Tech Startup Principles to use with Legal Operations Software

Many law firms find themselves wrestling with bloated interfaces, slow onboarding processes, excessive clicks for simple tasks, and ultimately, low adoption rates for their legal operations software. It’s a common pain point, but what if there was a different option? Tech startups face similar complexities in their product development but approach software design and rollout with a fundamentally different philosophy.

Legal operations teams can radically improve their software outcomes by borrowing key principles from startup culture – and it starts with rethinking how we define usability. As FiTs Sr. Vice President of Information Strategy aptly puts it, Salesforce-style systems with a “thousand buttons” often lead to overwhelming user experiences. This blog post will explore how, by adopting three key principles from startup culture, legal ops teams can fundamentally rethink how they define (and achieve) usability.

The Legacy Problem in Legal Ops

For too long, legal operations have been saddled with software environments that hinder more than they help. We see firms relying on:

• On-premise or patched-together platforms: These systems are frequently outdated, difficult to update, and lack the agility of modern cloud solutions.
• Too much customization: While "customization" might sound appealing, it often leads to "Frankenstein systems" that are brittle and expensive to maintain. As FiTs President and Chief Revenue Officer explains, true cloud development doesn't support bespoke applications: if you customize, "you push a fix to one place that'll be a break to something else. If you had customized software, you can't support a thousand people."
• Multi-click processes and poor interface design: Many legacy systems demand a convoluted series of clicks to complete even simple tasks. Law firms typically want everything done yesterday and so speed is key. If it takes seven, eight, or even ten clicks to get to what you want to do, you're losing valuable time and frustrating users.

The consequences for legal operations are significant:

• Delayed onboarding: Less intuitive software means more training and a longer gap before staff are using the platform (which also decreases your ROI when purchasing these softwares). 
• Workflow friction: Inefficient processes create bottlenecks and hinder collaboration across departments.
• Poor data integrity and compliance risk: Outdated systems can lead to inconsistent data, making it harder to ensure compliance and increasing risk. FiTs Vice President of Sales highlights the value of "ease of use on complicated problems," noting that a better UI and fewer clicks are definite selling points when competing with legacy systems.

What Startups Do Right

Tech startups thrive on agility, user-centricity, and continuous improvement. Here's how their approach to software design and deployment differs:

• Design for the user first: Startups build for usability from day one, often using internal stakeholders as test users. Their Minimum Viable Product (MVP) mentality focuses on delivering core value quickly, gathering feedback, and iterating. This means less wasted development on features no one needs.
• Configuration over customization: Startups understand that custom builds kill scale and speed. They prioritize configurable platforms that allow for flexible adaptation without fracturing the codebase. Configurable software can absolutely “appear” to be tailored to your use case, but it also avoids pitfalls that result in the loss of integrations, or force you to bounce between multiple screens in order to get things done. 
• Fast, feedback-driven onboarding: Rollouts are done in phases with clear success metrics. Support is proactive, with built-in walkthroughs and responsive success teams. 
• Client-centered mindset: Startups focus on speed, responsiveness, and rapid iteration. They put client needs on top of all other priorities. 

Applying Startup Principles to Legal Operations Software

Too often, legal operations teams stick with legacy vendors because they interpret signing up with a startup as risk. Yet by holding onto “seasoned” vendors, they increase their risk of being weighed down by sluggish, overbuilt systems that have failed to evolve. Younger players in the field deliver faster innovation, more responsive service, and a product that changes based on your needs. Legacy vendors can’t match that. Legal operations teams can dramatically improve their software experience by adopting these startup principles. 

1. Prioritize “3-Click” Workflows

The goal: map key user journeys (e.g., matter intake, document retention, disposition).
Then ask “can each step be completed in three clicks or less?” This radical simplification reduces legal team resistance by making tasks less cumbersome. 

2. Choose Configurable, Not Customizable Platforms

Configuration offers control without complexity. It allows you to tailor the software to your firm's specific needs without building a "Frankenstein system" that requires constant vendor intervention to evolve. During procurement, legal ops teams should ask critical questions: Does this platform allow us to adapt workflows without waiting for lengthy custom coding? Does it offer frequent, seamless updates that don't break our specific setup? 

3. Roll Out in Testable Phases

Treat implementation like a pilot program: measure, learn, and iterate. Utilize sandbox environments for feedback loops (a practice FiT employs to ensure client satisfaction and flexibility). Train on live use cases, not theoretical modules. This phased approach minimizes disruption and fosters higher adoption rates by addressing pain points proactively. It also helps manage growing pains from adopting new tech by allowing for optimization before a full rollout.

Redefining Usability for Legal Ops

The biggest takeaway from startup culture is that legal software shouldn’t require special expertise to operate. Tech startups define usability by factors like fewer clicks, less training, and more autonomy for the end-user. 

Legal ops teams must become strong advocates for user-friendly tools, even in compliance-heavy environments. A well-designed, intuitive interface can streamline processes, reduce errors, and free up legal professionals to focus on higher-value work. FiT's user interface is designed with this in mind, aiming to make complex information governance accessible and understandable.

Conclusion

Legal ops teams don't have to settle for slow, clunky, or overbuilt software. By embracing a startup mindset that focuses on being user-first, feedback-driven, and configuration-friendly, they can transform their workflows. Modern legal operations software, like FiT's, is built to address the pain points of legacy systems, offering agility, efficiency, and a truly user-centric experience.

Ready to see how a modern approach to legal operations software can transform your firm?

Explore FiT’s solutions and book a demo today!

‍