strategies. Adopting a data driven approach, integrating document generating self-serve tools and integrating Generative AI into digital infrastructure are all ways this can be achieved. For those who haven’t already begun to truly embrace the digitisation of legal services it is vital that they ask themselves; where is the best place to start? How can we keep up? For those who have already begun their digital journey the big question is: what's next?

This webinar hosted by the Financial Times, in collaboration with the Global Legal Business Solutions team at PwC, explored how technology can be used to redefine the role of in-house legal teams into a function that not only protects a company but drives growth.

Legal Teams

What reservations do some in-house legal teams have about truly embracing digitisation? How can these concerns be addressed?

Operating Models

How do operating models need to evolve to match the new capabilities and ways of working that increased digitisation creates?

Generative AI

What does the rise of Generative AI mean for GCs and in-house legal departments? What are some of the most exciting potential applications for this technology? 

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