Legal knowledge management (KM) used to mean vast law firm libraries, filing cabinets stocked with briefs, and decades of professional experience and institutional knowledge locked in senior partners' minds. As digital transformation swept through the legal industry, these evolved into document management systems and searchable databases. Although these tools represented a significant improvement, fundamental limitations remained in their ability to extract meaning from data and make conne...

In both law firms and other businesses, the conversation around organisational diversity is in many ways more fervent, active, and engaged than ever before. Prominent figures in the profession make bold declarations about their belief in the positive contribution increased diversity brings, and firm websites are not considered complete without a visible commitment to improve their inclusivity. It would seem that everyone is aware of the problem, and is vociferous about their attempts to ta...

The convergence of changes in the legal landscape - wider economic pressures, the growing implementation of legal technologies, the disrupting influence of alternative service providers and their competitive pricing offerings - mean that the corporatization of the law firm is well underway. The "business of law" is now more of a priority than ever before, with procurement and pricing professionals playing increasingly significant roles within firms and a growing focus towards the measureme...

The role of the professional support lawyer (PSL) first emerged in the early- to mid-1990s amongst London's Magic Circle, and quickly became essential for mid-size and even smaller firms. However, this golden period for the PSL came to an abrupt end with the global financial crisis and the subsequent recession, which rocked the legal landscape; the greatest shockwaves were inevitably felt by legal support teams, as many firms sought to maintain profitability by shifting their focus to fee-...

The capabilities and applications of artificial intelligence (AI) are evolving at breakneck speed, and law firms and practitioners may be at a loss as to how to make the most of what these new technologies offer. The second edition of AI and the Legal Profession: Transforming the Future of Law acts as a guide, helping readers navigate this new frontier by delving into the impact of AI on the legal industry and the transformative possibilities it presents. The fear that AI will replace lawy...

Despite decades of effort, the legal profession remains one of the least diverse industries, with systemic barriers affecting who enters, advances, and succeeds. Bias – whether conscious or unconscious – perpetuates inequality, impacting hiring, promotions, pay, and leadership opportunities. The traditional pipeline to legal success favors those with economic privilege, established networks, and cultural capital, leaving others at a disadvantage. There are more women than ever before in th...

The world of data, analytics, and technology is relatively unexplored in the legal arena, due to the traditionally conservative and risk-averse nature of the legal environment. However, we are approaching a reality in which data is the most precious resource of practically every single organization. Law firms should be no different. The buzz around intelligence functions and initiatives places constant emphasis on their immediate necessity; the narrative runs that firms need to invest both...

We live in an information age. In both our personal and professional lives, we are consistently bombarded with data in various forms; through our interactions with technologies in our homes and workplaces, we are also constantly generating data. Information has arguably become the most valuable resource of all businesses. With the right data - and the appropriate tools for gathering and processing it - the key to success for any organization seems to be within easy reach. When correctly ut...

Law firms are undergoing structural change at a pace not previously seen in the profession. Artificial intelligence (AI) tools are reshaping research, drafting, and knowledge work; clients are demanding increasing levels of efficiency, transparency, and innovation; and alternative legal service providers and the Big Four continue to expand, offering clients an ever-widening array of options and restricting law firms’ slice of the market. As AI becomes increasingly embedded in legal operati...

The European Union Fourth Anti-Money Laundering Directive is the most sweeping AML legislation ever to have been introduced in Europe. It aims to strengthen the existing rules, prioritising the fight against tax avoidance, money laundering and terrorism financing by reinforcing the necessity of measures such as risk assessments, setting clear requirements about beneficial ownership, and expanding the definition of a politically exposed person. This second edition of Anti-money Laundering C...

The modern legal library is caught in a transformative stage. Often seen by firm management as unnecessary and outdated, legal libraries are facing a double-pronged challenge: it is now essential for librarians to demonstrate the continuing value of their profession whilst battling with shrinking budgets and the development of new, disruptive technologies that are transforming working practices and processes at a rapid rate.

The contemporary legal landscape is no longer a rigid hierarchy composed of limited and complacent behemoths, but rather an ecosystem, filled with a wide variety of players that facilitate disruption and revolution and jostle for clients' attention with agility and innovation. This includes - but is certainly not limited to - entities such as technology companies, consultants, alternative legal service providers, and paraprofessionals. Law firms are not the only ones in this environment th...