The international law firm Seyfarth Shaw, based in Chicago, employs almost 800 lawyers. The firm tried to change how it practices law. It started with two projects. The need to improve the regular review process for conflicts of interest was visible, since that was a pain point across the firm.
The initiative made it possible to cut the number of errors by 90% and reduce the processing time by 86%. The other project brought better allocations of resources and higher returns. Gradually, people start accepting that whatever they do, in whichever area of legal practice, they need to examine the process that allows them to deliver results.
Creating process maps
For each type of project, the firm gathered the best practitioners around one table. There were more than 500 workflows that are linked with legal work. For each workflow, a list of all necessary tasks was created and then people made their estimates of how long each task typically takes. That provided others with some guidance of what standard work looks like. Process maps were created and standard times for all types of tasks set. That gives the workers more discipline, according to an article on the mckinsey.com website.
Everything is visible to clients
And now processes are also much more transparent. Now everyone knows how long a task takes to be completed. By the use of the collaborative technology platform, a client can see immediately what type of work has to be done and can adjust workloads among in-house and external attorneys. There are standards. Process mapping is used to find gaps and the most serious problems within the legal department.
Profound changes
Now there have to be several project managers and a data specialist in the team when legal consulting takes place. Hierarchy is now a thing of the past because the organization is now much flatter. Everyone can know a lot about a particular process stage or about the causes of a certain issue. Therefore, because everyone has authority based on his expertise and knowledge, collaboration is reinforced. People feel that they are working together.
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