The Legacy IHL Process / Workflow Audit station is the cornerstone of any legal transformation journey. It is about discovery - understanding the processes that make your legal team function and assessing how well they perform. Without this insight, any attempt at automation or technology adoption is destined to fail.

Legal departments are complex ecosystems. They operate through thousands of workflows - some critical, others peripheral. GLS research shows that an average in-house legal team executes over 2,000 workflows weekly, ranging from contract review to compliance checks. Many of these workflows are ripe for automation, while others require human judgment and cannot be automated. The challenge lies in knowing which is which.

This station ensures that before technology is introduced, inefficient, duplicated, or risk-exposed workflows are identified and addressed. Automating a flawed process only entrenches inefficiency. The audit provides clarity on what matters most, enabling legal teams to prioritise improvements that deliver measurable business value.

Consider this analogy: buying a CLMS without understanding your existing processes is like asking a builder to construct a house without a blueprint. You’ll get something - but not what you need. This is why so many CLMS implementations fail. Organisations purchase feature lists instead of compatibility, unaware of the dependencies within their legal ecosystem. The result? Misalignment, wasted investment, and frustration.

The Legacy IHL Process / Workflow Audit is about building that blueprint. It identifies your key processes, benchmarks them against industry standards, and sets the stage for meaningful transformation.

The scope of this station covers the entire lifecycle of process discovery and performance assessment. Key components include:

◼️Process Identification: Mapping all workflows within the legal department, from high-level processes to granular sub-processes.

◼️Criticality Assessment: Determining which workflows are mission-critical versus those that are peripheral.

◼️Performance Benchmarking: Comparing current performance against industry best practices and peer benchmarks.

◼️Risk Analysis: Identifying workflows that expose the organisation to compliance, operational, or reputational risks.

◼️Duplication Detection: Highlighting redundant processes that waste time and resources.

◼️Automation Readiness: Assessing which workflows can be automated and which require human oversight.

◼️Dependency Mapping: Understanding how processes interconnect within the legal ecosystem.

◼️Improvement Prioritisation: Creating a roadmap for optimisation before technology implementation.

The Legacy IHL Process/ Workflow Audit station is considered a Foundational resource within the GLS Legal Operations model.

A Foundational Resource: 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 Legacy IHL Process / Workflow Audit are as follows:

◼️Comprehensive Mapping: Every workflow and sub-process is documented for full visibility.

◼️Benchmark Integration: Performance is measured against top-performing legal departments.

◼️Risk Prioritisation: High-risk workflows are flagged for immediate attention.

◼️Automation Strategy: Clear identification of automation candidates and manual-only processes.

◼️Data-Driven Insights: Decisions are based on empirical data, not assumptions.

◼️Stakeholder Engagement: Input from legal, business, and compliance teams ensures accuracy.

◼️Continuous Review: Processes are revisited periodically to maintain relevance.

◼️Technology Neutrality: Recommendations focus on needs, not vendor features.

◼️Dependency Awareness: Interconnected workflows are mapped to avoid disruption.

◼️Actionable Roadmap: Clear steps for optimisation and transformation are provided.

The Legacy IHL Process / Workflow Audit delivers the following value to the Business:

◼️Cost Savings: Eliminates inefficiencies and reduces wasted resources.

◼️Time Savings: Streamlines workflows for faster turnaround times.

◼️Deal Velocity: Enables quicker contract execution and business transactions.

◼️Risk Mitigation: Identifies and addresses compliance vulnerabilities.

◼️Data-Driven Decisions: Provides clarity for technology investments and process improvements.

◼️Agility: Positions the business to respond quickly to market and regulatory changes.

For the legal team, this station delivers:

◼️Operational Clarity: Full visibility of processes and their performance.

◼️Resource Optimisation: Aligns team effort with high-value workflows.

◼️Technology Readiness: Ensures successful CLMS and legal tech implementation.

◼️Performance Tracking: Establishes benchmarks for continuous improvement.

◼️Reduced Frustration: Eliminates duplication and inefficiency that drain morale.

The Legacy IHL Process / Workflow Audit is essential for:

◼️General Counsel: Seeking strategic oversight and transformation readiness.

◼️Legal Operations Leaders: Driving efficiency and tech adoption.

◼️In-House Legal Teams: Looking to optimise workflows and reduce risk.

◼️Business Executives: Demanding faster, more reliable legal support.

A legal team operating without a Legacy IHL Process / Workflow Audit will face a wide range of inefficiencies including:

◼️Process Blindness: No visibility into what drives legal operations.

◼️Technology Misalignment: Failed CLMS and automation projects.

◼️Duplication: Wasted effort on redundant workflows.

◼️Risk Exposure: Unidentified compliance gaps.

◼️Resource Drain: Misallocation of time and talent.

This station is technology-adjacent rather than technology-driven. It does not require tech to execute but is a critical precursor to tech adoption. Without this audit, any investment in CLMS or automation tools risks failure. The audit informs:

◼️System Selection: Ensures compatibility with existing processes.

◼️Integration Planning: Maps dependencies for smooth implementation.

◼️Automation Strategy: Identifies workflows suitable for tech enablement.

1. Why is a legal workflow audit important?

It ensures efficiency, risk management, and readiness for automation.

2. How many workflows does a legal team manage?

On average, over 2,000 workflows weekly, according to GLS research.

3. What causes CLMS implementation failure?

Lack of process understanding and dependency mapping before purchase.

4. Can all legal workflows be automated?

No - many require human judgment and cannot be automated.

5. What is process benchmarking in legal operations?

Comparing workflow performance against industry best practices.

6. How do you identify critical legal processes?

Through mapping, risk analysis, and business impact assessment.

7. What is automation readiness in legal teams?

Evaluating which workflows can be automated effectively.

8. Why should process audits occur before tech adoption?

To avoid automating flawed processes and wasting investment.

9. What tools support legal workflow audits?

GLS offers DIY and managed diagnostic toolkits for process assessment.

10. How does workflow optimisation benefit the business?

It reduces costs, accelerates deals, and improves agility.