Last week, David York, Russell Geraghty, and I attended the IQPC Legal Operations Exchange 2024 in London, which was an experience filled with inspiration, collaboration, and forward-thinking discussions. The event was a showcase of the legal industry’s strides in technology and operations, and it aligned perfectly with our mission to proactively anticipate and meet evolving needs through the exploration of emerging technologies.
The event offered unparalleled opportunities to connect with industry leaders, innovators, and peers. Whether over coffee or during structured networking sessions, we found ourselves engaged in meaningful conversations about the challenges legal departments face and how technology can empower them. These discussions reaffirmed the importance of building genuine relationships to collaboratively drive the industry forward.
Below are some of the challenges raised by legal departments and the solutions TCDI offered.
Challenges
It’s becoming clear that corporate legal departments are increasingly open to adapting AI technology to improve efficiency and enhance their operations. However, they often face uncertainty when it comes to choosing the right AI products for their specific needs. During our discussions, some of the common challenges corporations faced included:
Connecting the Dots: Understanding how to implement AI products within existing systems and workflows can be challenging. Many are concerned about the compatibility of new tools with their current technology and the potential disruption to established processes.
Security and Compliance: Legal departments worry about the security and privacy risks of mishandling or losing control over their client’s data. Ensuring compliance with regulations like GDPR is critical, and many wanted to learn more about our perspective on security and compliance.
Accuracy and Reliability: Collectively, legal departments are concerned about how technology can maintain high levels of accuracy when working with such diverse data types, especially identifying critical information like privileged content or key documents.
Training and Adoption: Training and adoption of new technologies are often met with resistance and hesitation. There are concerns about the time and effort required to learn a new system without disrupting an individual’s work habits and preferences.
Trusting AI: With the increasing use of AI and machine learning for data analysis, there are concerns about the accuracy and transparency of these technologies. Often ‘spoilt for choice’ with emerging technologies, ensuring appropriate AI-driven solutions can correctly process and interpret data without introducing errors or biases is critical.
Cost Implications: While Generative AI has the potential to improve efficiency, corporate legal departments are concerned about the costs associated with its adoption, including software expenses, training, and integration efforts.
Managing DSARs: Managing Data Subject Access Requests (DSARs) under various regulations can pose several challenges for organisations, including keeping up with the volume of requests, properly handling sensitive data, and maintaining a quick turnaround time. Legal Departments are looking to streamline their process through the use of effective technology but don’t know where to start or how to implement a smooth workflow.
Our Solutions
During our discussions at IQPC, we were able to offer tailored solutions that emphasised data privacy, accuracy, and seamless integration. We showcased how our proprietary technologies, such as CVLynx and CVUnity, streamline workflows while ensuring compliance with regulatory standards.
Here are some of the solutions we explored during our networking sessions:
Our Experts
At TCDI, we pride ourselves on having a team of highly trained experts equipped to manage a wide range of complex legal matters. With decades of experience, we discussed how our professionals provide strategic advice tailored to each client’s unique needs. We are able to identify the best solutions, integrate them seamlessly into existing workflows, and optimise their use for greater efficiency and accuracy.
Security, Security, Security!
TCDI places the highest priority on security, ensuring that client data remains confidential and protected at every stage. We discussed how our robust infrastructure is designed with multiple layers of defense, including advanced encryption. TCDI also adheres to industry-leading standards and compliance frameworks such as GDPR.
Flexibility
TCDI designs flexible, tailored workflows to meet the diverse needs of legal departments, including the complex requirements of Data Subject Access Requests (DSARs). Utilising automation, advanced analytics, and AI capabilities, we discussed potential solutions to streamline complex tasks like document review, and compliance management.
We also discussed how our newest innovation, CVUnity, provides tailored solutions with a unified dashboard that integrates multiple systems and data points across the litigation lifecycle, offering a streamlined and user-friendly interface for managing complex workflows to support legal departments in a seamless, collaborative environment.
Our Commitment to Fair and Transparent Costs
At TCDI, we understand the importance of balancing exceptional service with cost efficiency. Our pricing model is designed to be fair, transparent, and aligned with the specific needs of our clients. During our discussions, we helped legal teams recognise the potential of AI to streamline operations and improve decision-making. Furthermore, we discussed which AI products were best suited to their needs and how to integrate them effectively to reduce costs and maximise efficiency in the long term.
Spotlight on the Tech Lab
IQPC also gave us a chance to highlight the role of our Tech Lab in validating emerging technologies, ensuring reliable implementation, mitigating risks, and encouraging confidence in adopting innovative solutions in a controlled, strategic manner.
A key message we shared throughout the day was that technology in legal operations is not limited to TCDI’s software. It’s about fostering a culture of innovation, leveraging diverse tools, and encouraging a holistic approach to problem-solving.
Our Partnerships
By leveraging partnerships with innovators like Altumatim and TackleAI, we demonstrated how cutting-edge AI tools enhance decision-making without compromising transparency or security. We were excited to discuss our Partnerships and showcase our commitment to incorporate generative AI into TCDI’s eDiscovery, review, and investigation workflows through the power of customised Large Language Models (LLMs).
Old-Fashioned Mapping Meets Cutting-Edge Tech
One of many highlights from the Legal Operations Exchange included networking with industry leaders where solutions to these challenges and beyond were brainstormed and mapped out the old-fashioned way—with pen and paper. There’s something refreshingly human about this approach, even as we explore advanced technologies. This certainly verified that while technology enables efficiency, its adoption must be guided by practical ideas and an in-depth understanding of client needs. The simplest tools – pen and paper—are often the most powerful for sparking great ideas!
Engaging Panel Discussions
The panel discussions were certainly informative and insightful. A standout session was “Embracing Legal Tech – Empowering Lawyers as Technology Champions Through Education.” It focused on fostering a culture where legal teams feel confident leveraging technology in their daily operations. The discussion emphasised that education and clear communication are key to bridging the gap between technology’s potential and its practical application in the legal world.
Conclusion
The IQPC Legal Operations Exchange 2024 provided a platform to reaffirm TCDI’s commitment to innovation and collaboration. It was a privilege to represent a company that not only invests in cutting-edge technology but also emphasises the human side of transformation—education, relationships, and practical solutions.
As we reflect on the event, we are more motivated than ever to continue exploring emerging technologies and forging partnerships that shape the future of legal operations. This event was a reminder that the possibilities are endless when innovation meets purpose.
Meena Gowresan
Author
Share article:
Meena Gowresan is a Senior Project Manager for TCDI’s UK division. Meena is a Relativity Certified Administrator and a certified Relativity Gen AI Pro capable of assisting clients with complex litigation needs anywhere in the EDRM lifecycle. She earned her Master’s Degree in Computing, IT Law & Management from King’s College London.
