CLOC Huddle: How to Run an Effective Contract Management Selection Project

10/02/2025 |

Hosted by a working group of the CLOC Legal Project Management Committee, this community huddle will be focused on how to run an effective contract management selection project.

During this interactive huddle, attendees will breakout into small discussion groups exploring:

Breakout Session #1 – How to define the underlying problem and the scope of the contract management system?

What is the best practice for the department that is responsible for managing the contracts (legal or another department)?
Who are the key stakeholders?
What components of the contract life cycle are you trying to manage?
What other departments are involved and what other systems are integrated with the CLM?
How do users reach legal (intake) and how does legal manage requests?

Breakout Session #2 – How are business requirements converted into system requirements?

How can you use system demonstrations to define system requirements?
How do you focus vendors on your specific requirements?
What are some strategies to easily compare vendors?
What are the key features that will be needed for the future/improved state of the CLM?
Is AI a critical requirement for a CLM and how can it be used?

Take advantage of this opportunity to connect and learn with your legal ops peers.

CLOC Legal Project Management Committee Meeting

10/02/2025 |

Join the CLOC Legal Project Management (LPM) Committee for new insights, updates on current workstream projects, and to offer community perspectives and feedback to inform these workstream projects being pursued by committee working groups.

The CLOC LPM Committee will meet from 12pm – 1pm ET on the 3rd Wednesday of every other month in 2025. These meetings are open to the full CLOC Community regardless of committee and/or workstream participation.

CLOC Legal Project Management Committee Meeting

07/16/2025 |

Join the CLOC Legal Project Management (LPM) Committee for new insights, updates on current workstream projects, and to offer community perspectives and feedback to inform these workstream projects being pursued by committee working groups.

The CLOC LPM Committee will meet from 12pm – 1pm ET on the 3rd Wednesday of every other month in 2025.

Remaining 2025 Meeting Dates

September 17
November 19

CLOC Legal Project Management Committee Meeting

05/21/2025 |

Join the CLOC Legal Project Management (LPM) Committee for new insights, updates on current workstream projects, and to offer community perspectives and feedback to inform these workstream projects being pursued by committee working groups.

The CLOC LPM Committee will meet from 12pm – 1pm ET on the 3rd Wednesday of every other month in 2025. These meetings are open to the full CLOC Community regardless of committee and/or workstream participation.

Remaining 2025 Meeting Dates

July 16
September 17
November 19

A Decade of Legal Ops: Reflecting on Growth, Navigating Challenges, and Embracing the Future

05/05/2025 |

This year marks CLOC’s 10th anniversary. It’s a good time to reflect on how far legal operations has come and where it’s headed next.

What started as a support function has become a strategic force in modern legal departments. That evolution is front and center at the 2025 CLOC Global Institute in Las Vegas.

The Rise of Legal Operations

Over the last decade, legal ops has moved to the center of legal department strategy. CLOC’s 2025 State of the Industry Report found that 83% of departments expect demand for legal services to continue growing, with the top five most common legal operations services growing or remaining key to legal department functioning. Additionally, 77% of respondents said increasing legal operations headcount was medium or high priority for their organization.

According to a 2024 survey by Axiom, 94% of legal operations professionals anticipate department growth within the next two years, with 59% holding decision-making roles within their organizations. This growth reflects the increasing recognition of legal operations as a strategic partner in managing legal spend, implementing technology solutions, and fostering cross-functional collaboration.

Legal ops now owns budgeting, vendor strategy, process improvement, and data analytics. This work is essential as legal departments face pressure to deliver more with fewer resources. Our expertise in streamlining processes and optimizing performance is indispensable.

Economic Headwinds are Real

Even with this progress, economic conditions remain tough. Legal department budgets are under review and staffing is tight. Some organizations continue to invest in legal ops, others are adopting a more cautious approach, focusing on cost containment and efficiency.

In prior economic downturns, legal ops roles were often reduced, especially when viewed as administrative rather than strategic. That’s why this moment calls for clarity. Legal ops professionals must show their strategic value, not just support. They are no doubt up to the challenge.

Adapting and Finding Bright Spots

There are opportunities abound. Smart teams are embracing change and doubling down in a few areas:

Showcasing Value with Tech: By using tools that save time and surface insight, and integrating them into legal workflows, legal ops can drive efficiency and reduce costs.
Cross-Team Alignment: Legal ops can work more closely with other departments, such as finance, procurement, and IT, to align legal strategies with broader business objectives.
Strategic Planning: By developing and implementing strategic plans that align with organizational goals, legal ops professionals can position themselves as key contributors to business success. This includes identifying areas for improvement, setting priorities, and tracking results.
Professional Development: Keep learning! Skill development is essential for legal ops professionals to stay ahead. CLOC’s Academy was founded for this very goal. And industry conferences like CGI also play an important role in enhancing expertise and career growth.

