Legal departments are leading the way in technology driven cost control and management.

In-house counsel are seizing control of their affairs by exploiting technology to reduce costs and save time. Many companies are launching new initiatives that make maximum use of electronic training and compliance programmes, automated drafting tools, law firm extranets and virtual deal rooms. Law firms are being required to follow suit or face the consequences.

The programmes are being launched to combat both internal and external difficulties faced by in-house counsel. Internal initiatives are being developed to:

Externally, technology is being used to:

Rio Tinto is just one example of how companies are using electronic compliance programmes to save legal department time and costs. Richard Pierce, Head of Compliance at Rio Tinto, comments "the programme has been invaluable in training business clients in compliance matters. We have made great savings in time and costs, particularly in terms of travel, by using electronic means to deliver the compliance programme." A similar initiative has been developed by Scottish & Newcastle to train clients in competition law compliance issues. The effectiveness of the programme is closely monitored and tested. Steven Weatherley, Head of UK legal at Scottish & Newcastle, has found that "business managers are better equipped to resolve competition law issues themselves. They are also better able to recognise where a difficult point of law arises."

A further example of companies laying down the law is the Ford and BAT initiative known as Anaqua, a browser-based environment for brand and patent owners. Up to 500 firms worldwide are gradually being instructed to work with these two major intellectual asset owners via this web portal. In addition to transferring to law firms responsibility for record maintenance and follow-up, Anaqua enables enhanced monitoring of case progress and costs and also provides other tools to enhance work flow and creativity.