Colin Mounsey is an Associate Consultant and Project Manager at Lights-On Consulting, who has been with the firm for 7 years. With an impressive track record and project portfolio, we spend 5-minutes getting to know him more in this meet the team interview…
What does a typical work day look like for you?
A typical day for me will involve several Teams calls with clients, managing tasks, relationships, suppliers and ensuring project deliverables remain on track. Depending on the project this may necessitate daily standups, project board meetings but a significant amount of planning, documentation and emails!
What types of IT projects do you enjoy most or specialise in?
Prior to Covid I would have described myself as a PMS (Practice and Case Management) implementation specialist but over the last five years my repertoire has broadened! More recently I have managed several office moves and refurbishments as well as greater consultancy around IT product tenders and system procurements. I love solving business challenges and helping clients get the most out of the investments they make. To say I prefer one type of project to another would be inaccurate as the thing I truly enjoy the most is the variety of work this role affords me.
How would you describe your approach to your work in 3-words?
Pragmatic, honest and focussed.
What’s the one IT challenge you wish more law firms took seriously?
Making data-driven decisions. Some firms are falling behind when it comes to business analysis being driven by data. Understanding this can drive profitability and sustainability in the marketplace. Law firms have long been focussed on capturing time recording data but understanding the insights this provides (realisation / pricing and profitability) is an area too many still don’t fully embrace.
What trend in Legal IT do you think firms need to keep a closer eye on?
I am not going to say A.I …. Because that’s too obvious! In terms of keeping a close eye on something, I would implore all law firms (and everyone who works within them), to be as vigilant as possible around cybersecurity. It seems daily now that either a major data breach or cybersecurity incident is reported in the news (just recently I read about KNP – a 158-year-old company with 700 staff that has been destroyed by a ransomware attack). Everyone has their part to play in protecting themselves, their business and their clients in this area and it is certainly a subject where ‘prevention is better than cure’.
In one sentence, what makes Lights-On Consulting different from other IT Consultants?
Lights-On may be a group of individual consultants but our strength is that we very much work as a team – this allows us all to tap into a pool of knowledge with well over one hundred years (collectively) of legal IT knowledge and experience.
What’s something people would be surprised to learn about you?
That I have three books for sale on Amazon and lots of music I have written on Spotify and Apple Music – just search for Colin Mounsey. The output of a misspent youth …
What’s on your bookshelf right now?
Currently I’m reading Peter Carpenter’s book” Bowie Land”. A true story about a man who, after open heart surgery, must start walking and exercising more and so he decides to visit various areas / haunts that David Bowie frequented in the 1960’s and 70’s … an odd subject matter but a nice, easy read.
If you weren’t in legal IT, what would your dream job be?
Without hesitation, centre-forward for Sheffield United.
What is your favourite piece of technology or IT to use outside of work?
It has to be my apple mac-mini – a work horse, reliable and a just brilliant bit of kit.
And finally – Tea, Coffee (or something stronger)?
Coffee – every time.
For more information about the projects that Colin Mounsey has delivered, or any of the services that Lights-On Consulting offer, please get in touch.