Buying new software or technology solutions is hard.
For most of us, this is an area we rarely encounter in our careers, making it unfamiliar and outside our comfort zone. Plus, the buying process is complex, can involve a sizeable chunk of your budget, everyone wants to have a say, but no-one wants to be responsible, and there are so many internal hurdles.
For some legal teams, it can all seem too much, and you may find the best solution is to engage a consultant. However, much can be learned through retaining this project in-house, and in many cases, this can provide an outcome that is more aligned with organisation goals and results in greater adoption by an engaged legal team.
This playbook is designed to help guide legal professionals through the process of buying legal technology. It is based on many years of experience in working with corporate and Government legal teams, and will share a straightforward, best-practice approach.
Defining Your Objectives
If your legal team has decided to venture down the path of buying legal technology software or solutions, congratulations!
You and your team might be excited at the idea of buying something new, but do not be tempted to rush into the buying process.
Buying, implementing and adopting new technology solutions can very quickly go sideways and result in frustration, wasted resources, and can create considerable risk.
The goal is always to get it right the first time and slowing it down at the beginning and getting the planning and objective setting right will ultimately accelerate the time it takes to get the best outcome.
Remember: Don’t rush the planning phase – by slowing it down you will speed it up.
Before you begin exploring the market, it’s crucial to define what you aim to achieve with the legal technology solution. Consider what tasks are consuming most of your team’s time and whether they can be automated. Evaluate your current systems and determine if the new technology needs to integrate with them or replace them entirely. Your objectives will serve as the foundation for identifying the functionalities your ideal solution must possess.
To read more, download Lawcadia’s best practice playbook.
