Software is secondary

KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT: support lawyers essential

Software is relatively unimportant for firms implementing a knowledge management (KM) strategy, according to a leading KM expert speaking at last week's Legal IT exhibition in London.

Derek Sturdy, managing director of consultancy Granite & Comfrey, said that only 20% of a firm's KM budget should be spent on software and the rest should be used to employ professional support lawyers (PSLs).

'KM cannot be implemented simply by buying a piece of software,' he said.

'It will take up approximately 5% of a lawyer's time, and if the fee-earners themselves cannot give up that amount of time, then PSLs should be hired.'

Software alone cannot do the job, he explained, because legal words can mean different things in different contexts, and software would not be able to tell the difference.

'Also, legal precedents can change randomly and frequently, and software is not capable of tracking and categorising those changes,' he said.

Mr Sturdy said many firms tended to use PSLs as secretaries or librarians for their KM systems.

'This is a real waste of resources, as PSLs are trained lawyers who are able to understand the knowledge within the system and should be used in a more effective way.'

He also warned that firms should not over-integrate their KM systems.

'If a firm's systems are fully integrated, then it becomes very difficult to upgrade one part,' he said.

'One firm had over-integrated to such an extent that it was only able to upgrade its system over the Christmas period, when the office was closed.'

Victoria MacCallum