For in-house legal teams, the successful rollout of legal operations technology depends not only on functionality but also on clarity, engagement, and sustained support.
The first 90 days after launch are critical. This is the window where trust is built, habits are formed, and the investment either takes root or flounders.
This guide walks through a structured 90-day roadmap tailored to in-house teams navigating the post-launch phase of a LegalTech implementation.
Pre-launch Checklist: Stakeholders, Managing Resistance, Training, Expectations
The groundwork for a smooth rollout starts before anyone logs in.
Stakeholders: Map out internal users by role and function. Include legal counsel, operations, and business stakeholders who may contribute to intake or approval processes. Assign internal champions early, ideally those who have been involved in the procurement and testing phases of the project.
Managing Resistance: By this stage you will have a good idea about who in the team will be the loudest resistors of the new technology. It is important to manage these individuals by exception and prepare strategies in advance to minimise disruption. Consider one-one-one training sessions to give those individuals the time and space to understand the new systems and to have their objections voiced and responded to.
Training: Don’t underestimate the need for offering accessible training options. Offer multiple formats: live demos, bite-sized videos, and downloadable how-to guides. Training should address not only how the tool works, but why it matters. Connect features to daily pain points.
Expectations: Set clear, achievable expectations. Communicate the problems this tool will solve, what’s changing, what’s not, and the support available. Transparency builds trust if certain workflows will take time to automate or refine, flag them fully upfront.
First 30 days: Speed Bumps, Staff Adoption, Identifying Champions
A mix of enthusiasm and confusion often marks the first month. It’s where theory meets reality.
Speed bumps: Expect login issues, incorrect permissions, workflow glitches and user hesitancy. Set up a dedicated feedback channel such as a Teams or Slack thread. Fast, visible responses show users they’re being heard. Also, arrange multiple drop-in sessions (in-person and/or virtual) where users can get extra training, provide feedback and ask questions.
Staff adoption: Monitor engagement closely. Which users are logging in? Which features are they using? Passive resistance often manifests in non-use. A soft but strategic nudge from line managers or legal operations can help bring laggards on board.
Identifying champions: Early adopters are gold. They can provide credible, peer-level support to others and help pressure-test real-world use cases. Publicly recognise their contributions and invite them to feedback sessions or enhancement discussions.
Second 30 days: Feedback Loops, Enhancements, KPI Tracking
Once the dust settles, shift from launch mode into optimisation.
Feedback loops: Schedule structured check-ins with users across roles. What’s working? What’s clunky? Where is the tech being bypassed? Capture these insights and monitor progress. Not every suggestion requires a fix, but surfacing patterns early is critical.
Enhancements: Engage your vendor on common friction points. Many platforms can accommodate minor workflow tweaks or interface adjustments that make a big difference. This phase is less about new features and more about smoothing the path forward.
KPI tracking: Begin benchmarking usage against the success metrics defined before launch. For example, how many matters have been submitted through the platform? How quickly are requests being triaged? What percentage of work is now automated or standardised? Share this data internally to demonstrate momentum.
Final 30 days: Complete User Survey, Leadership Reporting, Roadmap Planning
In the final phase of your 90-day plan, take a step back and look at the bigger picture.
Complete user survey: Run a structured or informal user satisfaction survey. You could look to include quantitative metrics (ease of use, confidence in system, perceived time savings) and qualitative input (favourite features, frustrations, wishlist items). Anonymity encourages candour.
Leadership reporting: Compile a report for the GC or leadership team that blends data with narrative. Demonstrate where adoption is strong, where it needs improvement, and how the system is fulfilling its promise, whether that be freeing up time for high-value work or automating tasks. Quantify this with actual cost savings (tools like Savings Calculators can assist). This builds trust and ensures ongoing buy-in for future tech investments.
Roadmap planning: Based on usage data, feedback and strategic priorities, plan your next quarter. This might include integrating additional modules, refining templates, onboarding new departments, or embedding more training. LegalTech systems should be refined over time.
Conclusion
LegalTech adoption is often seen as a technical project, but in reality, it is a change management exercise. The first 90 days after go-live offers a powerful window to build confidence, embed usage and lay the foundations for long-term success.
When in-house legal teams approach rollout as an evolving journey, supported by real engagement and transparent reporting, technology moves from being a tool to becoming part of the team’s DNA. Success is not defined by launch day; it’s earned in the three months that follow.
