Appendix C: The C-Suite Legal KPI Dashboard
Top 10 metrics grouped by FinOps, Velocity, and Risk — a one-page dashboard template for quarterly C-Suite reporting.
Purpose
This dashboard template provides the 10 metrics that every Legal Ops function should report to the C-Suite on a quarterly basis. The metrics are grouped into three categories aligned with the Strategic KPI framework from Chapter 9: FinOps (financial performance), Velocity (operational speed), and Risk (exposure management).
The dashboard is designed to fit on a single page — brief enough for a 5-minute executive review, substantive enough to drive strategic conversation.
The Dashboard Template
FinOps Metrics (Financial Performance)
| # | Metric | Definition | This Quarter | Prior Quarter | YoY Trend | Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Total Legal Spend | All-in cost: internal headcount + external counsel + technology + disbursements | $[X] | $[X] | [↑/↓/→] | $[X] |
| 2 | External Counsel Spend Ratio | External spend as % of total legal spend | [X]% | [X]% | [↑/↓/→] | <[X]% |
| 3 | Cost per Contract | Total contracting cost (internal + external) ÷ contracts executed | $[X] | $[X] | [↑/↓/→] | <$[X] |
| 4 | Billing Compliance Rate | % of external invoices passing automated validation without exception | [X]% | [X]% | [↑/↓/→] | >[X]% |
Velocity Metrics (Operational Speed)
| # | Metric | Definition | This Quarter | Prior Quarter | YoY Trend | Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Average Contract Cycle Time | Calendar days from first draft to full execution (segmented by type) | [X] days | [X] days | [↑/↓/→] | <[X] days |
| 6 | Legal Request Turnaround | Calendar days from request submission to substantive response | [X] days | [X] days | [↑/↓/→] | <[X] days |
| 7 | Self-Service Deflection Rate | % of business queries resolved via knowledge base/portal without legal team involvement | [X]% | [X]% | [↑/↓/→] | >[X]% |
Risk Metrics (Exposure Management)
| # | Metric | Definition | This Quarter | Prior Quarter | YoY Trend | Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Open Litigation Exposure | Total estimated financial exposure of all open litigation and disputes | $[X]M | $[X]M | [↑/↓/→] | <$[X]M |
| 9 | Contract Renewal Leakage | Estimated value of revenue lost to missed renewals or unfavourable auto-renewals | $[X] | $[X] | [↑/↓/→] | $0 |
| 10 | Compliance Health Score | Composite indicator: regulatory obligation adherence, policy review currency, training completion | [X]% | [X]% | [↑/↓/→] | >[X]% |
Dashboard Presentation Guidance
The Executive Summary (Top of Page)
Above the metrics table, include a 3-sentence executive summary:
Sentence 1: The headline result — the single most important development this quarter. Example: "Contract cycle time decreased by 18% this quarter following playbook deployment, contributing to an estimated $1.4M in accelerated revenue recognition."
Sentence 2: The key risk or concern — the item that requires executive attention. Example: "Open litigation exposure increased by $800K due to the [matter name] claim filed in Q2; outside counsel estimates a 12-month resolution timeline."
Sentence 3: The forward look — what is coming next quarter. Example: "Q3 priorities include CLM Phase 2 rollout (vendor contracts) and completion of the panel rationalisation, projected to reduce external counsel spend by 12%."
Traffic Light Overlay
For rapid executive scanning, apply a traffic light to each metric:
- Green: On target or better
- Amber: Within 10% of target, trending in the right direction
- Red: Below target by >10% or trending in the wrong direction
Drill-Down Readiness
The one-page dashboard is the presentation layer. Behind each metric, maintain a drill-down analysis that the Legal Ops team can present if the C-Suite asks questions:
- Total Legal Spend: Breakdown by category (headcount, external counsel by firm, technology, disbursements) with variance analysis
- Contract Cycle Time: Distribution by contract type, with outlier analysis identifying specific bottlenecks
- Open Litigation Exposure: Matter-by-matter breakdown with probability-weighted exposure estimates and movement since last quarter
- Compliance Health Score: Component-by-component breakdown identifying specific areas below target
Strategic Insight
The dashboard's value is not in the numbers — it is in the conversation the numbers enable. A well-constructed dashboard transforms the quarterly legal update from a descriptive report ("here is what we did") into a strategic discussion ("here is what the data says about our performance, and here is what we recommend"). This is how Legal Ops earns its seat at the strategy table.
Appendix B: The Legal Tech Vendor RFP Matrix & 'AI-Ready' Scorecard
A structured evaluation framework for legal technology procurement — weighted scoring criteria, the AI-readiness assessment, and a template RFP structure.
Appendix D: Standard Outside Counsel Billing Guidelines (OCBG) Template
A comprehensive template for Outside Counsel Billing Guidelines — covering rate structures, staffing requirements, expense policies, and e-billing compliance.