Legal departments are responsible for managing risks, ensuring compliance, and supporting business operations, all while staying within budget. But how do you measure the quality And theimpact legal work? Traditional indicators such as hours worked or costs offer limited insight. Conversely, results-based KPIs make it possible to demonstrate legal value objectively.
Measuring outcomes requires structured data, historical insights, and careful trend analysis. Instead of focusing solely on how many tasks were completed, effective KPIs assess the impact of legal interventions on business processes, risk mitigation, and financial performance.
For example, monitoring litigation trends before and after implementing process improvements allows legal teams to quantify the effectiveness of their strategies. Over time, this data reveals patterns, validates process changes, and supports informed decision-making.
Jacques Waite, Corporate Director, Litigation at iA Financial Group, a client for over 16 years, highlights the strategic value of KPIs:
“We were able to demonstrate a real impact, such as the reduction of unnecessary litigation, thanks to the data collected in Legal Suite. This is how you measure quality without relying solely on perception.” — Jacques Waite, iA Financial Group
By using KPIs as a management tool rather than a reporting formality, legal departments can:
Ramy Barsoum, consultant and product specialist at Septeo Legal Suite, highlights the role of technology in enabling this process:
“By using technology to obtain and structure corporate data, legal teams gain global visibility into their workload and can measure the true impact of their interventions.” — Ramy Barsoum, Septeo Legal Suite
Outcome-focused KPIs require objective data, reliable tracking systems, and historical context. Tools like Septeo Legal Suite allow legal teams to analyze past performance, uncover inefficiencies, and quantify improvements. This turns KPIs into a strategic compass, guiding decisions and elevating legal from a cost center to a proactive business partner.
Overall, legal departments that prioritize outcome-based KPIs can demonstrate their value beyond cost control. By measuring quality, tracking trends, and leveraging technology, legal teams can optimize processes, reduce risk, and strengthen strategic alignment with the broader organization.
To go further, discover the white paper in its entirety right here: Quantifying legal impact: KPIs to demonstrate value
