Thinking of innovating? Identify the problem and be clear on your goals By Warwick Walsh, CEO and Founder – Lawcadia
Over the past five years the pace of change in the legal industry has truly accelerated. In 2015 it was rare to find roles that are now becoming commonplace, both within law firms (such as an “Innovation Partner”) and within corporate legal teams (such as “Head of Legal Operations”). Countless legal technology companies have emerged, and universities have now added new courses such as Legal Transformation and Start-Up Law and rapidly developing ways to prepare students for the future of work in the legal industry. While the legal industry has long been criticised for its slow pace of change, this is no longer the case. When COVID-19 hit, there was a risk that innovation in the legal space would be put on hold, such as during previous times of economic upheaval (dot. com crash, 9/11, GFC) where investment in new technology was reduced to conserve cash. However, innovation is still high on the agenda as law firms seek to differentiate themselves while customers, clients and even the courts move to a transformed, digital environment. To be sustainable, law firms must now look at ways to better serve clients, improve client experiences, and ultimately retain and win business. For law firms that are looking to innovate, the most important first step is to accurately identify the problem to be solved, clearly articulate the pain points 12
and then develop and investigate ideas for solutions. At Lawcadia, we utilise design thinking processes and concepts in our own product development as well as with our corporate and law firm clients as we ideate innovative technology solutions. Drawing on our experience we have prepared a 6-step outline to help your firm get started.
Helpful hint: this process works best with a small team or teams of people across different functions. Get creative, have fun, and keep an open mind!
