Updated version reflects rapid advancement in the sophistication of corporate legal services across the globe
WASHINGTON (November 10, 2020) – The Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) has released its ACC Legal Operations Maturity Model 2.0, a tool that reflects advancement in maturity in legal departments around the globe. Insights from over 100 law department leaders via the ACC Legal Operations Interest Groups, as well as contributions from leading practitioners in each functional area, were instrumental in updating this Maturity Model, which informs the development of roadmaps for operational improvement.
Building on the popularity of ACC’s original Legal Operations Maturity Model, the 2.0 version describes early, intermediate, and advanced stages of maturity across 14 legal operations functions. This includes innovation management, an increasingly important function not included in the original model. Users can compare their own team’s performance to the model’s maturity markers to see how they stand against international benchmarks.
Broadly, the standards favor streamlined processes; automation; proactive decision-making and change management practices; and deep integration of the legal team in business-wide planning and operations.
“The pressures on legal departments over the past year have only increased the need for general counsel and their leadership teams to align on operational improvements,” said Catherine J. Moynihan, associate vice president, legal management services at ACC. “The Legal Operations Maturity Model 2.0 is more robust than its first iteration, and reflects evolving practices. Put simply, the advanced stage is now more advanced. This fact shouldn't discourage teams that find themselves at earlier stages; on the contrary, it will inspire them to keep improving in efficiency and integration across the company.
“No matter the size, industry, or location of the organization, this Maturity Model clarifies the next step in a law department’s maturity. I’m grateful to the ACC members and industry leaders whose observations and experiences helped make this the most up-to-date tool for internal assessments.”
The 14 functions measured by the Maturity Model are:
1. Change management and communication
2. Contract management
3. eDiscovery
4. External resources management
5. Financial management
6. Information governance (records management)
7. Innovation management
8. Intellectual property management
9. Internal resources management
10. Knowledge management
11. Metrics and analytics
12. Process and project management
13. Strategic planning and legal operations leadership
14. Technology management
The ACC Legal Operations Maturity Model 2.0, along with a foundational toolkit for members, is available on the ACC website.
About ACC: The Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) is a global legal association that promotes the common professional and business interests of in-house counsel who work for corporations, associations and other organizations through information, education, networking, and advocacy. With more than 45,000 members in 85 countries employed by over 10,000 organizations, ACC connects its members to the people and resources necessary for both personal and professional growth. By in-house counsel, for in-house counsel.® For more information, visit www.acc.com and follow ACC on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.