How to Improve Contract Management for In-house Legal Teams
For many in-house legal and business teams, managing contracts isn’t just about negotiating terms. It’s also about keeping track of what’s active, when reviews are coming up and when contracts are set to expire.
Where contract management often breaks down
Even organised legal teams can struggle when contract information is scattered across inboxes, personal folders, Teams chats, shared drives, or old archives. When contracts are all over the place, people don’t know where to find the signed copy, important details get buried in email chains and deadlines slip through the cracks.
This lack of visibility can lead to serious problems: missed renewals, unexpected costs, compliance issues, extra back-and-forth between legal and business teams. Without clear visibility into upcoming review periods, opportunities to act ahead of time are often missed, which can affect both operations and the bottom line.
Missed renewal dates are one of the biggest risks. If a deadline is overlooked, the business might roll into another term by accident, lose the chance to renegotiate pricing, or keep paying for services they don’t need.
How a centralised contract repository helps
You don’t need complex software to get on top of contracts. Most teams just need one structured, easy-to-use system that keeps everything organised. Small changes in how contracts are stored, accessed and monitored can make a big difference in day-to-day work. Increased visibility also allows businesses to be proactive about upcoming reviews and make timely decisions.
1. Give all contracts one clear home
Pick one central location, ideally a structured SharePoint library, so everyone knows where to find contracts. This also makes onboarding new team members easier and removes the guesswork when someone asks for “the signed copy”.
2. Make contracts easy to search
A system only works if people can quickly find what they need. Make sure you can search across all contracts, filter by important details, and open the right folder in seconds. This cuts down on wasted time digging through emails and attachments.
3. Connect signing directly into the system
Sending contracts for signature shouldn’t mean juggling files across multiple platforms. With DocuSign integration, teams can send contracts, track progress, and automatically store completed documents in the right place without extra filing.
4. Set review periods and assign ownership
Even with organised storage, contracts can go out of date if they are not reviewed regularly. Set review periods and assign ownership so everyone knows who is responsible for checking each contract and when. This keeps things accountable and ensures nothing slips through the cracks.
5. Set reminders for key dates
Automated reminders for deadlines, expirations, or upcoming reviews make sure important dates do not get missed, helping the business avoid extra costs or unwanted renewals.
Final Thought: Keep Contracts Under Control
Improving contract management does not have to be complicated. Centralise your contracts, make them easy to access, integrate signing, set review periods with clear ownership and stay on top of deadlines.
For teams working in Microsoft 365, Cubed by Law Squared makes this easy. It provides a secure SharePoint-based repository, DocuSign integration for signing, and a layer of review management. Legal and business teams can easily see active contracts, upcoming reviews, and expiration dates, giving increased visibility that allows the business to act proactively and keep everyone on the same page without leaving your environment.
Ready to see it in action? Book a demo today and discover how Cubed can simplify contract management for your team.