Agile Resourcing is the strategic use of flexible, scalable legal support models to augment your full-time legal team. It allows legal departments to respond to fluctuating demand, manage cost, and maintain performance - without relying solely on permanent headcount.

On the Human Capital Line, this station is a critical enabler. Your full-time legal team is your most expensive resource. But even the best team will hit capacity limits. Agile resourcing provides the elasticity needed to absorb spikes in demand, cover specialist gaps, and maintain service levels - without burning out your core team or blowing your budget.

Agile resourcing is not about outsourcing for the sake of cost-cutting. It’s about strategic augmentation. It’s about having the right support, at the right time, for the right task. Whether through secondees, project-based consultants, managed services, or tech-enabled support, agile resourcing gives legal leaders the tools to scale intelligently.

In short, Agile Resourcing is the legal department’s pressure valve. It protects your human capital, preserves morale, and ensures that legal remains responsive, relevant, and resilient.

The scope of Agile Resourcing typically includes:

◼️Demand Forecasting – Identifying when and where additional support will be needed.

◼️Flexible Talent Pools – Accessing pre-vetted legal professionals on demand.

◼️Specialist Support Models – Engaging experts for niche or high-risk matters.

◼️Project-Based Resourcing – Scaling up for transactions, disputes, or regulatory events.

◼️Managed Legal Services – Outsourcing defined workflows to external providers.

◼️Tech-Enabled Resourcing – Leveraging automation and AI to reduce manual workload.

◼️Cost Control Protocols – Ensuring agile support delivers ROI.

◼️Integration Frameworks – Embedding agile resources into existing team workflows.

In GLS legal ops speak – the Agile Resourcing Strategy is considered a “Foundational” resource within the process ecosystem of an in-house legal team.

The Foundational Resource is a CRE that is responsible for determining the overall performance capabilities of a “critical” legal function. If it is not optimised, the function can never be optimised. 

The best practice features of Agile Resourcing are as follows:

◼️Pre-Approved Talent Pools – Ready access to vetted legal professionals.

◼️Clear Engagement Protocols – Defined rules for when and how agile resources are used.

◼️Performance Tracking – Metrics to assess impact and value of agile support.

◼️Specialist Access – Ability to engage niche expertise without long-term commitment.

◼️Tech Integration – Agile resources operate within existing legal tech platforms.

◼️Cost Transparency – Full visibility into spend and savings.

◼️Scalability – Ability to flex up or down based on demand.

◼️Team Alignment – Agile resources are embedded into team culture and workflows.

The Agile Resourcing station delivers the following value to the Business:

◼️Faster Legal Turnaround – Additional capacity reduces bottlenecks.

◼️Cost Efficiency – Avoids unnecessary permanent hires and external counsel spend.

◼️Risk Management – Ensures legal support is available when needed most.

◼️Business Continuity – Maintains service levels during peak demand or team absences.

◼️Strategic Responsiveness – Legal can support business pivots without delay.

For the legal team, Agile Resourcing provides:

◼️Morale Protection – Reduces overload and burnout risk.

◼️Focus on High-Value Work – Routine tasks can be delegated to agile support.

◼️Access to Expertise – Brings in specialist knowledge when needed.

◼️Operational Flexibility – Adapts to changing business needs.

◼️Budget Control – Enables smarter use of legal spend.

The Agile Resourcing station is essential for:

◼️Legal Department Leadership

◼️In-House Counsel

◼️Legal Operations Teams

◼️HR & Talent Managers

◼️Executive Management

◼️Risk & Compliance Officers

◼️Internal Audit Functions

A legal team operating without an Agile Resourcing strategy will face a wide range of inefficiencies including:

◼️Overworked lawyers and rising burnout

◼️Inability to meet business demand during peak periods

◼️Increased reliance on expensive external counsel

◼️Poor responsiveness and stakeholder frustration

◼️Missed opportunities due to lack of capacity

◼️Difficulty scaling legal support with business growth

Agile Resourcing is enhanced by technology and often dependent on it for optimal performance:

◼️Legal Ops Platforms – Manage workflows and integrate agile resources.

◼️Talent Management Systems – Track availability and performance of flexible resources.

◼️Collaboration Tools – Enable seamless integration with internal teams.

◼️Automation & AI – Reduce manual workload and support agile delivery.

◼️Budgeting Tools – Monitor spend and ROI of agile engagements.

Technology makes agile resourcing scalable, measurable, and efficient.