One of the most worrying things I hear from GCs buying legal tech is they go through the time-consuming process of vendor selection only to be told they aren’t getting budget for it.
Legal is constantly being asked to do more with less, and not everyone understands the value you really add to your business, so they don’t get why you want to spend money on tech in the first place.
I successfully got budget and buy in for legal tech when I was GC, and today I’m going to share my tips on how you can do this yourself! 👇
Reimagining contract workflows in Microsoft Word
in partnership with:
For most legal teams, Microsoft Word is where contracts happen, but not where workflows live. Contract Lifecycle Manager provider Summize shares how they're rethinking the Microsoft Word experience with their new Word Add-In, and how it can streamline contract workflows from within.
1️⃣ Translate Legal’s value
First, frame your case in terms the business understands.
Don’t say, “We need this tool to manage contracts.”
Instead, say, “We can cut contract turnaround time by 40%, enabling sales to close deals faster and drive revenue growth.”
Data is the love language of business. Use it to show how a CLM tool aligns with business priorities like faster revenue generation, efficiency or profitability.
2️⃣ Quantify the ROI
Next, bring the numbers.
Calculate how much time your team spends on manual contract tasks and convert that into a cost (I hate hourly rates mentality but work out how much your cost per hour based on your salary / and your team’s if you have one and multiply that by the time wasted on manual work)
Then compare it to the cost of a CLM tool. If you can show that the tool pays for itself in, say, 6 months, that’s a powerful argument.
Compare the price of a CLM tool to alternatives like hiring another FTE or part-time support.
3️⃣ Build internal allies
No one is going to listen to Legal alone. YOU need to bring in key internal influencers to promote this project for you (ideally someone senior in sales, the cool kids!!).
So - find your champions. Sales and procurement teams often feel the pain of slow contract processes just as much as legal does. Get them on board, and suddenly it’s not just you advocating—it’s the whole business.
⭐️ Bonus tip: contracts are a business wide document, not just a legal one. And similarly, a CLM tool is a business wide tool, not just a legal one. Be really clear about this when you’re putting your business case together.
You’re invited! Free Zoom workshop with Xakia
Join us for our Data Analytics Masterclass with Xakia - an exclusive, practical workshop taught by Jodie Baker (Founder & CEO at Xakia).
The session will feature special guest Kristin Bruun Olesen (Head of Group Legal at AKVA Group ASA), who will share how she uses Xakia in her day-to-day work and her experience with the buying process in an ever more crowded and confusing market.
In this interactive session, you’ll learn:
🔹 How to gather and structure useful legal data
🔹 What legal teams should actually be tracking
🔹 How to show your value with data to leadership
🔹 How tools like Xakia help teams support legal data analytics
The session will conclude with a short platform walkthrough and Q&A, so you'll leave with practical insights you can apply right away.
📅 Wednesday, 15 April 2026
📍 Zoom workshop
⏰ 10am GMT | 11am CET | 12pm EET
Curious about in-house practice or simply want to reach out?
Don't hesitate to reply to this email - I'm happy to help with any questions, no strings attached.
Let’s connect! 💜
by Sarah Irwin
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