The IHL Platform / Resources station is about assessing the adequacy of the infrastructure that supports your legal team. It’s not a tick-box exercise - it’s a strategic audit of whether your lawyers have what they need to deliver against their mandate. This station forces legal leadership to look beyond individual performance and ask: Is the platform beneath our team enabling or obstructing success?

Every legal department sits on a foundation of tools, systems, processes, and resources. These include everything from templates and policies to collaboration platforms, training programs, and reporting dashboards. But having resources is not the same as having the right resources - or using them effectively. This station is about identifying what’s working, what’s underperforming, and what’s missing.

Critically, this is not about building a dream wishlist. Massive gains can be achieved by better leveraging what you already have. If a resource is performing well, use it more. If it’s leaking value, stop fuelling it. The goal is to create a platform that supports your lawyers to work smarter, faster, and with greater confidence.

Ultimately, the IHL Platform / Resources station is about ensuring your legal team is standing on solid operational ground. Because even the best lawyers can’t perform if the foundation beneath them is cracked.

The scope of the IHL Platform / Resources station typically includes:

◼️Resource Inventory – Identifying all tools, templates, systems, and support assets available to the legal team.

◼️Performance Benchmarking – Assessing how well each resource supports legal team objectives.

◼️Gap Analysis – Identifying missing or underperforming resources.

◼️Usage Patterns – Understanding which resources are used, underused, or misused.

◼️Enablement Mapping – Linking resources to specific legal team functions and workflows.

◼️Integration Assessment – Evaluating how well resources work together across the department.

◼️Scalability Review – Determining whether current resources can support future growth.

◼️Optimisation Strategy – Developing a plan to better leverage high-performing resources and phase out ineffective ones.

In GLS legal ops speak – the IHL Platform/Resources 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 IHL Platform / Resources station are as follows:

◼️Comprehensive Resource Inventory – A complete and current list of all legal department assets.

◼️Performance-Based Evaluation – Resources are assessed based on actual contribution to legal team outcomes.

◼️Usage Analytics – Data-driven insights into how resources are used across the team.

◼️Strategic Alignment – Resources are mapped to legal team goals and business priorities.

◼️Scalability & Flexibility – The platform can grow and adapt with the business.

◼️Integration Readiness – Resources are compatible with existing workflows and tech systems.

◼️Enablement Focus – Resources are designed to empower lawyers, not just support them.

◼️Continuous Improvement Protocols – Regular reviews to refine, replace, or retire resources.

The IHL Platform / Resources station delivers the following value to the Business:

◼️Faster Legal Turnaround – Lawyers spend less time searching, duplicating, or reinventing.

◼️Cost Efficiency – Resources are used strategically, reducing waste and unnecessary spend.

◼️Improved Risk Management – Reliable tools and templates reduce errors and inconsistencies.

◼️Scalable Legal Support – A strong platform supports growth without chaos.

◼️Better Stakeholder Experience – Legal delivers more consistent and confident support.

For the legal team, IHL Platform / Resources provides:

◼️Productivity Gains – Lawyers are empowered by high-performing resources to achieve more, faster.

◼️Confidence in Delivery – Reliable tools reduce second-guessing and rework.

◼️Development Acceleration – Junior lawyers learn faster with structured, proven resources.

◼️Morale Boost – A well-supported team feels valued and capable.

◼️Operational Clarity – Clear tools and systems reduce ambiguity and friction.

◼️Transformation Readiness – A strong platform supports innovation and change.

The IHL Platform / Resources 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 IHL Platform / Resources strategy will face a wide range of inefficiencies including:

◼️Fragmented service delivery due to inconsistent tools

◼️Increased legal risk from outdated or misused resources

◼️Poor morale and frustration from unsupported lawyers

◼️Slow onboarding and development of junior team members

◼️Difficulty scaling legal support with business growth

◼️Wasted spend on underperforming or unused assets

The IHL Platform / Resources station is technology-leveraged, but not exclusively tech-based:

◼️Document Management Systems – Centralise templates, policies, and guidance.

◼️Analytics Platforms – Track usage and performance of legal resources.

◼️Collaboration Tools – Enable seamless access and sharing across the team.

◼️Training Portals – Host onboarding and development materials.

◼️Integration Engines – Ensure resources work across platforms and workflows.

Technology can amplify resource performance - but only if the underlying platform is strategically managed.