Images
Legal
Operations
has
evolved
into
a
vital
strategic
function,
helping
in-house
legal
teams
navigate
today’s
increasingly
complex
business
landscape.
As
companies
face
growing
regulatory
demands,
financial
pressures,
and
the
rapid
adoption
of
AI,
the
partnership
between
General
Counsel
and
Legal
Ops
has
never
been
more
important.
By
working
together,
GCs
and
Legal
Ops
leaders
can
ensure
that
legal
departments
are
not
only
efficient
but
also
proactive,
business-aligned,
and
future-ready.
The
strongest
legal
teams
are
those
where
these
two
roles
collaborate
seamlessly,
leveraging
each
other’s
strengths
to
create
greater
value
for
the
business.
The
Evolution
of
the
GC-Legal
Ops
Relationship
Not
long
ago,
Legal
Ops
was
often
seen
as
an
administrative
function
—
important
but
secondary.
That
perception
has
changed.
Today,
Legal
Ops
is
not
just
about
process
efficiency;
it’s
about
equipping
legal
teams
with
the
tools,
data,
and
insights
they
need
to
operate
at
peak
performance.
GCs
are
balancing
an
ever-expanding
list
of
priorities
—
managing
risk,
controlling
costs,
supporting
business
objectives,
and
now,
navigating
the
complexities
of
AI.
Legal
Ops
plays
a
key
role
in
helping
legal
departments
meet
these
demands,
ensuring
that
legal
teams
are
well-positioned
to
support
the
broader
business.
When
GCs
and
Legal
Ops
leaders
are
aligned,
legal
departments
become
more
strategic,
agile,
and
effective.
Without
that
alignment,
Legal
Ops
risks
being
underutilized,
and
legal
teams
may
miss
opportunities
to
operate
at
their
full
potential.
The
best
outcomes
come
when
Legal
Ops
and
GCs
work
as
true
partners.
Key
Focus
Areas
for
GCs
&
Legal
Ops
in
2025
To
get
the
most
from
this
partnership,
legal
teams
should
focus
on
four
key
areas:
No.
1:
Strategic
Planning
&
Alignment
A
well-defined
legal
strategy
is
critical
to
ensuring
the
legal
department
is
not
just
reactive
but
actively
driving
business
success.
Legal
Ops
plays
a
crucial
role
in
operationalizing
the
GC’s
vision
—
aligning
legal’s
goals
with
broader
corporate
objectives,
creating
strategic
roadmaps,
and
implementing
key
initiatives.
By
integrating
legal
priorities
into
enterprise
planning,
legal
teams
can
proactively
mitigate
risk,
enhance
efficiencies,
and
deliver
measurable
business
value.
No.
2:
Financial
&
Vendor
Management
With
rising
legal
costs
and
increasing
budget
pressure,
Legal
Ops
can
help
GCs
structure
outside
counsel
relationships
to
drive
better
value.
Teams
that
move
toward
fixed
fees
and
outcome-based
pricing
models
often
achieve
cost
savings
while
improving
budget
predictability.
No.
3:
Enterprise-Wide
Collaboration
Legal
teams
don’t
operate
in
a
silo
—
success
depends
on
strong
collaboration
with
finance,
procurement,
HR,
IT,
and
other
departments.
Legal
Ops
helps
ensure
legal
services
are
delivered
efficiently
across
the
business,
breaking
down
silos
and
strengthening
cross-functional
relationships.
No.4:
Technology
&
AI
Integration
AI
is
rapidly
changing
the
way
legal
work
gets
done.
Legal
Ops
can
help
GCs
navigate
this
shift
—
identifying
the
right
tools,
ensuring
responsible
AI
adoption,
and
optimizing
processes
so
legal
teams
can
focus
on
high-value
work.
As
AI
continues
to
evolve,
GCs
who
tap
into
Legal
Ops
expertise
will
be
better
positioned
to
leverage
these
advancements
effectively.
A
Shift
Toward
Community
&
Collaboration
As
the
legal
function
continues
evolving,
legal
leaders
recognize
the
power
of
knowledge-sharing
and
collaboration.
Communities
like
LINK
x
L
Suite
are
helping
General
Counsel
and
Legal
Ops
professionals
connect,
exchange
ideas,
and
build
best
practices
together.
By
fostering
these
conversations,
legal
leaders
can
build
stronger
partnerships
and
stay
ahead
of
emerging
challenges.
What’s
Next
for
the
GC-Legal
Ops
Partnership?
The
legal
industry
is
evolving
rapidly,
and
the
GC-Legal
Ops
partnership
is
more
important
than
ever.
As
legal
teams
adapt
to
new
business
realities
—
shifting
expectations,
AI-driven
transformation,
and
ongoing
financial
pressures
—
those
who
embrace
collaboration
will
be
best
positioned
for
success.
Legal
Ops
and
GCs
bring
unique
and
complementary
strengths
to
the
table.
When
they
work
together,
legal
departments
become
more
strategic,
more
efficient,
and
more
impactful.
The
future
of
in-house
legal
isn’t
about
working
in
silos
—
it’s
about
working
together.
And
the
GC-Legal
Ops
partnership
is
the
key
to
making
that
happen.
Stephanie Corey is
a
co-founder
and
CEO
of
UpLevel
Ops. Stephanie also
co-founded
LINK
(Legal
Innovators
Network),
a
legal
operations
organization
exclusively
for
experienced,
in-house
professionals.
She
previously
founded
the
legal
operations
trade
organization
CLOC
(Corporate
Legal
Operations
Consortium)
and
is
a
former
executive
member.
Please
feel
free
to contact
and
connect
with
her
on
LinkedIn.