In an era where digital transformation is a necessity rather than a luxury, legal departments, regardless of size, are no exception. As the Paralegal for a brand accelerator of next-generation fashion brands, I've had the unique experience of steering our small legal department into the digital age of automation. Our journey has been both challenging and triumphant, filled with valuable lessons and significant milestones.
Embracing Change
The first step in our journey was recognizing the need for change. With a lean legal department, we quickly realized that manual processes were not sustainable. We were drowning in paperwork, buried under mountains of contracts, and struggling to keep up with the ever-increasing demands of our business units. Working with multiple divisions can also be challenging as we need transparency into every contract from every division to ensure we’re fully leveraging them. Luckily, I had the support of our executive team who saw the value in bringing automation into the legal department.
Challenges Along the Way
Transitioning into the digital era came with its fair share of challenges. One of the biggest was finding the right tools and technologies to suit our needs. With a limited budget, we had to be strategic in our choices. I conducted thorough research, ran RFPs, sought recommendations from peers, and ultimately selected the platform Ironclad which offered scalability, customization, and user-friendly interfaces.
With numerous requests coming in daily, I regularly feel crunched for time. Since most legal software systems are built for teams of five or more, making this transition has been slower than anticipated. If you are in a small legal department and find this task to be arduous, have grace with yourself. Communicate with your stakeholders on your process. I found using ClickUp to show updates to stakeholders and my manager was invaluable for updates (the best part is ClickUp is free to use for small projects). Set small goals each week for different areas of the software, whether that’s meeting with stakeholders to get an understanding of how they work so you can build a proper workflow in the system or getting your repository dialed in. Remember that moving forward in any way is progress.
Overcoming resistance to change is an issue that our department had to manage.. Some team members expressed hesitation to change and embrace new technologies. However, I reminded them that automation would enhance our contract workflow, enhance communication, and create transparency in contracts, which helps the business and would also assist us with workflow advantages that would allow our Chief Legal Counsel to focus on higher-value tasks, creating a seamless workflow for the department.
Triumphs and Milestones
Despite the challenges, our journey into the digital frontier has been marked by many triumphs. Implementing contract management software was a game-changer for us. It streamlined our contract review and approval processes, reducing turnaround times and minimizing errors. Suddenly, we had more time to focus on strategic initiatives and proactive risk management.
Automation also empowered us to enhance collaboration within our department and across the organization. With digital workflows and centralized repositories, information became more accessible, enabling smoother communication and collaboration among team members and business stakeholders.
Furthermore, as we grow in the software, we will gain invaluable insights from data analytics. By leveraging data-driven decision-making, we’ll be able to identify trends, optimize processes, and mitigate risks more effectively. Whether it's forecasting legal spend or identifying areas for process improvement, data analytics will become an indispensable weapon in our arsenal.
Looking Ahead
As I continue my journey into the digital age, my focus remains on innovation and continuous improvement. I’ve been exploring opportunities to further automate routine tasks and integrate AI-powered solutions for contract analysis. I also plan to speak to our IT department about enhancing cybersecurity measures to protect sensitive data.
Moreover, I’m committed to fostering a culture of adaptability and lifelong learning within our department. Embracing change is not a one-time event but an ongoing process, and I’m dedicated to ensuring that we stay ahead of the curve.
Conclusion
Transforming a small legal department into a digital powerhouse is no small feat, but the rewards are worth the effort. By embracing change, overcoming challenges, and leveraging the right technologies, we've elevated our department's efficiency, effectiveness, and overall impact on the organization.
Our journey serves as a testament to the power of innovation and collaboration in navigating the complexities of today's digital landscape. As we continue to evolve and adapt, I’m excited about the opportunities that lie ahead and the positive impact we can make on our organization and the legal industry as a whole.