Light bulbs have gone on over the heads of many in-house counsel this past year, and InsideCounsel has tapped into the insights of 10 innovative legal teams.

In departments across the country, law department lawyers were faced with varying challenges. From streamlining a contract management system and implementing a more robust e-discovery process to using technology more efficiently to train staff and building a more diverse and inclusive department, these teams rose to the challenges and proved that lawyers do know how to think outside of the box.

On the following pages, InsideCounsel profiles the 10 most innovative legal departments of 2013. Their stories and successes are inspiring, proving what a difference just a little original thinking can make in ensuring legal teams remain a vital business center within their companies.