Design Thinking for Law

Learn scalable, implementable methods from practitioners who’ve built a highly successful Data Analytics & Governance practice group using DT. This Legal Lean Sigma Institute certificate program features LLSI Founder & CEO Catherine Alman MacDonagh, JD and LLSI Visiting Scholars from Morgan Lewis: Scott Milner, Global Head and Practice Group Leader of DAG, and James Vinson, Senior Director,

3-Session Certificate Program 

Earn your Certificate in Design Thinking for Law from the Legal Lean Sigma Institute and gain practical, actionable skills to drive improvement and innovation in your organization. 

Unlock the skills, mindset, and tools to design better experiences, processes, and solutions across your organization. The Certificate in Design Thinking for Law gives legal and business professionals a practical, hands-on introduction to Design Thinking—with content and case studies tailored specifically for the legal industry.

You’ll learn how to innovate with purpose, solve problems with clarity, and drive improvement one process, one project, and one client or employee experience at a time.

This program is also the required foundation for Design Thinking for Law 2.

This certificate is a pre-requisite for Design Thinking for Law 2.

Design Thinking Core Stages
 Empathize → Define → Ideate → Prototype → Test

Session 1 – Introduction & Mindset Shift, Empathize & Define

Topics: 

• What Design Thinking is, why it matters in law
• Legal Lean Design and how it blends with Design Thinking, Lean, Six Sigma, LPM, Behavioral Economics, and Change Management
• Journey mapping, Voice of the Client (VOC), root cause analysis, behavioral biases

Activity: Stakeholder mapping & empathy interview exercise

Takeaway Tools: Design Thinking + Legal Lean Design Frameworks, Problem Statement & Stakeholder Insight Matrix

Session 2 – Ideate & Prototype

• Topics: Divergent & convergent thinking, prioritization frameworks, risk mitigation (FMEA), rapid prototyping for legal services
• Activity: Brainstorm & prototype an improved client onboarding/intake process
• Takeaway Tool: Legal Prototype & Feedback Framework

Session 3: Test & Implement

• Topics: Pilots, KPIs, adoption strategies, scaling solutions, LPM roadmaps
• Activity: Draft a pilot & change management plan
• Takeaway Tool: Legal Innovation Implementation Playbook

Integrated topics:

• Lean– Eliminate waste, streamline workflows
  • Six Sigma – Reduce variation, measure quality
  • LPM – Plan, prioritize, and manage innovation projects
  • Behavioral Economics – Understand decision-making and adoption
  • Change Management – Lead people through transformation

Scholars:

Catherine Alman MacDonagh.pdf

Scott Milner, Partner, Morgan Lewis, Global Head and Practice Group Leader of DAG.

James Vinson, Senior Director, DAG, Morgan Lewis