August 2026
Creating capacity: Better ways to manage the workload
Every in-house legal team experiences times when demand outpaces capacity. For some, the feeling seems to never go away!
In our July CPD webinar, Alison Huitfeldt (General Counsel at RMIT University) and Catherine Adamson (Senior Director Legal Operations at AirTrunk) shared perspectives on how legal teams can better manage the pressure, focus on what matters most, and create capacity for higher-value work.
Their experiences come from very different organisations, but a common thread ran through the discussion: creating capacity is about making better decisions about the work legal takes on, how that work flows through the team, and where legal adds the greatest value.
Workload isn’t always about volume
When in-house legal teams feel overwhelmed, the assumption is often that there’s simply too much work. However, it’s often the breadth and complexity of that work that’s creating the pressure.
Commercial advice, employment issues, governance, disputes, regulatory change and strategic projects all compete for the same team’s attention. The challenge isn’t just doing more work; it’s managing work that spans every corner of the organisation.
Not everything on Legal’s desk is legal work
Over time, organisations develop habits. Work finds its way to Legal because “that’s how it’s always been done” or because the legal team is known for getting things done properly. Without clear boundaries, those requests continue to grow, making it harder for lawyers to focus on the most strategically valuable work.
Be clear about what’s really driving the pressure
Understanding where work is coming from, how demand is changing, and which tasks consume the most time creates a much stronger foundation for improving the way a legal team operates. Better data leads to better conversations, whether that’s about resourcing, priorities or opportunities to work differently.
Legal creates more value when it’s involved early
Too often, in-house legal teams are brought into a matter once the key decisions have already been made. Earlier involvement allows legal teams to help shape projects, manage risk proactively and support better business outcomes, rather than simply responding once the course has already been set.
Technology should support good processes
Technology continues to reshape in-house legal practice, but it isn’t a shortcut around poor processes. Before looking for a new tool, it’s worth understanding the problem you’re trying to solve. Often, the answer lies in a combination of people, process, and technology, rather than technology alone.
Creating capacity is built through a series of deliberate decisions: defining Legal’s role, understanding demand, improving processes, and creating the space to focus on the work that matters most.
Watch the full webinar below.
