The legal sector is undergoing one of its most profound transformations. Rising client expectations, mounting compliance demands, and the emergence of technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) are pushing legal organizations to modernize at speed. But digital transformation in this space requires more than just new tools. It demands a new kind of leadership. At the forefront of this change is the Chief Information Officer (CIO).
Long tasked with managing infrastructure, CIOs are now assuming a strategic role in shaping legal operations, improving agility, and ensuring digital security. And this evolution is driven by necessity.
Industry research shows that a significant majority of legal professionals now prioritize technology adoption at the strategic level. Yet the digital maturity of law firms and legal departments remains inconsistent. External benchmarking reports across professional services firms reveal that personalization, user-centric design, and systems integration are still underdeveloped in legal services. This is despite being standard in other sectors. These gaps signal a clear opportunity for CIOs to step into a transformative leadership role.
More than IT Custodians
Job boards will define CIOs as those responsible for managing and implementing computer and information technology systems. As much as this definition still applies to CIOs, their traditional image is evolving. Today CIOs are more implicated in decision making processes and are a true force behind innovation. They are not just technical enablers. Their position is much more proactive than it once was.
A 2023 study published in the Journal of Decision Systems found that CIOs in digitally evolving organizations are increasingly tasked with legacy system integration, data governance, cybersecurity leadership, and strategic IT planning.
The last areas are relevant for legal departments as they’re also experiencing drastic changes through digitalization. This is what places CIOs at the intersection of technology, business strategy and transformation. They are ultimately making them great assets to decide on LegalTech tools adoption.
Why CIOs Are your Legal Team’s Best Friend
CIOs have a level of expertise in tech and cybersecurity, both aspects any legal team must look for in their LegalTech tool stack. Furthermore, they commonly communicate with the same relevant parties as legal teams: General Directors, and the end users (legal teams, contract managers etc.) Let’s explore what makes them perfect allies for legal teams, and strategic enablers for decision making.
1. They Bridge Strategy and Governance
As previously mentioned, CIOs don’t simply roll out solutions and walk away. They assess risks, guide decisions, and pave the way for smoother adoption.
Legal digitalization follows the same principle: a team doesn’t become digital just by installing a solution. It has to go further: there must be real usage, alignment, and clearly defined goals.
CIOs’ ability to connect compliance requirements with operational objectives, like efficiency or legal cost reduction, creates a balance that’s essential to the success of digital transformation projects. They’re uniquely positioned to align technology choices with risk management and long-term business strategy.
2. They Understand the Big Picture
One of the hardest challenges companies face during digitalization is the lack of cohesion. Let’s face it, getting everyone on board and aligned on needs, and sometimes product requirements, is no easy task.
CIOs, much like legal departments, work closely with finance, HR, and other internal teams. Their technical expertise, combined with a deep understanding of departmental needs, ensures a smoother decision-making and transition process.
Whether it’s integrating legal input into digital product development or connecting contract data to business performance dashboards, CIOs are the ones who can push for these workflows. They’re also the ones who can lay the groundwork for interconnectivity and drive the structural changes needed to scale.
3. They Can Play the Devil’s Advocate
General Directors and Legal Teams usually have clear goals, along with a defined list of must-haves and nice-to-haves from their service providers. However, CIOs are uniquely positioned to connect those goals and features with governance and security requirements.
This isn’t to say that legal professionals aren’t aware of the certifications or integrations they need, but CIOs bring additional insight. They’re a valuable asset in evaluating the best-fit candidates from a cybersecurity, data privacy, and broader risk management perspective. For example, asking questions about proprietary vs public AI if your short-listed providers offer such features.
In short, involving CIOs in your calls with service providers means asking the hard questions, and getting answers that align with your organization’s long-term digital strategy.
Key Strategies for CIOs Leading Legal Transformation
A recent trend report from JDJournal outlines how legal operations teams are prioritizing AI, automation, sustainability tracking, and data transparency in 2025. One of the most common pain points for legal teams is they work with siloed data and often legacy systems. These systems don’t communicate between them. Here’s where CIOs step in: by modernizing architecture and facilitating platform integrations, they can lead legal departments into a more agile and data-aware future.
Focus on Cohesion
Harmony is key to success. CIOs should leverage their knowledge and strategic position to drive changes that benefit everyone. For digital transformation to succeed, they need to be involved in the decision-making process from the outset. This opens up the space to consider how LegalTech aligns with broader business goals, rather than pursuing tech upgrades in isolated silos.
Security and Scalability at the Core
Legal teams handle highly sensitive information, whether through a Contract Lifecycle Management system or during board-level collaboration. As AI features and integrated workflows become more common, the need for strong security grows in parallel. CIOs and legal teams must work closely to ensure that LegalTech solutions maintain high security standards without compromising scalability. By aligning early in the process, CIOs can help identify the best-fit tools and support legal teams in making confident, future-proof decisions.
Tracking KPIs for Digital Maturity
Tracking digital maturity through KPIs, like automation rates, uptime, adoption, or integration efficiency, helps CIOs demonstrate ROI early. It enables a better look into what future investments should be prioritized. From a broader perspective, it can help legal teams better understand their own KPIs and where work is needed. For instance, if adoption rates are low perhaps more training is required. Ultimately, showcasing these results is one of the most effective ways to build internal support and sustain momentum in digital transformation.
CIOs Driving Legal Transformation
CIOs play a critical role in how legal teams operate and collaborate. They are strategic partners who must leverage their position to bridge the information gap between key decision-makers.
With responsibilities ranging from safeguarding organizational data to ensuring scalability and efficiency, CIOs have clearly moved beyond the outdated image of being mere “tech enablers.” Today, they are essential actors in shaping smarter, more integrated legal operations.
