ABSTRACT
This chapter argues that the legal profession can adopt a data-driven strategy to increase profitability by aligning the firm's expertise with client needs. It defines big data, considers the way that data can be used in legal practice, and also considers challenges for law firms in a data-driven world. A successful data-driven organization relies upon a dedicated team focused upon the collection and usage of data. Data-driven business models must use heterogeneous sources of information, collected either through intentional requests for information or gathered indirectly through unseen data logs and tracking devices. Organizations can buy data management tools to track and assess client acquisition efforts. To evolve a legal practice into a data-driven organization, the law firm must be able to quickly discover and analyze internal sources of excellence. Law firms could create a social network specifically for alumni to identify connections to relevant expertise among former employees.
