Exploring the Scope of Legal Services that Can be Outsourced to External Counsel
Companies may find that keeping an in-house legal department is either not required or having a full-time general counsel is too much. In such cases, these companies can opt for hiring a lawyer with expertise and experience in a specific field to supplement their existing in-house counsel.
Organizations can explore alternative options for their legal requirements, such as outsourcing legal services to alternative legal practices that offer skills and expertise similar to those of a traditional lawyer but with lower overhead and expenses. This approach can help companies obtain greater value for their expenditure while ensuring their legal needs are met efficiently and effectively.
This blog post is aimed at companies that have their own legal department but may require additional assistance. In such cases, hiring external legal counsel can be an effective remedy. Below are some situations where outsourcing may be necessary in conjunction with your in-house team:
During periods where there is overflow work.
When specialized services are needed in areas where your in-house team lacks expertise.
When you encounter difficulties in filling vacant positions.
When temporary support is required due to short-term leaves.
Any legal service can be outsourced, depending on the company's preferences.
If internal resources are at capacity, outsourcing may be preferred.
Transactional work can be outsourced while keeping strategic work in-house.
For companies heavily reliant on legal for reviewing a large volume of contracts, keeping it all in-house may be the chosen approach.
If specific projects require assistance with patents and other IP issues, outsourcing those areas might be suitable.
Before deciding whether to outsource, businesses must carefully consider several factors, including the cost of outsourcing, the quality of legal services provided by the outsourcing firm, and the level of control the business will retain over legal decision-making. If outsourcing is ultimately chosen, it is crucial to establish a strong working relationship with the outsourcing firm and its legal team. This can help ensure that collaboration is efficient and effective and can help prevent the need for frequently changing legal representatives, which can be costly and time-consuming for the business.
Athena Innovation & Legal
Athena Legal provides a comprehensive legal outsourcing solution for organizations. Please take a look at Erika J. Murray's page, our legal innovation partner who can assist your company's legal needs.
If you seek legal assistance and want to work with Athena Legal, you may schedule a consultation by clicking the button below..
**The information provided herein is a general background of contractual, technology and intellectual property law concepts. It does not constitute legal advice, and should not be relied upon as legal advice. Athena Innovation & Legal, nor the author, make no express or implied representations or warranties in respect of the information, including but not limited to the accuracy of the information.**
