The idea of outsourcing legal services to a third party initially brought a level of hesitation and uncertainty to law firms, even if they needed the additional support. The ability to work more efficiently with qualified legal professionals, especially those who have been vetted and work in a secure setting, has brought about a change in perceptions of the industry. Thanks in large part to rapid advances in technology, law firm outsourcing has become commonplace. According to one recent report, the legal process outsourcing (LPO) market is expected to reach $27.19 billion by 2024.
Whether your law firm has been using LPO services for years or is considering finding an LPO partner, these tips can help you use legal outsourcing services more effectively:
- Identify the specific service or services that you need. LPO providers may specialize in one particular area, such as contract analysis or lease abstraction, or they may provide a suite of service offerings that firms can pick and choose from. While a specific need may have driven you to consider legal support outsourcing, you may find that it makes sense to outsource multiple tasks or projects. If outsourcing will allow you to take on additional cases, it can be a cost-effective alternative to adding staff to your firm.
- Evaluate providers. There are many LPO service providers in the market today. Before choosing one, consider their background and processes, including how they work with clients, how they avoid conflicts of interest, and what you can expect in terms of timeframes and deliverables. You will also want to consider the differing educational requirements and training offered by each LPO.
- Be conscious of privacy. The standards for attorney-client privilege and client confidentiality can vary from country to country. Be sure any service providers you contract with are aware of, and agree to comply with, the privacy standards your firm adheres to. And consider outsourcing to countries (such as the Philippines) that have standards that mirror those in the United States.
- Keep the lines of communication open. When you work with an LPO partner, be clear about your expectations, including how and when you will review the work they provide for your firm, so there is transparency in the review process. And provide feedback – ideally at predetermined intervals – so you can continue to have an effective law firm outsourcing relationship.
Baer Reed effectively and efficiently provides a variety of outsourced legal services to law firms around the world that realize the benefits and savings of a partnership with our expert legal team. To learn more, contact us online or call us at 888-433-1990 today.
Mr. Reyes graduated with honors from the Ateneo de Manila University, where he received the Procter and Gamble Student Excellence Award. He obtained his Juris Doctor degree from the Ateneo de Manila School of Law. During law school, Mr. Reyes was part of the Philippine delegation to the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot held in Vienna, Austria. He was also a member of the Ateneo Society of International Law and the St. Thomas More Debate Society. He completed his internship at the Public Attorney’s Office. He wrote a thesis entitled: “To Kill A White Elephant: An Analysis of the Fiduciary Exception to the Corporate Attorney-Client Privilege”. Mr. Reyes is admitted to practice law in the Philippines and the State of New York.
Ms. Lardizabal-Manzano is a graduate of San Sebastian College-Recoletos, where she earned her B.A. in Political Science. In 2003, she received her law degree from Lyceum of the Philippines and was admitted to practice law in 2004.
Matthew Hersh earned a B.A. in Political Science from Columbia University in 1990 and graduated cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center in 1999. He also holds a master’s degree in international relations from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service.
Cap. Avi Levak (Res. IDF) graduated from from Israel’s prestigious Ben-Gurion University of the Negev with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Mathematics. He is also a Leadership and Communication coach trained in TuT coaching by Alon gal in Israel. Avi specializes in high-level, in-depth analysis of business and client needs, within systems and software strategy and architecture.
Ms. Tyler graduated cum laude from Georgetown University and received her law degree, cum laude, from Georgetown University Law Center. During law school, she interned at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. She also worked on The Tax Lawyer journal and was a member of the award-winning Barristers’ Council Mock Trial Team. Ms. Tyler is admitted to practice law in the State of California and the District of Columbia.
Ms. Cruz-Anonuevo graduated cum laude and top nine in her batch from Miriam College with a degree of Bachelor of Arts in InternationalStudies. She obtained her Juris Doctor degree from Ateneo de Manila University School of Law in Rockwell. During law school, she interned in Rivera, Santos, Maranan & Associates. She was also part of Ateneo’s Labor Law Bar Operations. She wrote her thesis on, “Stealing Privacy: Limitations on Media’s Photographic Invasion.,” Ms. Cruz-Anonuevo is admitted to practice law in the Philippines.
Ms. Aquino-Batallones obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Development Studies (with Minors in Global Politics and Hispanic Studies) from the Ateneo de Manila University. In 2011, she received her Juris Doctor degree from Ateneo de Manila University School of Law. During law school, she interned at Romulo Mabanta Buenaventura Sayoc & de los Angeles then became an intern of Ateneo Legal Services Center’s Clinical Legal Education Program.
Mr. De Guzman graduated from San Beda College with a degree of Bachelor of Arts Major in Economics and received his law degree from San Beda College of Law. He is multilingual and is fluent in three languages: Chinese, Filipino, and English. He was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2003.