| Even as outsourcing offers key advantages, it is | | | | into an all-day project? Perhaps a single page pleading |
| important to consider some of the inherent | | | | wound up taking eight hours to complete or the task |
| disadvantages of such an arrangement. While many | | | | of scheduling a few depositions ate up an |
| attorneys benefit from the support a legal professional | | | | unreasonable amount of time in the hands of the |
| provides, others come face-to-face with outsourcing | | | | outsourced legal professional. |
| pitfalls every day. | | | | While some might deliberately pad their hours, in most |
| Lets take a moment to review a couple of the | | | | instances the hidden costs are honest mistakes |
| "not-so-good" factors that can complicate an | | | | resulting from inexperience. |
| outsourcing relationship: | | | | For example, a administrative assistant without legal |
| 1. Poor Quality | | | | experience can take half a day preparing a legal |
| Poor quality can be an issue when you outsource legal | | | | document a seasoned paralegal could handle in an |
| and administrative services. Whether you are working | | | | hour or two. |
| with a local paralegal or someone on the other side of | | | | 3. Managing the Outsourced Work |
| the world, you may receive work product that does | | | | When you outsource administrative services to |
| not meet your firm's standards. | | | | independent paralegals and legal professionals, you |
| Several factors tend to contribute to poor work | | | | must take the time necessary to manage the |
| product, but the majors are inexperience, ineffective | | | | outsourced projects. |
| communication and rushing the work to completion | | | | Keep the lines of communication open with the |
| with little regard for client instructions. Fast turnaround is | | | | paralegal, schedule regular status conferences, and |
| always important, of course. But most lawyers value | | | | respond to issues that may arise in a timely fashion. |
| quality and thoroughness over inferior expediency any | | | | While outsourcing frees up significant time on your |
| day. | | | | calendar, as the lead attorney you will need to manage |
| 2. Hidden Costs | | | | the outsourced work or hire a project manager to |
| Have you ever outsourced a "quick" task that turned | | | | handle it for you. |