We work with solicitors to deliver profit-focused knowledge management.

This involves:

• Exploring opportunities to deliver traditional knowledge management services more cost effectively, by making greater use of commercial sources and outsourcing services and projects;
• Focusing knowledge management lawyers on identifying and supporting more efficient transaction processes and working practices;
• Engaging knowledge management lawyers in profitability, through the pricing and budgeting process.

The process is typically divided into three stages:

Initial investigation: an analysis of the firm’s key practice areas and areas of expertise, its knowledge resources and requirements and its client base and key transactions - prioritising areas most likely to benefit from the efficiencies generated by effective knowledge management.

Production and delivery of a report on findings - comprising recommendations for the knowledge management function and an implementation plan. This covers:

• Current awareness services;
• Collection, collation and retrieval of internally and externally generated material, including research, standard forms and precedents (electronically or otherwise, as appropriate);
• Development of practice and transaction based materials and tools;
• Role of fee earners in knowledge management;
• Appropriate use of technology and external resources, including web based sources;
• Library and any other physical resources;
• Key priorities for knowledge management lawyers.

Implementation (including change management and training) - managing the implementation process, or supporting existing staff and including:

• Identification/design/development of appropriate databases and technology based tools for storing, retrieving and disseminating information and knowhow;
• Identification of materials which should be included in these databases and their collection, collation, abstraction and (where necessary) preparation;
• Introduction of, and allocation of responsibility for, current awareness mechanisms;
• Appropriate use of external resources, and their interface with internal materials;
• Production of protocols and working practices for the ongoing maintenance and development of the knowledge management function.