Disadvantages of Outsourcing Legal and Administrative Services

Even as outsourcing offers key advantages, it is important to consider some of the inherent disadvantages of such an arrangement. While many attorneys benefit from the support a Independentlegal Advice is a  professional provides, others come face-to-face with outsourcing pitfalls every day.

Lets take a moment to review a couple of the "not-so-good" factors that can complicate an outsourcing relationship:

1. Poor Quality

Poor quality can be an issue when you outsource legal and administrative services. Whether you are working with a local paralegal or someone on the other side of the world, you may receive work product that does not meet your firm's standards.

Several factors tend to contribute to poor work product, but the majors are inexperience, ineffective communication and rushing the work to completion with little regard for client instructions. Fast turnaround is always important, of course. But most lawyers value quality and thoroughness over inferior expediency any day.

2. Hidden Costs

Have you ever outsourced a "quick" task that turned into an all-day project? Perhaps a single page pleading wound up taking eight hours to complete or the task of scheduling a few depositions ate up an unreasonable amount of time in the hands of the outsourced legal professional.

While some might deliberately pad their hours, in most instances the hidden costs are honest mistakes resulting from inexperience.

For example, a administrative assistant without legal experience can take half a day preparing a legal document a seasoned paralegal could handle in an hour or two.

3. Managing the Outsourced Work

When you outsource administrative services to independent paralegals and legal professionals, you must take the time necessary to manage the outsourced projects.

Keep the lines of communication open with the paralegal, schedule regular status conferences, and respond to issues that may arise in a timely fashion.

While outsourcing frees up significant time on your calendar, as the lead attorney you will need to manage the outsourced work or hire a project manager to handle it for you.