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
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
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:
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.” 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:
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.
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
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!
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
Join the CLOC Legal Project Management 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.
Associated with LPM Committee
