Law firm innovation initiatives are flourishing in response to client demand and market forces. But sheer numbers of programs and professionals devoted to innovation won’t transform a firm’s culture, and change is often sacrificed to the day-to-day demands of practicing law. To tackle this challenge, in 2019 we launched a program called Local Innovation, Firmwide Transformation (LIFT), piloted in our London office.
LIFT sparks adoption of innovative tools and approaches by hosting events that help lawyers understand the benefits of using them in their work. The program kicked off in May with a call for volunteers that yielded 40-plus lawyers and business services professionals across seniority levels. These champions for change helped shape and execute subsequent events.
Our first LIFT event, which launched a series under the umbrella of “LIFT LIVE,” was sponsored by our partner-led global Innovation Committee. It showcased select practice technologies, featuring external suppliers such as Acuris, Doxly and Neota Logic, and White & Case teams including Knowledge, Research, Global Technology Services and Legal Project Management. It incorporated short talks by Firm partners and leaders on topics such as AI and building legal apps. Other partners created videos about their innovation experiences and LIFT’s strategic importance.
LIFT Academy was later launched to help train our staff. The first event included live presentations, video interviews and interactive sessions targeting specific innovation challenges at the Firm. The second event, led by our Technology Industry Group colleagues in the London, New York, Silicon Valley and Frankfurt offices, explored AI’s significance for us and our clients.
We have united our global and local innovation efforts in London by targeting engagement, and have begun replicating LIFT’s success in other offices around the world.
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