Clifford Chance is to use no-code decision automation system BRYTER within its Innovation Academy. The software will be used for training staff on ‘ideation, design thinking and prototyping’.
The workflow-focused company said that Clifford Chance has a strong interest in leveraging no-code ‘citizen development‘ to support its business needs. What they mean here is that staff can create applications for use inside the firm without having to buy off-the-peg point solutions, and at least in the initial stages, without having to rely on the firm’s tech team to help them build things they think may be useful to their own lawyers or their clients.
BRYTER has run similar types of partnerships with several large law firms, including: Ashurst, which ran a programme with the University of Sterling from which it recruits a number of its legal engineers, Reed Smith, Paul Hastings, McDermott Will & Emery, and Trowers & Hamlins. It’s also an approach that other no-code automation companies have taken in varying ways, including Neota Logic and AUTTO, among others.
The no-code approach has seen a rise in interest as law firm staff can design workflows and create prototypes to quickly prove that the logic gates and decision trees for their application make sense. After that there may well be an increase in tech team input if that project is to be integrated into the firm for working use. In some cases, the firm may well add extra UI/UX features if it’s for client use, as Herbert Smith Freehills did with its Neota-based legal privilege app.
The other main reason for the use of no-code systems is that they tend to be very intuitive and rely, as BRYTER and others do, on a visual interface where you can create links between actions and decision points all on your own desktop.
And of course, as the name suggests, there is is no coding required, at least in the initial design and workflow layout. One could also add that it’s quite empowering to be able to make a software tool that actually works and produces value by tapping your own subject matter knowledge.
April Brousseau, director, research and development at Clifford Chance, said: ‘Innovation is a core part of the culture at Clifford Chance and we encourage our people to continually think outside the box about how we might deliver legal services in different and better ways.
‘We are excited to be working with BRYTER to help our people continue to think differently and explore new ideas to address our clients’ demand for enhanced value and efficient legal advice services.’
Michael Grupp, founder and CEO of BRYTER, added: ‘We’re excited to partner with the Clifford Chance team. I’ve admired the firm’s commitment to innovation for a while now, particularly through its forward-thinking movements like Open Law and its early decision on offering digital solutions as part of a diverse service portfolio.
‘BRYTER’s technology is the perfect fit to such a framework where it helps the firm to be even faster and more flexible in servicing clients at the same time as enabling legal professionals in dealing with the ongoing challenges to be digitally ready and educated. We’re very much looking forward to a great working relationship together.’