Tip: Use Past RFPs to Improve Future Responses

By Ryan Bowers On May 14, 2012 · 1 Comment

Here at the RFPattorney legal network, we are firm believers that the RFP process is a powerful tool for the selection of legal counsel. However, the traditional RFP system is inefficient, time-consuming and labor-intensive. Our cloud request for proposal platform was launched to fix these problems and make the tool accessible to any individual, business, or legal department. A few of the improvements baked into our platform:

Cloud management of the entire RFP process - from creating the request for proposal through the award decision – completely paperless
The questions you should be asking are already written – yet each question is fully editable (or create custom questions)
Limited response lengths, limited recipients, and set deadlines
Integration with our niche based network of attorneys, so you can select attorney recipients initially based on expertise and legal knowledge

In addition to these improvements (learn more here), we have also built a feedback system right into our RFP software. It’s simple – when a client has reviewed the RFP responses from selected attorneys, conducted any necessary interviews and makes the award decision, that client is prompted to provide feedback to the attorneys that are not awarded the legal work. That feedback is delivered directly to each attorney when they are notified of the client’s decision. The feedback remains with the archived RFP for future reference. And all of this takes place right within the RFPattorney application.

Why is this important? First and foremost, attorneys can understand why they were not the counsel chosen by the client – no more speculation. Second, they can use this feedback to better hone their message and improve future responses, whether for that client or other clients. Receiving feedback is valuable, despite not being awarded the work. Third, recipients can better analyze the decision to respond itself and make informed future decisions about responding to similar RFPs (for example, perhaps an attorney simply doesn’t have enough niche experience). Finally, by incorporating feedback directly into the process right when the decision is made, there is no awkward or intrusive follow-up required.

Ryan Bowers

Founder of RFPattorney.com and author of the RFPattorney Blog. Over 8 years of experience practicing law, including past experience at an international law firm, a national law firm, and a small firm. Currently GC and VP Operations for large mechanical construction company. Midwesterner, home renovator, golden retriever wrangler, new dad, Wolverine, & avid hockey fan.