In the ever-evolving legal landscape, transformative steps are being taken to improve the relationship between law firms and legal departments. One such approach discussed in a recent article by the New York Law Journal constructs a medium that revolves around the ‘Standard Terms of Engagement’ model.
As identified by Bindu Cudjoe, Chief Legal Officer of Laurentian Bank, the common obstacle in most legal operations departments is intimidating interactions with external counsel. This intimidation arises as lawyers who dominate these departments find it challenging to objectify aspects with the business lens and often allow personal or strained relationships to affect the aforementioned interactions.
The ‘Standard Terms of Engagement’ model can mitigate these issues, creating benefits for both law firms and legal departments. This model encourages the implementation of business basics into the legal framework, such as clearly defined roles, standardized procedures, and an overall comprehension of the business’s core foundations.
Adopting such a model prescribes a standardized approach toward improving vital relationships within the industry. With continued conversation and development, these efforts aim to reinvent legal department-to-law firm dynamics, ultimately ensuring efficiency, and more effective client service.