OCTOBER 2017CIOAPPLICATIONS.COM8or decades, the legal industry had been slow to embrace the digital technologies and virtual tools that have reshaped other industries. The provision of legal services is often considered bespoke and technical. In the same way that we think of highly trained surgeons and architects as providing specialized services tailored for specific needs, the legal profession has often been thought to be too sophisticated and complex for standardization. The reality is much more nuanced. Of course, there will always be complex contracts and intricate negotiations that will require us to start from scratch, but for many in-house counsel, the truth is that there are many more run-of-the-mill legal services we are regularly called on to DEBORAH GORDON, EVP AND CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER, MEMORIAL HERMANN HEALTH SYSTEMFLEGAL INDUSTRY MUST EMBRACE INNOVATION TO KEEP PACE WITH DIGITALLY DRIVEN SOCIETY IN MYVIEWprovide that could greatly benefit from standardization and technical innovation. That's especially true in this new era of accountability, where we are all striving to become more efficient and effective in order to better serve our companies and their customers. This is just one example of why we can no longer rely on old practices to achieve new goals. To be successful and keep pace with a digitally driven society, law practices have to think outside the box, look to other technologically savvy industries for guidance, and adopt new virtual tools that allow us to meet the needs of our rapidly changing businesses. We have to eschew some of the profession's outdated worries about standardization and modularization and look for ways to become more nimble and responsive. In short, we have to get out of our comfort zones and get on board with the digital revolution. For example, in a cutting-edge and closely watched industry like healthcare ­ where technological leaps happen every single day ­ in-house legal department have no other choice than to embrace innovation as a matter of survival. As the sector shifts towards performance measurement, value-based care delivery and a greater focus on consumer convenience and satisfaction, so too must law practices evolve in an effort to realign their objectives to match the demands of their business partners. Arguably, one of the biggest game changers in legal innovation has been the development and expansion of work flow management tools, like contract management databases, that promise to improve efficiency and provide quicker results for those requesting legal services. In the same way that services like LegalZoom democratized some forms of customary legal documentation, in-house counsel are increasingly seeking ways to give employees easier access to frequently requested information that doesn't necessarily require a lawyer's input every time.Deborah Gordon
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