When one considers what is essential in today's legal department, the focus tends to be on staff. But while experienced and capable legal professionals are essential, importance increasingly lies in something much more mechanical: Modern-day legal departments function far more effectively than at any time in the past, after all, because technology has empowered staff to handle more work, and faster than ever.

And this legal technology is far from a luxury—in many cases, it is the essential foundation on which many legal departments operate. But what are some of the most important of these often unseen and unheard tools? We talked with three current and former senior in-house legal executives to find out. A look at their top choices reveals how legal departments are looking to operate in the 21st century, and why certain technologies are an integral part of that evolution.

Matter Management

Paramount to a legal department's technology approach is its matter management platform. A centralized organization system that functions as the eyes and ears of a legal department, matter management technology tracks progress and offers insights on all ongoing matters.

For Reese Arrowsmith, vice president and head of legal operations at Campbell Soup Co., the technology is pivotal because it allows a “legal department [to] better manage resources—both external and internal—collaborate, [and] gain greater insight” into resource allocation and current work.