To support knowledge work by lawyers, law firms have implemented knowledge management systems. This paper aims to present a stage model for knowledge management technology (KMT) in law firms.
The four stages are lawyer‐to‐technology, lawyer‐to‐lawyer, lawyer‐to‐information and lawyer‐to‐application, respectively. An exploratory empirical study is carried out in law firms in Norway to determine their stage of KMT.
Most surveyed law firms are at the third stage of what‐they‐know systems with lawyer‐to‐information applications.
The path of evolution through stages of growth connot not be verified with the collected survey data.
Law firms are undergoing significant changes. They are emerging as knowledge organizations in the legal knowledge business. Knowledge is their strategic resource that must be managed to achieve profitable growth. Since knowledge resides predominantly in the heads of individuals, recruitment and development of lawyers is critical for success in law firms.
