The last three days, we’ve looked at the legal project management “boomlet.” First was a general overview, then a look at LPM from the in-house and law firm perspectives.
Today, a summing up.
The fact that project management is getting more attention in the delivery of corporate legal services is a good sign. Any sort of planning helps. If there are no internal resources, some form of training is needed. Most larger companies can manage projects by definition (how else did they get large?). If law firms don’t have internal experts, then they have to go outside. A certification is fine, but real-world experience over time is what makes the difference.
If some technology or application can jump-start better practices, then by all means try it. This can especially be the case for a company that has decent internal project management expertise, but has to work with law firms and other outside service providers. The right technology can provide the glue that holds things together and gives a framework to the extended project group. It doesn’t have to be purpose-built for legal, but it certainly can be and may be the right answer for a lot of law departments and their key law firms.
In short, read the book; watch the movie (or this one); take the course (or this one).
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