Whether it’s a move to the cloud, a shift in billing models, or simply an evolution of the way your team tackles new challenges, the phrase “business transformation” is heavily top of mind for modern legal organizations. The most innovative thinkers are finding ways to stay competitive and get ahead of the curve.
But transformation is hard work—and it’s not something to be entered into flippantly. Timing and strategy are everything if you’re going to get your staff and your clients on board with change.
With that in mind, no matter what stage of transformation you find yourself in—ideation, execution, evaluation—it’s critical to keep a pulse on a few key topics if you’re going to make sure the shift is done right.
Inspired by the many phenomenal session ideas submitted for consideration for Relativity Fest this year, and celebrating the announcement of the official session catalog for 2019, here are the topics to watch as you move your business in the right direction this year.
#1: Fluid Trends in the Legal Space
There is nothing static about the law, e-discovery, or the compliance and regulatory landscape. That’s reality. And if you’re not keeping a pulse on what’s happening in the legal world around you, it won’t be long at all before you’re falling behind.
As you’re developing a strategy to transform your business, think about what will put you ahead of the competition in this very crowded marketplace. What business strategies will help you stand out? Which technology offering are customers demanding today—and what will they need tomorrow?
Closely follow industry publications, attend networking events and conferences, and keep lines of communication with your peers open to ensure you’re gathering the right evidence as you ask and answer these questions for yourself.
Sessions to Help You Dive in at Relativity Fest:
- The Annual Judicial Panel
- State of the e-Discovery Union: A Roundtable on the Industry and the Profession
- Is It Time to Rethink the EDRM?
#2: Gaps in Talent
The right people are key to successful business transformation—because if your team’s minds and skills aren’t in it, it’s not going to work. That said, it’s widely believed that modern legal education isn’t keeping up with the skill sets needed for the modern practice of law.
You can ensure your business’s success—and your clients’ satisfaction—by helping your staff stay ahead of the learning curve. Give them opportunities to take charge of their continuing education, achieve and maintain software certifications that prove their knowledge, and focus on collaboration to help their work go further.
Sessions to Help You Dive in at Relativity Fest:
- Why Lawyers SHOULD Be Luddites
- Secrets from Corporate Counsel
- The Long and Winding Road: Career Paths in e-Discovery
#3: Keeping Data Secure
You’re probably sick of hearing about cybersecurity by now, but the fact is that it’s not going away. Hackers’ tactics and technologies’ defenses are moving targets, with good and nefarious actors in a constant dance as they try to get a leg up on the other.
Unless you have the resources to hire innumerable, highly skilled security experts to choreograph this dance for your organization, you could already be falling behind. That vulnerability won’t bode well if you’re in the middle of a transformation that puts your employees or your clients out of sorts.
Transitions are healthy, but they aren’t easy. Reduce your risk and advance your transformation by adopting a SaaS solution, understanding the latest threats, and keeping your team well educated on the role they play in keeping data safe for your organization.
Sessions to Help You Dive in at Relativity Fest:
- Cyber Risk Reduction in the Legal Environment
- RelativityOne vs. DIY Public Cloud: What You Need to Know
- When Information Becomes Toxic: How Strict Information Governance Can Reduce Costs and Impact from a Data Breach
#4: Emerging and Evolving Tech
Transformation doesn’t happen in today’s landscape without the right suite of technology to support it. When you couple creative thinking with the right tools, innovation comes naturally—and that’s the stuff that will bring your strategy to the next level.
Anyone can pick up a new piece of software, but it takes in-depth knowledge of that tool and creativity about how to apply it to data challenges to develop an offering unique enough to attract and maintain clients looking for next-level services.
Watch your software vendors’ resources for new product information, engage in ongoing training opportunities, and join the conversation around emerging technology to stay informed and spark some inspiration on your transformation strategy.
Sessions to Help You Dive in at Relativity Fest:
- Defending IP and Trade Secrets: Shaping Positive Outcomes with e-Discovery
- Short Message Discovery: The New Email
- Active Learning: Tales from the Trenches and Future Forecasts
Bonus: Learn from Experience
In the legal field, everyone wants to know what everyone else is doing. It makes for a highly competitive environment, but it also fosters innovation and inspires both competitors and peers to think creatively, avoid repeating mistakes, and deliver more impactful services to clients.
As you embark on transforming your business, consider learning from others’ experiences on similar journeys. It could help you know what to expect along the way.
Sessions to Help You Dive in at Relativity Fest:
- A New Era for Corporate e-Discovery: How Under Armour Future-Proofed Their e-Discovery Practice with RelativityOne
- Emerging Leadership Roles in Law Firms
- Transforming Your Business Through the SaaS Transition
