#Japan #Tokyo #Sumitomo #Legalscape #Watson & Holmes

Sumitomo Corporation Implements Legalscape for Legal Research Efficiency

In a remarkable move towards digital transformation, Sumitomo Corporation has recently adopted the legal research platform Legalscape. This integration is not only aimed at enhancing the efficiency of legal research but has also yielded significant results within just six months of implementation.

Legalscape, developed by Legalscape Inc., is equipped with AI capabilities that have successfully reduced the time required for initial legal research to less than half of the original duration. This time-saving enhancement in legal studies proves to be invaluable for business decision-making processes, allowing for faster resolutions and execution.

Background: Overcoming Research Challenges

As a comprehensive trading company with diverse ventures both domestically and internationally, Sumitomo Corporation faced the challenge of inefficient and overly reliant legal research practices. Legal staff, particularly young professionals, were often compelled to rely on personal knowledge and experience, which created hurdles in accessing necessary legal information.

The legal department of the corporation found itself in a predicament where they had to sift through literature related to various legal topics, which led to high time consumption. Identifying the need for improvement, the digital transformation working group at Sumitomo Corporation initiated the deployment of Legalscape, aimed at acquiring reliable information swiftly and reliably.

Key Achievements from Implementation

Remarkable Reduction in Research Time

The AI research functionality known as Watson & Holmes allows legal teams to conduct preliminary research that previously took an hour, to now being completed in under 30 minutes. This substantial time cut is vital for legal departments that are often under pressure to provide quick assessments on various issues.

Instantaneous Responses During Meetings

During meetings, when legal questions arise, the Legalscape platform enables instant access to substantiated answers. This feature contributes significantly to enhancing the speed of decision-making across various business sectors by providing immediate clarification on legal issues.

Deepening Investigation with Further Inquiry Functionality

The Legalscape platform includes a feature called Saratoi, which automatically suggests follow-up questions based on the summaries generated by Watson & Holmes. This innovative aspect streamlines the process for legal personnel and aids in meticulous exploration of critical legal points, saving valuable time and cognitive resources.

Knowledge Sharing Across All Levels

Both junior and senior staff can now execute high-quality research without heavily relying on traditional resources, such as books. The linkage feature fosters smoother sharing of reasoning processes along with the cited foundations of various legal inquiries, thus promoting collective knowledge among team members.

Feedback from the Legal Team

Comments from Team Leads

• - Assistant Team Leader, Mr. Fujita: "Legalscape is not just an electronic book browsing tool. It acts like a diligent secretary gathering and summarizing information. This tool has outshined my expectations. The role of the legal department extends beyond just pointing out risks; it’s about organizing issues quickly and propelling business decisions forward. Legalscape plays an indispensable role in achieving this."

• - Legal Department, Mr. Nishii: "The user interface that allows simultaneous viewing of AI-driven answers and reference literature is extremely user-friendly. It is applicable across various fields, heightening the legal department's efficiency without anchoring us to individual knowledge. The platform enhances collective expertise through reliable and well-supported responses."

About Sumitomo Corporation

Founded in 1919, Sumitomo Corporation, headquartered in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, is a leading general trading company actively engaging in various industries across the globe. For more information, visit their official site: Sumitomo Corporation

About Legalscape

Legalscape, launched in June 2021, serves as an innovative legal research platform that leverages AI to quickly summarize necessary legal information, allowing users immediate access to the knowledge they seek. For additional details, explore: Legalscape

In September 2023, Legalscape introduced a groundbreaking AI research feature combined with proprietary natural language processing technology. With a robust library of over 40,000 items including more than 4,000 books, Legalscape is committed to delivering efficient solutions to legal professionals across Japan.

Conclusion

The success of Sumitomo Corporation in integrating Legalscape demonstrates a pivotal shift in legal research dynamics, spurred by AI technology. This evolution paves the way for enhanced corporate decision-making and serves as a model for future advancements in legal departments worldwide.