3 minute read
Editor's Desk
As the legal operations community gears up to converge in Las Vegas for CLOC’s highly anticipated Global Institute (CGI), running May 5-8, we couldn’t be more excited to present Today’s General Counsel’s first-ever legal ops-themed issue.
Whether you’re attending the buzzy event in person or monitoring it from afar, this special edition of the magazine is packed with valuable insights to help you and your team thrive in the rapidly evolving world of legal operations. A lot of the themes explored in this issue are sure to spark engaging conversations at CGI.
One of the issue’s standouts is our exclusive interview with Adam Becker, CLOC Board Member and Director of Legal Operations at database technology company Cockroach Labs. In this in-depth conversation, Becker sheds light on the major trends and challenges reshaping the legal ops landscape. Among his key recommendations for legal ops professionals looking to stay ahead: staying current with the latest technology and mastering the art of data analysis.
Becker also stresses the need for legal ops professionals to deepen their understanding of legal principles and the intricacies of a lawyer’s work. “It’s time to dig in deeper,” he emphasizes. “That gives our legal teams an instant trust of us and our understanding, but it also gives us insight into what truly drives decisions and thought processes when we are putting other processes into place.”
Yet even for individuals with a solid grasp of those skills, career advancement in legal operations can be an uphill battle. Unlike traditional law firm paths, which offer clear progressions from associate to partner, legal ops professionals often face a glass ceiling when it comes to ascending to senior leadership roles.
Today’s General Counsel Columnist Tommie Tavares-Ferreira explains that tricky dynamic in her article for the issue.
“Unlike other business functions, legal operations lacks a formal educational track—there’s no MBA equivalent, no standardized certification that guarantees a leadership role,” she says. “That means professionals must be intentional about their growth.”
Thankfully, Tavares-Ferreira provides us with plenty of actionable advice on how to achieve that career progression and multiple pathways to get there.
Both Becker and Tavares-Ferreira, who will be sharing their expertise at a career development panel during CGI, underscore the critical role that technology plays in the legal operations field. We at Today’s General Counsel couldn’t agree more. That’s why this issue also covers key topics like electronic document hoarding, contract management, agentic AI, and workflows—ensuring you stay ahead of the curve on the latest industry developments.
We hope you enjoy this issue and find it thought-provoking. If you like what you are reading, subscribe to receive our free Legal Operations Weekly newsletter in your inbox.
Looking forward to seeing you in Vegas!
