Please enjoy this blog authored by Suresh Annamalai, Senior Manager of Digital Innovation, Proskauer Rose LLP.
🔹Designing Legal Workflows with Low-Code Tools
In our last post, we explored why low-code platforms are gaining momentum in legal departments. Now let’s talk about how legal teams can actually use these tools to build smarter workflows—without needing to become full-time developers.
This isn’t about replacing your core legal systems. It’s about fixing the gaps: those slow, manual processes that waste time and increase risk. With low-code platforms—like PowerApps, Power Automate, Appian, Mendix, or OutSystems—legal teams can turn ideas into working apps in weeks, not months.
🔹Start Where It Hurts Most
If you’re just getting started, don’t try to overhaul everything. Focus on one workflow that’s clearly broken or inefficient. Look for tasks that are repetitive, time-consuming, or error-prone. These are often the easiest to automate and the fastest to show results.
Let’s take outside counsel engagement. Many legal teams still rely on email threads and spreadsheets to track requests, approvals, and budgets. A low-code app can streamline this entire process.
You could build a simple form that lets internal teams submit engagement requests. The app routes those requests to the right approver, tracks budget thresholds, and stores all relevant documents in a central location. You can even set up dashboards to monitor spend and flag overages.
If your workflow involves complex relationships like matters, vendors, and billing codes, consider using a structured data platform like Dataverse or its equivalent. For simpler use cases, SharePoint Lists or similar tools can be a great starting point.
🔹Build for People, Not Just Data
You don’t need to be a designer to create a usable app, but you do need to think about the user experience.
Keep forms clean and simple. A single-column layout works best, especially on mobile. Group related fields together—like separating “Firm Info” from “Engagement Details.” Only show fields that matter based on what the user selects. Pre-fill basic info like name and department to save time. And if your form is long, break it into steps so it doesn’t feel overwhelming.
Ensure your app is compatible with laptops, tablets, and phones. And if your team lives in Microsoft Teams or Slack, let them open the app right there—no extra tabs or windows. Most low-code platforms offer built-in controls to help structure your forms and maintain data accuracy. Use those unless you have a specific reason to customize.
🔹Automate the Busywork
Workflow automation is where low-code tools really shine. Whether you’re using Power Automate, Appian’s process modeler, or another engine, the goal is the same: reduce manual effort and keep things moving.
For outside counsel engagement, automation can handle:
• Routing approvals based on matter type or spend level
• Sending reminders to approvers who haven’t responded
• Generating engagement letters from templates
• Saving documents with proper naming and metadata
• Notifying finance when a new engagement is approved
Many platforms offer connectors to integrate with systems like Salesforce, ServiceNow, or iManage. For custom needs, APIs can help bridge the gap.
🔹Don’t Skip Governance
Legal data is sensitive, and governance matters. Establish guardrails early to prevent innovation from turning into chaos.
Best practices include:
• Separate environments for development, testing, and production
• Role-based access controls using your identity provider
• Data loss prevention policies to block risky flows
• Packaging apps and workflows for version control
• Monitoring usage and performance through admin dashboards
If your team is growing, consider creating a playbook for citizen developers. It should cover naming conventions, reusable components, and approval processes to maintain consistency.
🔹What This Looks Like in Practice
One legal department built an outside counsel request app using a low-code platform. Here’s how it works:
A business unit submits a request through a form embedded in Teams. The app asks for firm name, matter type, estimated budget, and urgency. Based on that info, it routes the request to the appropriate legal approver. Once approved, it generates an engagement letter, saves it to SharePoint, and notifies finance.
The results? Faster approvals, better visibility into spend, and fewer missed steps. Legal ops can now track engagement volume and budget trends in real time.
🔹Final Thoughts
Low-code platforms aren’t just another tech trend—they’re changing how legal team's work. By combining legal expertise with easy-to-use tools, firms can build what they need, when they need it.
Whether you’re using PowerApps, Appian, Mendix, or something else, the goal is the same: empower legal professionals to solve problems faster, collaborate better, and stay compliant. Low-code doesn’t replace people. It gives them the tools to build smarter. And in today’s legal landscape, that’s a big win.
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