In our roles as general counsel past and current, we have both helped lead the digital transformation of legal departments. We are also involved as educators and advisers in the new Digital Legal Exchange, a nonprofit global institute aiming to accelerate digital transformation in legal by sharing accessible and practical know-how with corporate legal teams.   

In this article, we share some ideas about how to begin and sustain a legal department's digital transformation: what it means, how to prepare, key elements to consider, and important steps to take as you progress.  

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What does it mean for the legal function to become digital?  

In its simplest form, digital is about moving from labor-intensive operations, with limited defined process and automation, to a completely digital environment end-to-end. A digital legal function takes a totally new approach in the full circle of activities—hiring, training, sourcing, delivering, receiving, paying, evaluating outcomes, resolving issues and constantly evolving—and captures the function's data to enhance the GC's ability to assess and anticipate legal and commercial risks and opportunities, contributing unique value to the business.