PANGEA3 LLC

There is a lot of information on the internet and in the media about how to get started with legal outsourcing but there are very few resources available that discuss common mistakes when considering legal outsourcing. A new whitepaper by Vantage Partners hopes to provide law firms with guidance about what not to do with regards to LPO. Here are the key takeaways from the paper:

1. Understand why your clients want to outsource. Understand your clients pain points and show how you can assist them and provide value.

2. Burying your head in the sand is the quick way to get trampled. No one disputes that strategic legal work and bet the company matters are the exclusive purview of experienced outside counsel. But can the same be said for low–to–mid complexity work, particularly repetitive matters? Clients aren’t buying that everything needs to be handled by a partner or a law firm associate anymore.

3. Collaborate don’t be coerced - If your client needs to twist your arm to choose an LPO provider then you have already lost any credit for responsiveness and providing value to your client.

4. LPO should be a strategic decision. LPO should complement your strategy in the industry and you should select a provider that is equipped to handle your client’s documents.

5. Captive isn’t the only answer. Some law firms want to build their own offshore captive but this isn’t the only way firms can outsource. There are other options available, such as using a trusted LPO solutions provider, that don’t require a large capital investment.

6. Change is never easy. Now that you’ve decided to outsource, whether to a third party or your own captive, you need to be aware of change management challenges. Change is hard, particularly if it involves shifting processes, so anticipating and resolving challenges earlier will increase your success.