Legal Outsourcing to Offshore Jurisdictions - Part II
Yesterday, I discussed the recent phenomenon of outsourcing of substantive legal work to lawyers in offshore jurisdictions. U.S. law firms are certainly leading the charge. I was amazed to learn that Clifford Chance, apparently the world's largest law firm, had recently announced that it would outsource much of its administrative work to India. This has been touted as the biggest move offshore ever undertaken in the legal profession.
Various legal publications have commented on the legal outsourcing trend in Canada. It appears that some Canadian law firms have begun to outsource legal work to common-law trained lawyers in India.
Are we seeing the Walmartization of the legal profession?
One of the main benefits to outsourcing/offshoring legal work is the lower cost – countries such as India can offer legal services at substantially lower labour costs.
Another touted benefit to outsourcing is the time-zone difference – an Indian lawyer will work for you, and draft that emergency legal opinion for a client, while you sleep! However, the time-zone difference can be a double-edged sword. What happens if the client requires, on a rush basis, further information or clarification on a point made in the legal opinion, while the Indian lawyer sleeps?! The client may not be happy to learn that the firm s/he retained did not in fact do the work.
I will continue my discussion on outsourcing tomorrow.
Have a great day!
Bianca La Neve
Various legal publications have commented on the legal outsourcing trend in Canada. It appears that some Canadian law firms have begun to outsource legal work to common-law trained lawyers in India.
Are we seeing the Walmartization of the legal profession?
One of the main benefits to outsourcing/offshoring legal work is the lower cost – countries such as India can offer legal services at substantially lower labour costs.
Another touted benefit to outsourcing is the time-zone difference – an Indian lawyer will work for you, and draft that emergency legal opinion for a client, while you sleep! However, the time-zone difference can be a double-edged sword. What happens if the client requires, on a rush basis, further information or clarification on a point made in the legal opinion, while the Indian lawyer sleeps?! The client may not be happy to learn that the firm s/he retained did not in fact do the work.
I will continue my discussion on outsourcing tomorrow.
Have a great day!
Bianca La Neve
