The Group Legal Policy (GLP) is the definitive articulation of what your legal team is authorised to do, how it should do it, and the boundaries within which it operates. It is the strategic framework that transforms legal from a reactive service provider into a proactive business enabler.

On the Human Capital Line, the GLP plays a foundational role. It sets the stage for your lawyers - your most expensive and strategically important assets - to contribute meaningfully. Without a clear policy, lawyers are left to navigate ambiguity, wasting time on low-value tasks, second-guessing decisions, and burning out under unclear expectations.

The GLP removes this ambiguity. It defines the legal team’s mission, its risk appetite, its service boundaries, and its escalation protocols. It enables lawyers to focus on high-impact work, knowing they are operating within an agreed framework. It also gives the business confidence in legal’s consistency and reliability.

In short, the GLP is not just a policy - it is a productivity tool. It is the first step in creating an environment where legal talent can thrive, contribute, and deliver ROI.

The scope of the Group Legal Policy typically includes:

◼️Legal Team Mission Statement – Defines the purpose and strategic role of legal.

◼️Risk Appetite Framework – Clarifies acceptable legal risk levels across contract types and business units.

◼️Clause-Level Guidance – Sets default positions on key legal issues (e.g., indemnities, liability caps).

◼️Escalation Protocols – Outlines when and how legal issues should be escalated.

◼️Service Boundaries – Defines what legal will and won’t support.

◼️Template Governance – Links to approved templates and mandates their use.

◼️Compliance Alignment – Ensures legal practices align with regulatory requirements.

◼️Training & Communication – Provides for dissemination and education around the GLP.

In GLS legal ops speak – the Group Legal Policy 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 GLP are as follows:

◼️Board-Endorsed – Approved at the highest level to ensure enterprise-wide buy-in.

◼️Business Co-Authored – Developed in collaboration with commercial stakeholders.

◼️Clause-Level Clarity – Provides clear guidance on individual contract clauses.

◼️Accessible Format – Easy to navigate and usable by non-lawyers.

◼️Linked to Templates – Directly connected to approved contract templates.

◼️Regularly Updated – Reviewed periodically to reflect evolving business needs.

◼️Escalation Ready – Includes clear escalation paths for non-standard issues.

◼️Training Embedded – Supported by training programs for business users.

The Group Legal Policy delivers the following value to the Business:

◼️Faster Deal Execution – Reduces negotiation time by providing pre-agreed legal positions.

◼️Cost Efficiency – Minimises legal spend by reducing the need for bespoke legal review.

◼️Risk Management – Ensures contracts reflect the business’s risk appetite.

◼️Operational Clarity – Empowers commercial teams with clear legal boundaries.

◼️Improved Governance – Enhances accountability and consistency in contracting.

For the legal team, the GLP provides:

◼️Strategic Focus – Enables prioritisation of high-value legal work.

◼️Consistency – Reduces variability in legal advice and contract outcomes.

◼️Resource Optimisation – Prevents over-extension of legal resources.

◼️Reduced Escalations – Limits unnecessary internal disputes over legal positions.

◼️Morale Boost – Lawyers operate with clarity, confidence, and recognition.

◼️Human Capital ROI – Creates the conditions for lawyers to deliver their full value.

The Group Legal Policy is essential for:

◼️Legal Department Leadership

◼️Contracting Teams

◼️Commercial & Sales Teams

◼️Procurement Teams

◼️Risk & Compliance Officers

◼️Internal Audit Functions

◼️Executive Management

A legal team operating without a Group Legal Policy will face a wide range of inefficiencies including:

◼️Inconsistent legal advice across business units

◼️Prolonged contract negotiations

◼️Increased legal escalations and internal disputes

◼️Misalignment with business risk appetite

◼️Overuse of legal resources on low-value tasks

◼️Reduced credibility and morale within the legal team

While the GLP itself is not a technology product, it leverages technology in several ways:

◼️Document Management Systems – For version control and accessibility.

◼️Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) – Integration with templates and clause libraries.

◼️Legal Request Platforms – Embedding GLP guidance into intake workflows.
 
◼️Training Portals – Hosting GLP-related training materials.

A tech-enabled GLP ensures that guidance is embedded into daily workflows, not just stored in a PDF.