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General workflow automation technology provides end-to-end automation that frequently combines different types of complementary technologies in order to connect data across systems and connect automated workflows in order to augment business processes and help users carry out many tasks faster. This type of technology has high interoperability, allowing it to plug in to other technologies and build broader solutions. Examples of workflow automation technology frequently used in legal include Autologyx and Nintex.

Workflow Automation

Process improvement starts with the process (a series of actions or steps taken in order to achieve a particular end) - not with technology. Once a process has been evaluated and optimized, however, significant additional efficiency gains can be made by introducing automation. Solutions that allow for process automation have proliferated, and now include expert systems tools such as Neota Logic and Bryter, full digital operations automation systems like Autologyx, Mendix and Tonkean that allow for the end-to-end automation of operational workflows and integration of data sources, chatbots like Joseph, and robotic process automation using Blue Prism or K2 by Nintex.

Process Improvement

Many automation tools, including expert systems and chatbots, allow for the development of apps. This category is reserved for those solutions that do not fit neatly into other automation categories, where the main capability is nevertheless the development of applications. A category leader is Fliplet, a pre-fab app development solution that provides the ability to easily create apps and knowledge delivery systems using templates and discrete widgets such as for benchmarking. Tools such as ServiceNow and Mendix also allow for custom app development.

App Development

Chatbots are designed to conduct online chat conversations with humans, mimicking rudimentary interactions between humans in order to serve a specific purpose, such as customer service or responding to FAQs. Chatbots require regular tuning and testing in order to respond adequately to the types of queries posed by humans during an interaction. In law firms, chatbots have been used to perform concierge or triage functions, for example by responding on a firm's intranet to common questions about where to find certain policies, or how to undertake certain administrative tasks within the firm. Chatbots are frequently used to solve the problem of Pardon the Interruption (PTI) emails that go to the entire firm, by automating responses to the questions that are repeatedly asked in those emails. Josef and Advobot are solutions in this category.

Chatbots

Process mapping involves the visual representation of a workflow, including outlining individual steps within that workflow in order to identify inefficiencies. By mapping processes such as legal matter types, teams can identify responsibilities for tasks, and better understand where and why deadlines are being missed. Mapping processes is often the first step towards improving processes, and allows for the streamlining of a process prior to automation, improved legal project management and adherence to budget, and can provide opportunities to push resources and content to lawyers at relevant times during a matter. Software supporting process mapping allows users to quickly visualize and analyze existing processes. The leading provider in this category has traditionally been Microsoft Visio. Alternatives such as Lucidchart have now been developed.

Process Mapping

Robotic Process Automation (RPA), automates repetitive, standard tasks through use of software robots that are able to log in to systems and follow a set of predefined instructions. Generally speaking, RPA focuses on administrative, routine interactions rather than more complex processes, and is therefore frequently used to improve efficiency and streamline multi-step tasks on the business side of legal organizations. Examples include client and matter onboarding and conflict checking. RPA can also be used to extract data from one system and import it into another system without the need for a specialized script. Nintex has an RPA offering, and Blue Prism is a leading independent soution. 

This topic is distinct from the Project Management category that appears under Business of Law, referring to the project management of legal matters specifically. In recent years more law firms have recruited legal project managers to help partners deliver legal work on time and on budget. In addition to tools and methodologies common to project managers in general, a few tools have popped up aiming to help lawyers with better project managlegal ement of legal matters. Solutions supporting legal project management provide the ability for teams to manage multiple projects within one system, as well as being able to break down matters into tasks, assign and manage tasks, assign priority, track progress, set weekly, monthly, quarterly goals, and allow team members to communicate within the platform. Fibonacci helps legal departments such as Barclays and many of its panel firms with project management. Dashboard Legal supports law firm project management.

Legal Project Management

Increasingly, as innovation and legal operations teams become the creative problem-solvers within legal organizations, there is a need for whiteboarding and wireframing solutions. On remote teams in particular, these tools become a critical means of visual brainstorming and communication during problem-solving sessions. Miro and Mural have become popular with legal teams for sophisticated whiteboarding, and Balsamiq is an established solution for simple wireframing.

Whiteboarding and Wireframing

With the emergence of advanced large language models and generative AI, a new category of solutions have emerged that are aimed at improving processes through automation. Legal AI Assistants typically address multiple use cases or perform a variety of "skills", similar to a human legal assistant. AI legal assistants sometimes focus on a particular area of practice or set of uses cases, such as ContractPodAI's Leah which adds value across the contract life cycle. Others, such as Casetext's CoCounsel offer generic legal skills that can be leveraged by multiple practice areas. These solutions provide the capabilities of generative AI in a form that has been especially verticalized for legal.

AI Legal Assistant

Since the advent of ChatGPT in November 2022, and the launch of GPT-4 in March 2023, generative AI and advanced large language models have been a focal point for any professional working in legal IT, operations, or innovation. This toolkit pulls together resources from across Legaltech Hub so that users can rapidly find content and solutions relevant to their ongoing research into this subject.

Generative AI Toolkit

Expert system solutions provide a logic-based form of workflow automation that allow for custom applications to be built using flowchart-type ("if-then") reasoning. Often, the front end interface of these applications provides a questionnaire that allows users to self-serve the information or knowledge they need to know. Common examples of expert system applications include the automation of multi-jurisdictional regulatory review or unifying a complex onboarding system involving multiple processes into a single dashboard. Neota Logic has long been the industry leader in this area. Bryter is a low-code version that has recently become a strong competitor, with solutions such as Josef also gaining traction, especially in corporate legal departments.

Expert Systems