In-House Technology – Global Edition

Foreword: WSG

On behalf of the entire global World Services Group (WSG) network, I am delighted to welcome you to the fifth and final edition in this regional series of GC: In-House Technology special reports.

Features

Editor’s Letter | Editor's Letter

The Legal 500 has partnered once again with the independent law firm network World Services Group (WSG) to produce a comprehensive survey that aims to investigate the usage and impact of legal tech on in-house departments worldwide.

Foreword: WSG | Foreword

On behalf of the entire global World Services Group (WSG) network, I am delighted to welcome you to the fifth and final edition in this regional series of GC: In-House Technology special reports.

Adoption of legal tech | Results from our survey one

The speed at which technological advancements occur is pressuring legal departments to embrace change. We have asked general counsel if the turn to technology by their organisations has recently increased.

Challenges to the implementation of legal tech | Results from our survey two

A two thirds majority consider budgetary constraints as the main challenge to implementing legal technology. However, when digging into additional responses by GCs that answered ‘No’, a more detailed picture emerges.

External firms | Results from our survey three

Pressure to embrace change is also reflected in the relationships between in-house departments and external firms.

Choosing the right legal tech | Results from our survey four

In this ever-changing world, technological advancements are in continuous development. The number of devices and legal tech out there is increasing day after day.

Legal tech and the regulatory framework | Results from our survey five

While legal technology is now well established, questions arise regarding its regulatory framework.

The legal department of the future | Results from our survey six

Automation and digitisation of processes certainly help legal departments in daily mansions allowing them to focus on more time-consuming and demanding tasks.

‘Technically Speaking’ | Rethinking the role of legal technology in the ‘new normal’

Few would disagree that the global pandemic has led us into a new era. Many call this the ‘new normal’.

Finding Your North Star | Making sense of and choosing tech solutions

Although a great deal of legal technology was developed with in-house counsel in mind, there are still very few examples where GCs can clearly identify the specific value expected to be generated if they transition to implementing legal tech.

A glimpse into the future | What will and should the in-house department of the future look like?

A large part of the in-house legal department of the future will be shaped by ongoing competition for talent.

Africa | Legal tech in Africa from a GC's perspective

The legal tech market is, as evidenced in our current global survey, complex, with a multitude of tools available to in-house counsel. How can GCs based in Africa safely ford this river?

Middle East | Regional insight on legal tech

We spoke with a number of GCs operating in the Middle East. Unsurprisingly, given the diverse socio-political climate throughout the region, their opinions differed significantly regarding local politics, the social environment they were operating in, and how advanced the laws they operated under.