Efficient management of workflow is crucial for the success of a law firm or legal department due to the complexities and rigorous requirements of the legal sector. The role of the controller is particularly important in coordinating and monitoring activities for optimal results.
This article will discuss the significance of handling the legal process, the essential role of this expert, examining obstacles encountered in order to meet expectations, and the use of technology to address them.
The significance of managing legal workflows
The legal process involves a series of linked activities from initiating a case to finishing it. It includes tasks like legal research, drafting petitions, reviewing contracts, attending hearings, and is crucial for ensuring that all work is done correctly, on time, and at a high standard.
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Proper management of legal workflows offers various advantages, such as enhancing productivity by evenly distributing tasks to prevent overload or delays that may impact legal efficiency.
Efficient management helps minimize mistakes and redoing tasks, which enhances the office or legal department’s reputation.
Proper management of the workflow enables more efficient distribution of resources like time, personnel, and funds.
The function of a controller in workflow administration
The controller is essential in overseeing the legal workflow, ensuring tasks are carried out according to policies, and facilitating communication among team members to enhance legal efficiency.
The individual in this role is responsible for establishing and upkeeping a management system that comprises clear workflows, quality criteria, and the utilization of management tools like specialized software.
The controller needs to consistently oversee task progress, recognize potential obstacles, and make necessary adjustments to meet deadlines. This involves having a broad perspective on ongoing work and effectively prioritizing tasks.
Another crucial responsibility of this professional is participating in strategic planning discussions regarding workload distribution among lawyers based on their specialization, resource availability, and client needs. This ensures a balanced allocation of tasks within the team to prevent unnecessary overload or underutilization.
Challenges in overseeing the legal workflow.
Legal workflow management is difficult due to the legal system causing sudden shifts in deadlines and priorities, requiring the controller to adapt quickly and ensure all employees follow new expectations.
Dealing with an excessive amount of information is a challenge in the legal field. It is crucial to utilize tools and systems to enhance legal efficiency due to the large volume of documents and data involved.
Effective communication is consistently required in workflow management to ensure all stakeholders are informed about task progress and prevent errors or delays.
How to conquer obstacles when striving for legal effectiveness?
Using legal software can significantly enhance efforts to improve legal efficiency. For example, Thomson Reuters’ Legal One application provides controllers with deadline notifications and helps streamline work execution.
This tool enables easy access to the schedules of all professionals, helping determine their availability to meet demand and facilitating the involvement of multiple employees in task execution.
The platform offers various ways for professionals to participate in the work, such as assigning roles like requester and performer. Reminders can be set up to ensure deadlines are met.
Another legal option available to the controller is HighQ, allowing the manager to visualize the workflow using kanban, a tool that simplifies understanding the entire workflow.
Efficiently managing workflow is vital for companies aiming to achieve optimal outcomes. The controller is pivotal in this process, while it is equally important for all leadership in banking and legal departments to be mindful of the resources that facilitate activities effectively.
To discover more about maximizing legal productivity, the role of controllers, and the benefits of using legal software like Legal One and HighQ for your legal team, check out our blog.