It is true that every lawyer wants to be a part of the growing sector i.e. legal process outsourcing. We must remember that we don’t get all that we desire till we work hard to achieve the same. Those who are looking for a temporary job in an LPO must restrain from joining an LPO. Moreover, working in an LPO cannot be a part time job. This job in itself is a career. A lawyer has to be a lawyer first and then be an employee in the LPO. The foremost requirement of a person to work in an LPO is to be a law graduate and enrolled as a lawyer. Though there are many more requirements in an LPO relating to paralegal clerks, Chartered Accountants, IT professionals etc.
Some misconceptions have developed in the legal fraternity as to the working of LPO’s. It has been off and on said that the LPO’s are in fact, not the working place of "real lawyers". The notion has been misconceived claiming that in an LPO only clerical works are being done. I will try to explain this with the prevalent concept in UK. The lawyers in UK are broadly seen as solicitors or barristers. The lawyers who prepare the briefs and do all the office work of any nature involving legal profession are called solicitors. The lawyers representing the clients in the courts are recognized as barristers. The work of lawyers in LPO’s can be to an extent compared with the role of solicitors.
The youngsters joining LPO’s should never feel discouraged while joining an LPO; rather they must feel encouraged while working in an LPO.
Some misconceptions have developed in the legal fraternity as to the working of LPO’s. It has been off and on said that the LPO’s are in fact, not the working place of "real lawyers". The notion has been misconceived claiming that in an LPO only clerical works are being done. I will try to explain this with the prevalent concept in UK. The lawyers in UK are broadly seen as solicitors or barristers. The lawyers who prepare the briefs and do all the office work of any nature involving legal profession are called solicitors. The lawyers representing the clients in the courts are recognized as barristers. The work of lawyers in LPO’s can be to an extent compared with the role of solicitors.
The youngsters joining LPO’s should never feel discouraged while joining an LPO; rather they must feel encouraged while working in an LPO.
3 comments:
This is an informative article for young lawyers. It will encourage youths to collect more information on LPOs which is still a new concept in the legal fraternity due to their lack of global awareness.
I read you breif about LPO. Although the report itself makes no overt reference to legal process outsourcing and offshoring, the firm itself has clearly been proactive in instigating what is to all intents and purposes an LPO relationship with a South African law firm.
Legalweek.com reported on Thursday that Eversheds is set to outsource legal work to its new South African ally Routledge Modise. According to the article,
A lawyer may outsource legal or nonlegal support services provided the lawyer remains ultimately responsible for rendering competent legal services to the client...", so begins the ethics opinion by the AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION STANDING COMMITTEE ON ETHICS AND PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY. In a report titled, "Lawyer’s Obligations When Outsourcing Legal and Nonlegal Support Services", the committe outlines, in a soft tone, the guidelines on how to use the now maturing industry of Legal Process Outsourcing. Some highlights, most of those have been previously discussed on this blog, are:
- Do your diligence on the vendor
1. Meet the offshore lawyers who will be working for you
2. Don't just be impressed by claims of client confidentiality, security and "everything world-class" but actually exert to verify the claims
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