Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Key definition

Efficiency definition

What does Efficiency mean? Efficiency, in legal practice, means delivering the same or better outcome with fewer resources (time, money, people), or increasing outputs from the same inputs. It is a descriptive term used across public law, procurement, regulation and litigation rather than a single statutory concept, though it features in Best Value and audit frameworks that emphasise the “three Es”: economy, efficiency and effectiveness. In England and Wales the Local Government Act 1999 imposes a Best Value duty; Scotland has the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003; Northern Ireland has the Local Government (Best Value) (Northern Ireland) Order 2006. In Ireland, the Public Spending...

Efficient, profitable client service in UK law firms, without compromising quality: internal and external delegation, know‑how reuse, case duration control, benchmarking, technology and matter planning

Published by a LexisNexis Practice Management expert

Practice notes

This Practice Note sets out why boosting the Efficiency of legal work is vital for law firms and how this can be done without sacrificing quality.

Why is work efficiency becoming so important for lawyers?

From 1992 to 2008, the UK economy enjoyed 63 consecutive quarters of growth. In that era, many practices lifted Profits year on year simply by raising Fees, before needing to seek extra instructions. Most firms experienced increases in billable rates as well as in the amount of work, and profits rose markedly. The global financial crisis in 2009 radically altered the landscape for numerous firms, making conditions far more challenging for practices. As a consequence, efficiency in delivery has moved centre stage for lawyers across firms...

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Jon Whittle

Jon Whittle Consulting Ltd

Jon is a specialist in developing legal businesses using market intelligence and customer insight to implement successful programmes for change. He works with law firms to create sustainable growth alongside successful project management, implementing new technologies and evolving business operations. Jon has been working on the future of law firms for more than fifteen years, focusing on the strategies and tactics that help firms build real and defendable competitive advantage. Whilst working in a senior leadership role at LexisNexis he was also the architect and author of the widely read LexisNexis Bellwether Reports and is a recognised authority on how law firms can build and grow. Previously, Jon worked, for two decades, at board level, in some of the UK’s largest media companies, transforming traditional businesses into growth in the digital age. He now applies the fruits of this experience,...

Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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