Legal Team
As we approach 2025, General Counsel (GCs) need to adapt quickly to ensure legal departments stay ahead. The Gartner and Plexus reports highlight six critical operational changes, from reducing inefficiencies to adopting advanced technology. With 2024 drawing to a close, GCs must embrace legal transformation by implementing technology, automating processes, and building a network of legal support. These shifts are crucial for maintaining agility, mitigating risks, and ensuring that legal functions align with business goals.
Source: Plexus
As 2024 progresses, General Counsel (GCs) face increasing pressure to adapt to evolving legal and business landscapes. Gartner’s 2021 report, "The Future of Legal," outlines key shifts GCs must adopt by 2025, echoed in Plexus’ General Counsel Thought Leaders Report. With over 85% of legal tasks still unsupported by enterprise tools, GCs need to act swiftly to prevent their departments from falling behind. This requires a comprehensive reevaluation of operations, ensuring alignment with changing business needs and technology.
One of the most crucial changes is reducing operational inefficiencies. The Gartner report found that 78% of legal leaders experienced stagnating or slowed performance, a challenge still evident in 2024. GCs must focus on automating routine processes and fostering quicker, more efficient legal guidance. By integrating advanced legal technology and working collaboratively with other business units, GCs can eliminate bottlenecks and streamline workflows. Building a strong network of legal support providers and spreading workloads across multiple entities can also optimise efficiency and cut legal costs by up to 30%.
In addition to automation and outsourcing, modernising operations through technology is essential. Only 32% of GCs have implemented tech solutions, leaving much room for growth. Specialising in tools that enhance productivity and collaboration, like contract lifecycle management (CLM) software and AI-driven legal operations, will position legal departments to thrive. Furthermore, upskilling both legal and non-legal staff is vital for success, fostering digital literacy and equipping teams to handle the legal challenges of the future. GCs that embrace these operational changes will not only stay competitive but also create agile, technology-powered legal functions capable of driving business growth.
Read more: Plexus