Unlocking the Power of Microsoft365 for In-House Legal Teams

Small to mid-sized in-house legal teams often face the challenge of balancing limited resources with increasing demands for efficiency and innovation. While niche legal technologies can offer specialised solutions, they can also come with hefty price tags and contribute to change fatigue as teams juggle multiple tools and often wind up developing workarounds that negate some of the purported benefits.

Enter Microsoft 365—a surprisingly underutilised powerhouse for legal teams looking to streamline processes, improve automation, and manage matters effectively.

At the Association of Corporate Counsel Australia's recent In-House Legal National Conference, Nam Truong, Digital + Innovation leader at Law Squared, and Gihan Wijeratne, General Counsel of Ingenico APAC, shared their compelling case study on how Ingenico modernised its contract approvals process using Microsoft365 tools.

By leveraging proven technologies including Power Apps, Power Automate, and SharePoint, Ingenico transformed a complex, multilayered system into a streamlined, user-friendly solution. According to Nam, "Using these tools, we improved the end-user experience, increased process efficiency, and reduced risk—all without investing in new software."

The case study session also showcased how Microsoft 365 can address broader legal team needs. Nam demonstrated how teams can create a free matter management solution using Microsoft Lists, linked seamlessly to an MS Forms intake form and a Power BI dashboard for reporting. This lightweight, cost-effective approach is ideal for teams operating on lean budgets, providing an accessible starting point for organising and tracking legal matters.

Importantly, this approach offers benefits that extend beyond the legal department. By leveraging Microsoft 365, organisations can avoid the costly and time-consuming process of implementing and integrating new technologies, as many employees are already familiar with Microsoft tools. This reduces training overheads and fosters collaboration across departments. Additionally, by maximising the use of an existing tech stack, businesses can achieve significant cost savings, improve transparency with stakeholders, and ensure scalability without introducing complexity into their operations.

As Nam observed, more legal teams are recognising the value of "technology they already own." Instead of pursuing expensive new platforms, they are exploring creative ways to unlock the potential of their existing tech stack like Microsoft 365. For legal teams, this shift represents a practical, scalable path to digital transformation that avoids the pitfalls of over-investment and tool overload.

For small to mid-sized in-house legal teams, the message is clear: before searching for niche technologies, look at what’s already in your toolkit. Microsoft 365 offers a flexible, powerful platform to modernise processes and deliver impactful solutions without breaking the budget.

To learn more about why Law Squared are the Microsoft365 experts for in-house legal teams, and how we can help transform your operations, visit our Digital + Innovation page.