Law Department Knowledge Management
The key function of a law department is to apply legal knowledge to the business objectives of its organisation. Its goal should be to provide that knowledge in the form of high quality, consistent legal advice in an efficient manner. This can be a challenge when the law department is large or geographically dispersed. Knowledge management has increasingly become the focus of law departments seeking to improve their performance.

For a law department, knowledge management is the identification, capture, dissemination and use of knowledge possessed by its in-house lawyers. Typically thought of in terms of technology, knowledge management also includes programs designed to facilitate knowledge sharing between lawyers. Beyond developing systems and programs, knowledge management also extends to building a culture and organisational structure to support and facilitate knowledge sharing.

The first step is to develop a knowledge management strategy that aligns with the law department’s business strategy. Put simply, the knowledge management strategy should be to introduce initiatives that help lawyers deliver high quality, consistent legal counsel to the organisation in an efficient manner.

Curve Consulting guides its law department clients through the development of the knowledge management strategy to implementation of specific knowledge management initiatives. Beyond technology, Curve Consulting advises law departments on how to address fundamental cultural and organisational barriers to successful knowledge management.