• Own an AI initiative in your department: If your team isn’t using AI yet, be the person who brings it in. Offer to test AI for contract review, playbook generation, or workflow automation and present findings. • Position yourself as the AI expert: Start talking about AI in internal meetings, external panels, and LinkedIn thought leadership posts. The more you share, the more people associate you with AI leadership. • Be proactive and don’t wait for permission: If you wait until the GC or CLO asks for an AI strategy, you’re already behind. Real-Life Example: Gabe Saunders: As Director of Legal Operations at wellness and fitness company Exos, Gabe spearheaded the implementation of AI-driven contract management solutions. By partnering with LegalSifter, he automated contract ticketing and triage processes, reducing the time per request from 20–30 minutes to just 45 seconds. This initiative not only improved operational efficiency but also contributed to his career advancement within the company.
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Transition to Business or Strategy Operations If you love solving problems at a company-wide level, a move into business operations, strategy, or finance could be your next step. Legal ops leaders already have strong financial acumen, data analysis skills, and cross-functional experience, which directly translates into broader operational roles.
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How to get there: • Start thinking beyond legal: In your current role, take ownership of projects that impact the whole company (not just legal). • Learn business metrics: If you don’t already, start tracking and reporting on KPIs that matter to the entire business, such as revenue acceleration, risk mitigation, and operational efficiency. • Align with the COO or CFO: Build relationships with senior business leaders. Understand their biggest operational challenges and find ways to contribute legal ops expertise to broader company goals. • Don’t be too legal-centric: If you want to transition out of legal, your conversations need to shift. Frame your contributions in business outcomes, not just legal efficiencies. Real-Life Example: Stephanie Corey: Co-founder of the Legal Innovators Network (LINK) and CEO of UpLevel Ops, a consulting firm focused on strategic legal operations, business process improvement, and leadership development. Stephanie transitioned from a traditional legal ops role to focus on legal operations consulting. Her work emphasizes aligning legal functions with overall business strategy, showcasing how legal professionals can pivot to broader executive roles.
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Go the Chief of Staff Route: A Step Toward Executive Leadership A Chief of Staff (CoS) role is perfect for legal ops professionals who excel at strategy, influence, and
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cross-functional leadership. You become the right-hand to an executive (often the GC, COO, or CEO), helping drive strategic initiatives across the company. How to get there: • Start acting like a chief of staff now: Offer to lead high-visibility, cross-functional projects that require executive-level communication. • If your CEO or GC has big operational goals but no time to execute, step in and drive those projects forward. • Develop your executive presence: Start presenting to senior leadership and refining your ability to distill complex information into concise recommendations. • Work on strategic initiatives: CoS roles are about long-term business planning. Volunteer for projects that impact company-wide strategy, such as M&A diligence, company reorganizations, or efficiency initiatives. • Make sure you’re operating at a strategic level and not just executing like a project manager. • Build relationships with executives: If you don’t have strong relationships with leadership, you won’t get the opportunity. Real-Life Example: Stacy Lettie: With over two decades as an in-house attorney, Stacy transitioned into legal operations and now serves as the Chief of Staff to the General Counsel at healthcare company Organon. In this role, she leads strategic planning and legal operations, demonstrating how legal expertise can be leveraged in Chief of Staff roles. BACK TO CONTENTS
