Legal operations, historically viewed as a back-office function focused on compliance and administrative tasks, are undergoing a transformative shift. This evolution positions legal operations as strategic partners within organisations, driving business growth and optimising operational efficiency. The modern legal ops team is no longer restricted to traditional roles of managing legal compliance and contracts. Instead, they are at the forefront of strategic decision-making, risk management, and process optimisation.
This shift is fuelled by a growing recognition of the value that legal professionals can bring to the table. By integrating strategic thinking with legal expertise, legal ops professionals are uniquely positioned to offer insights that enhance business outcomes. Their ability to navigate complex legal landscapes while aligning with broader business objectives makes them indispensable in today's fast-paced and competitive environment.
While the value of these skilled professionals is clear, this talent is not easy to attract. Spotdraft’s “State of Legal operations report” uncovers some interesting insights from it’s research based upon 300+ in-house legal professionals:
On a scale of 1-5 how difficult is it to secure the best talent in the legal market for your department?
Most respondents reported difficulty in hiring the right legal ops talent, with the talent shortage being a universal issue across industries and regions. The rise of AI in legal ops is also pushing organisations to seek talent with both legal expertise and technical skills.
Inhouse legal roles often require a diverse skill set that combines legal knowledge with operational expertise, making it challenging to find candidates who possess all these capabilities. As legal teams continue to mature, there is a growing need for professionals skilled in areas like legal tech implementation, data analysis, and compliance management. Addressing this talent gap may involve providing on-the-job training or upskilling current team members to develop these specialised skills.
What is your most preferred way to hire new team members?
The majority of respondents prefer to recruit new legal team members through references or personal networks, though legal communities and online platforms such as LinkedIn are also popular. Legal teams need to adopt a multi-pronged approach to recruiting talent, tapping into personal networks while also investing in training to upskill current employees. A focus on both legal and technical capabilities will be essential in building a high-performing team. As AI adoption grows, so does the need for legal professionals who can work at the intersection of law and technology. Offering continuous learning opportunities will help retain top talent and ensure teams remain competitive.
By focusing on strategic innovation, legal teams can transform from mere support functions to key enablers of organisational success. This requires legal professionals to be forward-thinking, agile, and open to new ways of working. As this specialism continues to evolve, those who embrace change and drive innovation will lead the way in defining the next era of legal operations.
How Marks Sattin can assist you in building an outstanding legal team
I am an experienced consultant specialising in helping organisations across EMEA and the Americas build high-performing in-house legal teams. I am well networked and can provide recommendations on skills gaps that your team may have. Visit our dedicated legal page to discover how we can support your hiring needs and explore our case studies. Alternatively, submit a brief here and we will call you to discuss your needs.
03/02/25
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