In-house legal teams are facing unprecedented pressures, grappling with shrinking budgets and heightened demands for quick turnarounds, all while being tasked to "do more with less." In search of solutions, many turn to legal technology, generative AI, and automation. However, as legal tech expert Maryam Salehijam recently discussed on the "Notes to My (Legal) Self" podcast, these initiatives often falter not due to the technology itself, but because of the overwhelmed personnel and fundamentally flawed systems in place.

Salehijam points out that the root cause of stress for many legal teams is the contracting process. The typical contract systems are cluttered, overly customized, and lack consistency, making them difficult to manage or improve with mere technological fixes. Attempting to automate such chaotic processes, she argues, is akin to paving a road riddled with potholes: it may look fine initially, but soon enough, the underlying issues resurface.

To truly transform contracting, Salehijam advocates for a strategic collaboration involving ALSPs (alternative legal service providers), legal operations, and tech solutions. This alliance aims not just at reducing costs but fostering substantial progress. ALSPs can handle the heavy lifting, allowing legal teams to focus on optimizing their use of technological tools.

This collaborative effort requires meticulous planning and brutally honest assessments of each team's capabilities and roles. It's about understanding where the human judgment is irreplaceable, how to measure success, and ensuring everyone is aligned towards the same goals.

For legal departments currently bogged down by contracting inefficiencies, Salehijam recommends starting with an evaluation of the existing team and processes. Understanding who handles contracts, the nature of the work, and where bottlenecks occur is crucial. From there, engaging in proactive discussions with ALSPs can uncover innovative solutions and build trust.

Instead of diving headfirst into advanced AI tools, she advises legal teams to first streamline their templates and processes to ensure they are simple and effective for human use. By thinking big but starting small, legal teams can set themselves up for immediate gains while laying the groundwork for more significant transformations.

In conclusion, while legal departments often falter due to fragmented support from technology, service providers, and operations, a well-aligned collaboration can turn contracting from a bottleneck into a catalyst for efficiency and clarity. This approach not only streamlines processes but also provides a competitive edge through clearer, more effective contract management.

Watch the full interview with Maryam Salehijam [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8av27NpYgSk) for more insights on transforming legal contracting processes.