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Across every sector and industry, the use of outsourcing as a cost controlling measure is growing rapidly. Legal Process Outsourcing (LPO) is no exception to the trend. This guide, provided by National Legal Staffing Support (NLSS), offers critical insight into why LPO is rising.

By some estimates, 30% of all US companies outsource some portion of their HR needs. Nearly 60% of those companies use this practice as a way to increase their productivity. And 47% of companies that outsource do so to address changing capacity issues.

While there are advantages to outsourcing for every type of business, it is particularly well suited for law offices and legal departments. The LPO business is expected to reach an unprecedented $40 billion within the next five years.

In a law office, paralegals perform various job functions, including research, interviews, and communication tasks. These experts also draft pleadings, correspondence, and other legal documents. As the need for these specific tasks fluctuates from case to case, outsourcing provides a way to keep pace with the staffing requirements while controlling overhead costs.

Advantages of outsourcing paralegal work

One of the crucial advantages of outsourcing is the ability to match skills to needs. By delegating some tasks to paralegals, the licensed attorneys in the office are more available to focus on the work that only they can do. The rules describing what work must be done by a licensed attorney vary from state to state. Still, planning legal support staffing to minimize the time lawyers spend performing tasks that paralegals are allowed to do is the most efficient way to provide high-quality legal services.

LPO is an effective way to ensure a law firm stays competitive—paralegal services bill at a lower rate than attorneys. Building a fee structure around having attorneys performing the tasks that only they can do and paralegals take the lead on other legal tasks provides the competitive edge needed to grow the practice.

Because paralegal salaries are generally lower than licensed attorneys, outsourcing paralegal work is an excellent way to cut costs. Lower support costs allow a law office or legal department to allocate resources toward hiring additional attorneys, which in turn generates a further need for more support staff. This iterative process provides financial stability and growth opportunities that may not otherwise be available.

The legal profession is notoriously prone to workload ebbs and flows. Staffing needs can go from a lull in the number of cases requiring work to a fevered pitch of activity as several cases culminate simultaneously. Outsourcing paralegal services is an effective strategy to meet the needs of a busy period while avoiding high overhead costs during a slowdown.

Just as a law office’s workload can vary widely, the needed expertise can fluctuate as well. Some cases require more legal research, while others require a high level of client and witness interviews. Outsourced human resources provide the flexibility to have just the right expertise on hand for the active cases. As the type of work changes, so can the paralegal expertise.

About National Legal Staffing Support

National Legal Staffing Support is a pioneer and leading provider of legal process outsourcing. Located in Boca Raton, Florida, the company offers front- and back-office support to experienced consumer protection attorneys that specialize in debt resolution. National Legal Staffing Support offers paralegal services, document management solutions, pre-litigation support, pre-filing analysis, research, and client communication management.

This content is provided by an independent source for informational purposes only and does not contain legal advice. Consult an attorney or financial advisor when making decisions. This information is provided by legal writers and does not reflect the views or opinions of The Daily Sundial editorial staff.