back

Back

Managing External Counsel

In-House Legal Tip: Performance Manage your External Counsel

1 min • 20 Oct 22

Copy_of_Copy_of_WHITE_1080x1080px-3-2.jpg

There are not too many in-house legal teams that talk positively about the value that their external law firms have provided.

Feedback ranges from “we don’t receive the value we expect” through to “our law firms are outstanding but are far too expensive.”

In short, law firm relationships all too often seem to be “suffered” or “indulged” by in-house legal teams, as opposed to being positively welcomed. 

This is a most unsatisfactory outcome for in-house legal teams as: 

  • Law firms will always be an important resource category that in-house teams need to use (when used correctly); and 
  • Law firms can provide genuine value beyond traditional advisory when pointed in the right direction. 

So, we must ask: What have you communicated to your external advisors in terms of the value you would like to see? Have you even had such a conversation? 

If you do not have a clear idea about the value that you want to receive – how do you think the fairly unimaginative folks over in Big Law are going to be able to form a view? 

In short – they won't. 

In-house legal teams need to place their relationships with their regular law firms into a “performance managed” construct. This means identifying what value you want to receive, and managing your relationship with each law firm so that you actually receive that value.

Sounds simple? Well, it is not complicated. But it does mean you need to give active consideration to what value you would like to be receiving. Ask and you may receive; don’t ask and it is guaranteed that you will not.

Ready To Transform Your Legal Team?

Please check out the GLS solutions and know-how resources listed on the right side of this page – they might assist your legal team with the issues explored in this Blog. 

© The GLS Group - Law Rewritten

The GLS Legal Operations Centre

The GLS Legal Operations Centre

Register to access your complimentary Day 1 Resource Stack packed with legal team performance resources.

 

GLS Ultimate Guide To Legal Operations

GLS Ultimate Guide To Legal Operations

Download this and read it thoroughly and regularly. It is a wonderful transformation companion.

 

Book A No-Obligation Consultation

Book A No-Obligation Consultation

If you would like discuss your legal transformation needs, please book a 30 minute free consultation with us.

 

GLS Legal Transformation Boot Camp

GLS Legal Transformation Boot Camp

Our hugely successful, 10-week long, email-based boot camp on how to effectively transform your legal team.

 

GLS Connect Zone / Intelligence Feed

GLS Connect Zone / Intelligence Feed

Visit the GLS Connect Zone and select the intelligence feed that you would like to receive from us.

 

The GLS Legal Transformation Plans

The GLS Legal Transformation Plans

Mitigate the risks of transformation failure by partnering us and taking a GLS Transformation Support Plan.

 

Up Arrow
chevron Back
Legal Resource Stack

My Resources

Managed Legal Services

Knowledge Centre

chevron Back
GLS Group

News/Press Release

chevron Back
Legal Tech Demo

Discovery Call