Legal departments can optimize outside counsel RFPs using matter data

Legal departments can improve the outside counsel Request for Proposal (RFP) process by utilizing existing matter management data rather than relying solely on firm proposals. Internal records provide empirical evidence that marketing materials may not accurately reflect.

Key data points for evaluation include identifying which firms have handled matters of similar complexity and jurisdiction, determining historical costs to establish pricing benchmarks, and analyzing budget-to-actual variance to identify reliable partners. Additionally, departments can review staffing patterns, such as partner-to-associate ratios, and assess invoice consistency and delivered outcomes to inform future selection criteria.