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Case Study

Onit Transforms Case Management at Chicago Water Reclamation District

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Managing an Expanding Legal Caseload with Limited Resources

The in-house Law Department of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago supports a wide array of legal matters ranging from environmental compliance to municipal governance. With limited resources and an expanding caseload, the legal team needed a way to work more efficiently while maintaining high standards of service to internal stakeholders and the Board of Commissioners.

“We’re a smaller organization, but the kind of law we practice is all over the place,” said Legal Assistant Erin G. Johnson. Previously, the team managed matters using paper files, Excel spreadsheets, and siloed processes—leading to duplication of effort, delayed response times, and missed opportunities for collaboration.

Solution

To address these challenges, the District implemented Legal Files, part of the Onit ecosystem, as its centralized case and matter management system. The goal was to create a single source of truth for legal matters while streamlining workflows across five legal divisions.

Legal Files helped the team:

  • Consolidate all case files, documents, and communications into a searchable, digital system.
  • Automate file creation and intake using custom wizards and templates.
  • Track deadlines and assignments with built-in calendars, workflows, and task management tools.
  • Enable cross-team visibility, so attorneys and support staff can easily access matter status and history.
  • Improve responsiveness to requests from the General Counsel, internal departments, and the Board.

Results and ROI

Since implementing Onit’s Legal Files, the Law Department has gained significant time savings, process improvements, and enhanced collaboration:

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Faster file creation

Faster file creation with automated wizards replacing manual intake processes.

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Quicker response times

Quicker response times to internal and external stakeholders with real-time file access.

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Improved team collaboration

Improved team collaboration through shared calendars, automated routing, and digital document workflows.

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Greater accountability

Greater accountability with automated reminders and To-Do’s to track deadlines and review tasks.

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Custom reporting

Custom reporting across five legal divisions to meet distinct compliance and performance needs.

“The ability to customize the system ourselves was key,” said Johnson. “Legal Files supports the unique reporting and workflow needs of each division while giving us a shared, efficient platform to manage everything.”

About the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago

The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago is a vital public agency responsible for wastewater treatment and stormwater management in the greater Chicago area. Its Law Department plays a central role in supporting infrastructure projects, compliance, contracts, and governance. Onit’s Legal Files enables the team to operate with increased agility, transparency, and impact—ensuring the District’s legal operations are aligned with its mission to protect public health and the environment.