Recently on a social network site, I read a question about if and how project management can be used in the legal industry to increase success rates. The question caught my eye because I had thought about this very thing several months ago. I wondered why in fact there isn't more application of formal project management in the legal industry, especially among legal teams that handle larger more complex cases.

Here is a reprint of the answer I posted there: 

Sarah, 

I can see why people in the legal industry want to know more about how formal project management can help them achieve their objectives. 

By definition a project is a unique endeavor, is complex, has a target end date, and probably hasn't been done by the organization before. Furthermore, projects are governed by the "triple constraints" of time, money, and scope of work. Projects involve risk and can sure be stressful at times. 

Pharmaceutical, construction, IT, transportation, banking, and a myriad other types of organizations use formal project management to achieve their strategic objectives. Why not legal? 

I would suggest the best place to start for a legal firm interested in leveraging project management to win more cases, is with training for its senior management that explains the value of the project management practice. Then develop a plan to incorporate project management into the organizational structure. 

This process is probably a six to eighteen month project, depending on the environment, level of commitment of senior management, and resources. 

Hope this helps. Feel free to give me a shout for further clarification or advise. 

Take care,
DVR