The Buzz Newsletter (March 2026)
As the year advances, it is clear that monumental trends like AI and the accelerating adoption of enabling Microsoft technologies continue to gain momentum.
InOutsource is ready — over the past two years, we have invested in expanding our team and capabilities to help firms meet these challenges and harness these opportunities.
A key area of focus recently has been deepening and expanding our direct collaboration with Microsoft. For firms advancing AI adoption, prudent use of Microsoft technologies can prevent “broken silo” surfacing of restricted internal information to users. In this update, you can read more about our new Microsoft consulting offering focused explicitly on data security (with more to share as 2026 continues).
In addition to engaging more strategically with Microsoft as a partner — including jointly supporting strategic client project engagements — we have prioritized developing our teams’ skills and capabilities.
Over the past year, our team has earned Microsoft certifications, including:
- Azure Architecture
- Azure Administration
- Azure Security
Microsoft Security Operations - Microsoft Information Security (Purview)
And we have multiple technical experts pursuing certifications in:
- Power Platform Development
- Power Platform Solutions
- PowerBI Data Analyst
- Fabric Data Engineer
- Azure AI Engineer
- Azure DevOps
So whether your firm is just at the early stages of deploying a solution like Purview to enable prudent AI adoption, or it is pursuing more advanced technical scenarios — our experts stand ready to support you.
Thank you for your partnership throughout 2025! Strong client relationships are the foundation of every successful software and consulting project. We deeply value our long-term collaborations.
As you set priorities for investments in change and innovation, our team of technologists, business analysts, attorneys, and project managers stands ready to assist you and your firm to define and execute projects on time and on budget. (You can hear perspectives from several of them below in new video content featured in this issue of The Buzz.)
If you would like to schedule time to discuss how our team can support yours in 2026 and beyond, we would love to connect.
And we deeply appreciate every referral and introduction a client makes to a peer firm. The short video below, recorded at a recent all-hands offsite, is a helpful resource you can share to introduce us.
President and Founder
Director of Operations
A Word from Nancy & Eric
Hear our perspectives on the mission of InOutsource, how our staff shines, and what it is like to work with our team:
NEW: Making Massive Microsoft Moves
INTELLIGENT INVESTMENTS: Working Closely with Microsoft to Deliver Innovative Solutions
InOutsource helps law firms protect sensitive data, mitigate insider risk, and use AI responsibly.
We bring deep expertise to strengthen data governance, information protection, and compliance. By aligning Microsoft’s security and AI capabilities with law firm operations, we help firms meet client and professional obligations while accelerating meaningful AI transformation.
Ready to advance your journey? Start with a security audit:
Microsoft Data Security Audits — Details and Deliverables
An InOutsource Microsoft Data Security Audit gives firms a clear, evidence-based view of how their data is protected across their Microsoft 365 tenant.
This exercise helps firms prepare for secure AI adoption by providing visibility into their data and outlining practical steps to reduce risk and improve compliance.
- It identifies gaps in governance, information protection, access controls, stale data, oversharing, insider risk, and user interactions with AI.
- It provides a benchmark comparing the firm with industry peers and a prioritized roadmap to strengthen the firm’s security posture.
This year, our team has already completed several audits. These exercises run quickly (typically four weeks) and create minimal internal overhead. Best of all, in many instances Microsoft will subsidize the cost of the engagement.
Event Calendar
WEBINAR: Risk Roundtable: Exploring New Risk ROI Opportunities
Mar 26, 2026 (2PM ET)
In our first session of the year, we’ll share our perspective on how firms are investing in enhancing their risk management capabilities, boosting team efficiency, and streamlining day-to-day operations in 2026.
Our panel will share real-world stories, comment on existing and evolving trends, and offer advice for firms in risk areas touching policy, process, technology, data management, and staffing.
Based on audience interest, discussion will delve into topics including:
Policy, Process & People:
- Lateral hire workflow, HR systems integrations, and process optimization
- Improving OCG, terms of business, and engagement letter management
- Staff training, development, and retention
Technology:
- Risk cloud software migration strategies and best practices
Taking advantage of licensed but unused or under-utilized software product capabilities
Data and Insight:
- New Business Intake reporting and dashboard intelligence
- Third-party data integration & process optimization innovations
We’ll also have plenty of time for participant Q&A and discussion. So, bring questions, new ideas, and your own perspectives to share with your peers.
LUNCH AND LEARN: Washington, DC
Mar 26, 2026
Please join us in the DC office of Hogan Lovells for this roundtable discussion!
InOutsource experts will share how innovative firms are adapting existing data streams and new analytics software to engage new and existing litigation clients quickly, ahead of the competition.
Topics will include:
Case filing data sources — commercial providers and public sources (strengths, weaknesses, alignment with different litigation subject matter and use cases)
Current common case alert practices — approaches firms take today to manage the “firehose” of data flow, coordinate review, and organize attorney follow up
Advice for enhancing existing practices in place
Review of how new, state-of-the-art case alert and analysis technology is earning top marks from the lawyers, and hard ROI for firms.
Introduction of an internal assessment framework and questionnaire that participants can use within their organizations to document existing practices, engage key stakeholders, evaluate current ROI and opportunity, and distill key opportunities for enhancement.
