Legal Tech Implementation: A Strategic Roadmap to Success Recent insights from legal operations experts Sumi Trombley and Brian Hupp reveal a practical framework for successful legal technology rollouts, particularly crucial in the era of Generative AI (GAI).
While stakeholder alignment and leadership buy-in remain fundamental, the experts emphasize four key pillars that drive successful implementation:
Measurable Success Metrics Moving beyond vague goals like “improving efficiency,” successful implementations require specific, quantifiable objectives. “Cycle time measurements for key tasks such as contract approvals, dispute resolutions, or legal intake can provide clear indicators of improvement,” the authors note. They recommend a staged approach – for instance, targeting a 20% reduction in routine inquiry handling time before moving to more ambitious goals.
Strategic Readiness Assessment “Rolling out new technology without a readiness check is a recipe for frustration,” warn Trombley and Hupp. This is especially true for GAI solutions, which require clean, structured data. Organizations must evaluate current workflows, update policy materials, and start with limited-scope implementations focused on high-frequency tasks.
Embracing Simplicity Despite the temptation to implement every available feature, the authors advocate for simplicity. “Simplicity is not a lack of ambition — it’s about achieving your goals efficiently.” Starting with basic frameworks and high-impact workflows proves more effective than attempting comprehensive implementation at once.
Built-in Flexibility Perhaps most importantly, successful implementations require adaptability. “No implementation will go off without a hitch, and that’s OK,” the experts acknowledge. This means being prepared to abandon underperforming features, adjust timelines based on team adoption, and maintain an iterative approach guided by user feedback.
When executed with these principles, legal technology can transform operations, allowing teams to focus on high-value work while automating routine tasks. The key lies not in the technology itself, but in the strategic approach to its implementation.
Read more: Above the Law
