The Full-Time Legal Team station focuses on the strategic management of your permanent legal staff - not as isolated professionals, but as a unified, high-performing team. While individual lawyer performance matters, the real power of a legal department lies in how well its full-time members operate together.

This team is often the largest and most enduring cost centre in the legal function - especially after major events like litigation or acquisitions. Yet, despite their significance, many legal departments fail to consider the collective needs of the team. Instead, they manage lawyers as individuals, missing the opportunity to create synergy, cohesion, and a multiplier effect.

This station invites legal leaders to think differently. It’s about understanding what the team needs as a whole - shared goals, communication rhythms, collaboration protocols, and cultural alignment. It’s about creating an environment where the team’s combined output exceeds the sum of its parts.

When properly supported, the full-time legal team becomes a strategic asset capable of delivering consistent, scalable, and high-impact legal support. This station is where that transformation begins.

The scope of the Full-Time Legal Team station typically includes:

◼️Team-Level Goal Setting – Establishing shared objectives and success metrics.

◼️Collaboration Protocols – Defining how team members work together across functions.

◼️Communication Rhythms – Setting regular touchpoints for alignment and feedback.

◼️Culture & Values – Building a shared identity and behavioural norms.

◼️Workload Distribution – Ensuring fair and strategic allocation of tasks.

◼️Team Development Plans – Investing in collective learning and capability building.

◼️Conflict Resolution Mechanisms – Managing interpersonal dynamics constructively.

◼️Recognition Systems – Celebrating team achievements and reinforcing cohesion.

In GLS legal ops speak – the Full Time Team 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 the Full-Time Legal Team are as follows:

◼️Team Charter – A documented agreement on how the team operates and collaborates.

◼️Shared KPIs – Performance metrics that reflect team-level outcomes.

◼️Regular Team Reviews – Structured sessions to assess progress and recalibrate.

◼️Cross-Training Initiatives – Building resilience and flexibility across roles.

◼️Psychological Safety – A culture where team members feel safe to speak up and innovate.

◼️Peer Recognition Programs – Encouraging appreciation and mutual support.

◼️Leadership Accessibility – Senior leaders actively engage with the team.

◼️Team-Based Incentives – Rewards linked to collective performance, not just individual output.

The Full-Time Legal Team delivers the following value to the Business:

◼️Consistent Legal Support – A cohesive team delivers reliable, high-quality service.

◼️Scalable Performance – Team dynamics enable legal to handle increasing demand.

◼️Faster Problem Solving – Collaboration accelerates issue resolution.

◼️Improved Stakeholder Experience – A united team presents a seamless interface to the business.

◼️Reduced Risk – Shared accountability and oversight reduce errors and blind spots.

For the legal team, the Full-Time Legal Team station provides:

◼️Stronger Morale – A supportive team environment boosts engagement and retention.

◼️Greater Efficiency – Clear roles and collaboration reduce duplication and delays.

◼️Professional Growth – Team learning and feedback accelerate development.

◼️Resilience – Cross-functional support helps absorb workload spikes and absences.

◼️Strategic Alignment – Shared goals keep the team focused on what matters most.

The Full-Time Legal Team 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 a Full-Time Legal Team strategy will face a wide range of inefficiencies including:

◼️Fragmented service delivery and inconsistent advice

◼️Poor morale and high turnover

◼️Ineffective collaboration and duplicated effort

◼️Lack of strategic focus and shared accountability

◼️Difficulty scaling legal support as business grows

◼️Missed opportunities for innovation and improvement

The Full-Time Legal Team station is enhanced by technology, but not dependent on it:

◼️Collaboration Platforms – Support communication and shared workflows.

◼️Performance Dashboards – Track team-level KPIs and engagement metrics.

◼️Training Portals – Enable team-wide learning and development.

◼️Recognition Tools – Facilitate peer-to-peer appreciation and feedback.

◼️Legal Ops Systems – Align team structure with service delivery processes.

Technology can amplify team dynamics—but the foundation must be cultural and strategic.