Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Planning for
Legal Leaders
Capture an actionable strategic
plan on one page
Craft a clear, measurable,
communicable strategic plan
Strategy defines what an enterprise will do to be successful — how Today’s disrupted conditions make it even more important for strategic
it plans to compete and win in its chosen markets or deliver the plans to be clear, measurable and communicable.
expected services to the citizen and fulfill its public mission.
Key components include the following:
A strategy is specific for an enterprise, in a specific environment,
1. A few metrics that define the function’s current and target end state
aiming at a specific objective in a specific point in time.
2. The most critical assumptions underpinning the plan
It is that strategy from which you generate strategic plans (and then 3. The key initiatives required to achieve the end state
operational plans) that answer how the enterprise will get there.
4. A concise statement that distills and communicates the strategy
At a functional level, strategic planning defines the roadmap
for executing the choices and actions required to meet strategic
goals — which reflect the function’s contribution to the enterprise
business model and goals.
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Key actions in strategic planning
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Key actions in strategic planning
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Strategic Plan on a Page for Legal Leaders, 2021-2022
Document the key elements of your strategy on one page. Examples are illustrative.
Rationalized by Do Don’t
Example: Percentage of contracts turned 4 to 7 • Communicate explicitly • Create confusion or disagreement Example: Percentage of contracts turned
around within designated time frame: 87% around basis of strategy around within designated time frame: 90%
assumptions • Specify quantifiable thresholds
within 12 months
• Allow for real-time course corrections
Example: Total outside counsel cost savings
due to department efficiencies: $100,000 Example: Significant regulatory and business practice changes as it relates to labor and employee, Example: Total outside counsel cost savings
privacy and environmental disclosures. due to department efficiencies: $200,000
by end of 2022
Example: High volume of acquisitions across industry and supply chain
Expressed as Do Don’t
1 sentence • Capture the essence of the strategy • Create doubt around what
constitutes strategy
Example: Provide streamlined legal services and innovations that reduce legal risks while achieving cost
and operational efficiencies.
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Strategic Plan on a Page Template
Type in the fields below to complete the interactive form.
Rationalized by
4 to 7
assumptions
Expressed as
1 sentence
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Actionable, objective insight
Explore these additional complimentary resources and tools
for Legal & Compliance leaders:
The Future of Legal: Six Shifts Future of Work Reinvented The Art of the 1-Page Strategy: Benchmark the Effectiveness
GC Must Make by 2025 Reinvent where, when and how we work Storytelling Enables Business of Your Function
to maximize employees’ engagement and Growth Measure your function’s performance
Transform the legal operating model
productivity. against peers, strategic priorities and
to build a more resilient department. Learn how to use storytelling to articulate
business strategy and success. future needs, and position yourself to
drive business goals.
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