Enhanging Intapp
INTAKE INTELLIGENCE: Unlock Risk Performance Insights: Efficiency, Timing & Trends
Drawing on InOutsource’s cross-functional expertise in Intapp Intake and Conflicts, analytics, and the broader risk management best practice landscape, Intake Intelligence provides firms with a standard set of reports and dashboards that can be further extended and customized to meet their organization’s specific needs.
Built on Microsoft Power BI, and supporting Intapp both on-premises and in the cloud, this solution enables firms to get data-driven answers to critical questions about intake turnaround timing, volume patterns, team productivity, exceptions management, and more. It presents not only aggregated, departmental-level summaries, but also breakouts and drill-downs across key criteria including: practice groups, matter profiles, geographies, and staff resources.
Data and Dashboards Delivered
Unlocking new levels of real-time information and reporting enables organizations to better understand how new clients, matters, and lateral hires are onboarded. This understanding creates a data-driven roadmap for adapting policies, practices, staffing, and escalations to create an even better experience for all stakeholders in the business acceptance and continuance lifecycle.
Intake Intelligence provides event-level detail, summaries, and reporting across a variety of areas, including:
COMPLIANCE SIMPLIFIED: Audit Letter Relief is Here
Is your law firm knee (or neck) deep in audit letter response? If you own Intapp for risk, we have an amazing solution for you!
InOutsource audit letter workflow automation uses your existing hashtag#Intapp software to streamline, automate, data-integrate, and deliver a pain-free process!
It makes lawyers’ lives dramatically easier (hello, ROI!), slashes staff overhead and frustration, and enables firms to address critical client compliance responsibilities quickly.
Fixed fee and fast, our Intapp audit letter consulting team has served many organizations over the years. So if you’d like to make next year’s audit letter season something to look forward to, NOW is the time to put the pieces in place to add this enhancement to your Intapp system.
Our team can help you make the case for investment, tailor our pre-packaged configurations to your environment, and navigate change management internally.
To learn more, check out the case studies and request a demo.
RESOURCE:: Intapp Cloud Migration: Assessment and Planning Services
We are working with a growing number of firms on Intapp cloud migration projects.
For those ready to move in 2026 or looking to lay a foundation for 2027 (or beyond), we have the experts and experience ready to make your projects a smooth success.
If your firm is at the “thinking” stage, we recommend some focused review, analysis, and planning now.
To help organizations avoid uncertainty, scope projects accurately, and execute migrations on schedule and on budget, we have developed a proprietary assessment.
Executing a detailed technical review and expert analysis, our practice team will evaluate your environment and needs — producing detailed recommendations, a tailored roadmap, and unique insight.
Our Amazing Team
WE ARE HIRING: Expanding Our "A-Team" to Deliver "A+" Results for Your Firm
There’s no other consultancy like InOutsource. Our culture, our breadth of skill, and our reputation speak volumes about our values and commitment to client success.
If you know someone looking for a fresh professional adventure that might be a good fit for our team, please sent them our way!
In the meantime, here are some new video perspectives from several familiar faces at InOutsource.
WATCH: Why People Love Working at InOutsource
WATCH: The InOutsource Team Has Superpowers!
Beeswax (Industry Insight)
INTAPP INTRODUCES: “A world of pure imagination!”
People are buzzing about Intapp’s new Agentic AI platform — Celeste. It’s much more than a wrapper on a reference LLM model, it’s a paradigm shift for the legal industry!
Launched at the recent Amplify event with a sizzling highlight video and soundtrack, Celeste: “knows your firm and gets work done with compliance built in, not bolted on.” It addresses use cases including:
- Agent-supported business planning
- Proactive cross-sell nudges
- Strategic business selection
- AI-supported matter intake and conflicts clearance
- Continuous conflicts monitoring
- Automated time capture and budget monitoring
- Lateral integration
- Automated experience processing
OPINION: Oregon Formal Opinion 2026-2026
Question:
May Oregon lawyers utilize chatbots to communicate with clients or potential clients on their websites or elsewhere with respect to their legal practice?
This opinion addresses some of an attorney’s obligations regarding publicly available marketing and intake communications under the Oregon Rules of Professional Conduct (RPCs).
Conclusion:
Yes, qualified.
…it is important that lawyers who obtain sufficient information about the prospective client through a chatbot promptly enter the prospective client into their conflict management system.
RECORDING: Global IG Day 2026 in Partnership with ARMA and ILTA
A special milestone event, InfoGov Hot Seat hosted a live podcast last month in celebration of Global Information Governance Day 2026.
Watch Jim Merrifield and Leigh Zidwick explore five key IG questions facing firms!
More Resources & Updates:
CONFLICTS: Conflicts News — Firm Survives Class-related Conflict Attempt, Navigating Client Advisory Conflict
BILLING & WALLS: Late-walled Defense Attorney Disqualified in ‘Hi-Tech’ Matter, “Success Fee” Client Billing Risk, Conflict and Firm Payment Dispute
CONFIDENTIALITY: Protective Order Confidentiality Problems Lead to Sanctions, International Privilege Concerns, Auditors’ Independence Impeded,
The Bee's Knees
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