Legal counsel must stay organised and efficient while managing high volume legal work. Many organisations use tools like Microsoft Teams. Microsoft Teams is not just a communication tool, but a collaboration platform that can help legal professionals do their job better.
In this article, our Senior Legal Counsel explores how legal counsel can leverage Microsoft Teams to:
- stay organised
- improve efficiency
- become better advisors to and collaborators with their clients
Key Takeaways
- Microsoft Teams offers a central hub for managing legal communications, documents, and projects
- The platform’s integration with Microsoft 365 enables seamless document collaboration and real-time updates
- Teams can improve task management, client collaboration and teamwork
- Security features in Microsoft Teams ensure sensitive legal information is well-protected
Centralised Communication and Collaboration
1.Organising Legal Discussions in Teams and Channels
Communication is a critical part of being a good legal counsel. Microsoft Teams allows you to create separate Teams and Channels for different matters, projects, or departments. This makes it easier to manage and organise legal matters and legal tools for the business.
For instance, you can create a dedicated channel for each client, support function or specific legal matter.
I have personally found Microsoft Teams to be a very helpful tool as an in-house legal advisor.
Key benefits include:
- Threaded conversations to keep context intact
- Direct messaging for quick, informal exchanges
- @Mentions for notifying key stakeholders in discussions
2. Integration with Microsoft 365 for Document Collaboration
Legal counsel deal with extensive documentation, including contracts, reports, and legal briefs. Microsoft Teams integrates seamlessly with Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint). This allows in-house legal counsel to co-author documents in real-time. This eliminates version control issues and streamlines document review and approval processes.
Key benefits include:
- Real-time co-authoring and editing of legal documents
- Automatic saving of document versions for easy retrieval
- Direct integration with OneDrive and SharePoint for document storage and sharing
Learn more about what is a legal counsel in our article.
Enhanced Task and Workflow Management
1. Using Planner and To-Do for Legal Task Management
It is essential to keep track of deadlines, such as tender submissions and court dates. Microsoft Teams comes equipped with Planner and To-Do for efficient task management. You can assign tasks to team members, set deadlines, and track progress within Teams.
Key benefits include:
- Visual task boards to track progress across different matters
- Ability to set priorities and due dates
- Task notifications to remind you of upcoming deadlines
2. Managing Legal Projects with Power Automate and Workflow Automation
Teams integrates with Power Automate, a tool that helps automate repetitive tasks like document approvals or filing. Legal counsel can set up automated workflows, which can:
- trigger emails
- create task reminders
- flag approvals based on certain criteria
This reduces administrative burden and allows in-house legal teams to focus more on legal strategy.
Key benefits include:
- Automating routine legal workflows
- Reducing time spent on administrative tasks
- Consistent and error-free task management
Improved Client Collaboration and File Sharing
1. Secure Client Communication and Document Sharing
Many legal departments are now expected to work within the confines of their employer’s security and IT systems. Microsoft Teams offers a secure platform for sharing sensitive legal information with clients.
With guest access features, clients can be added to specific Teams or channels. This enables them to review documents, discuss case updates, and provide feedback within a secure, encrypted environment.
Key benefits include:
- Granular access controls to limit client visibility
- Encryption of data in transit and at rest
- Sharing documents through OneDrive ensures that all parties are working with the most
2. Hosting Virtual Legal Consultations and Meetings
Microsoft Teams makes it easy to host virtual legal meetings with integrated video conferencing capabilities. You can schedule, manage, and conduct client meetings directly in Teams.
Teams’ integration with Outlook simplifies scheduling and helps manage your calendar seamlessly.
Key benefits include:
- Easy scheduling of virtual consultations with clients
- Built-in meeting recording and transcription for legal documentation
- Ability to share screens for reviewing documents in real-time
Security and Compliance
1. Maintaining Data Security with Legal Counsel
As legal counsel, protecting confidential client information is critical. Microsoft Teams provides a range of built-in security features that comply with industry standards like GDPR and ISO 27001. With multi-factor authentication, data encryption, and advanced auditing capabilities, legal professionals can rest assured that their sensitive information is safe.
Key benefits include:
- Secure client communication and document sharing
- Compliance with legal industry security standards
- Monitoring and auditing features to track data access
Learn more about the role of Senior Legal Counsel in our article.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can legal counsel ensure data security while using Microsoft Teams?
Microsoft Teams provides multiple layers of security, including:
- Encryption
- compliance with data protection laws like GDPR
- multi-factor authentication.
You can also set permissions and access controls for different team members to further safeguard sensitive information.
Can Microsoft Teams integrate with other legal software tools?
Yes, Microsoft Teams can integrate with a variety of legal tech tools. For example, such as e-discovery platforms, legal research databases, and time tracking software, enhancing workflow efficiency.
Is it possible to host client meetings securely in Microsoft Teams?
Yes. Microsoft Teams offers secure virtual meeting environments with features like screen sharing, document sharing, and meeting recordings, all secured with industry-standard encryption.
How does Teams help with managing legal documents?
Teams allows for seamless document collaboration through integration with Microsoft 365. This enables real-time editing and automatic version control. Documents can also be stored and shared securely via OneDrive or SharePoint.
Can I track the progress of legal tasks and projects in Teams?
Yes, with tools like Planner and To-Do, you can track tasks, set deadlines, assign tasks to team members, and monitor progress across various legal projects.