With a laser focus on making continuous operational improvement, CoEs are away to encourage creative problem-solving in a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment — to manage change strategically. Consequently, CoEs are an important space to consider the benefits of innovation and technology. Departments within businesses can apply the same corporate logic to the continual development and iteration of their own processes to become recognized departments of excellence — guaranteeing efficiency and value.In its 2021 Law Survey, Ernst & Young noted that the use of outsourced CoEs or shared service centers to support legal operations, were, despite the benefits, potentially resource-intensive and cumbersome to manage. So, the principle is sound, but the execution requires consideration.In this article we’ll break down the five characteristics of a successful CoE that can be applied to in-house legal departments.