Looking Ahead

Ten years in legal ops has earned its seat at the table. The job now is to grow the influence that comes with it. Economic challenges persist for sure. But legal operations professionals are well-positioned to navigate these headwinds by demonstrating strategic value.

Creativity Opens Doors: Embracing Legal Ops 3.0 at CGI 2025

05/02/2025 |

“Creativity opens doors.” That’s my spin on the theme of the 2025 CLOC Global Institute. And it’s a mindset shift for legal operations professionals ready to lead what’s next. In Las Vegas this year, we move into a new phase of innovation, strategic thinking, and collaboration.

The Shift in Legal Operations

Legal ops is changing fast. According to CLOC’s latest State of the Industry report with Harbor, 93% of legal ops professionals say their roles are growing. The focus is shifting to AI, data analytics, and vendor management. This marks a clear turn from Legal Ops 2.0, which focused on efficiency. Legal Ops 3.0 to emphasize strategic value and smart execution.

AI adoption in legal departments has doubled in the past year. The trend is accelerating. Legal ops teams need to lead with creativity to unlock new ways of delivering results.

Soft Skills Matter

Technical skills are important. But leading real change also takes:

Change Leadership: Guiding teams through technological rollouts and process overhauls with empathy and clear direction.
Storytelling with Data: Turning complex data into compelling narratives that drive executive buy-in and team alignment.
Emotional Intelligence: Building trust through self-awareness and empathy.
Enterprise Collaboration: Connecting legal, finance, procurement, and IT to break down silos.
Critical Thinking: Responding quickly to shifting market demands and taking a creative approach to problem-solving.

These skills align with key parts of the CLOC Core 12, including Strategic Planning, Technology, and Optimization & Health.

What’s Ahead

This week features speakers like futurist Nancy Rademaker, legal leader Irene Liu and CLOC’s Executive Director, Oyango Snell. Their insights will help shape how we move forward.

As you explore new tools and approaches, choose creativity. It opens paths to impact, growth, and leadership.

The doors are open. Walk through them. Take the lead.

CLOC Legal Project Management Committee Meeting

03/18/2025 |

Join the CLOC Legal Project Management (LPM) Committee for new insights, updates on current workstream projects, and to offer community perspectives and feedback to inform these workstream projects being pursued by committee working groups.

The CLOC LPM Committee will meet from 12pm – 1pm ET on the 3rd Wednesday of every other month in 2025.

2025 Meeting Dates

January 22
March 19
May 21
July 16
September 17
November 19

Augmented Intelligence: Leadership in the Digital Age

01/23/2025 |

In this episode of CLOC Talk, Jenn sits down with Nancy Rademaker, Co-Founder of Drawify & Speakers Club, and our brilliant opening keynote at our EMEA 2024 Summit in London.

They discuss how AI can solve business challenges by improving efficiency and reducing manual tasks, as well as the importance of identifying the right problems before deploying AI solutions.

Nancy touches on the role of AI in enhancing employee engagement and well-being by pointing it at preventing productivity loss and solving knowledge management issues.

Tune in as Jenn and Nancy share insights on generational differences in adapting AI tools, the potential of augmented intelligence, and how emerging technologies like brain-computer interfaces could revolutionize various fields!

Special thanks to our sponsor DocuSign for this episode!

CLOC Legal Project Management Committee Meeting

01/15/2025 |

Our upcoming CLOC LPM committee meeting is set to deliver invaluable insights into a critical area for legal operations: effective project management. We’re thrilled to welcome Travis Zimbelman, Freelance Consultant, and Strategic Advisor (Aline, Stealth Startups) as our guest speaker, ready to tackle the complexities of working with Project Management Offices (PMOs) outside the traditional legal function.

In today’s fast-paced legal landscape, collaboration with cross-functional teams is essential. But what happens when the PMO leading the efforts resides within another department, like IT? How do you bridge the gap and ensure legal projects are executed with precision?

Our speaker will delve into these crucial questions and more, including:

-Decoding the PMO Dynamic: Learn practical strategies for seamlessly working with PMOs located outside of legal, specifically within IT.
-Strategic Project Selection: Discover which types of law department projects and initiatives truly benefit from dedicated project management or PMO support.
-Building a Foundation for Success: Uncover the essential PM practices that drive successful legal projects and initiatives.
-Championing Project Management: Gain actionable tips on how to effectively communicate the value of PM practices and resources to your management team.

This is a can’t-miss opportunity to gain practical knowledge and engage in meaningful discussion with a seasoned expert. Prepare to leave with actionable strategies to enhance your legal operations and streamline your project execution.

The CLOC LPM Committee will meet from 12pm – 1pm ET on the 3rd Wednesday of every other month in 2025.

2025 Meeting Dates

January 22
March 19
May 21
July 16
September 17
November 19