There is no end to the amount of work any member of a law firm must do. But many companies out there are willing and able to do many of the small things for you. By relying on these niche professionals, you can save yourself and your colleagues time each week.
Read more: How to answer the question, “outsource or in-house?”
Spend more time where it really counts, and consider outsourcing these tasks:
#1: Research
Legal research is one of the most time-consuming tasks a lawyer has to take on. Because of this, it is probably the first service you should consider outsourcing.
First, make sure the company offers personalized research. You want information that applies directly to your case, not just similar cases. You might also want a provider that offers proofreading and review services. That way, when you receive your documents, they will be practically ready to file.
Additionally, every online database has an associated cost. Most legal research companies include access to these databases in their regular fee. If a company does not, then you may want to cross them off your list.
#2: Marketing
We’ve recently covered techniques for marketing your law firm internally, but for some firms it may be too much to manage those details in addition to all the rest of the responsibilities inherent in a law firm. So your firm might consider enlisting the services of a third-party legal marketing agency to manage advertising, lead generation, and business development opportunities.
Choosing the right option can be as initially time-consuming as doing the marketing yourself. But you can weigh the benefits and negatives with resources that walk you through the decision-making process and the best practices.
#3: Administrative support
Administrative assistants play a large role in the legal world. They help make your schedule and answer phone calls from clients. However, in-house administrative assistants can be expensive, which is why many small firms find themselves without one.
Working in an office without someone in this role can lead to a workload that is simply too large for an attorney to handle. That is where an outsourced, virtual assistant can come in handy. When the tasks you need handled aren’t complex or sensitive in nature, a skilled administrative assistant can follow up, schedule, place calls, and more from their remote location.
#4: Document drafting
Companies that specialize in outsourced document drafting handle a variety of tasks. From a legal analysis to a memorandum, they can do pretty much everything including medical research, editing, and drafts of a variety of different legal documents. Because they also offer proofreading services, you can rest assured that your documents will be of the highest quality.
Just like any service, you still need to do your research to find the right fit for you. Make sure to look at the list of services provided by a company, and the number of years they have been in business. Paying a little more for a service done by an expert can save you from being disappointed with a cheaper, less experienced option.
#5: Paralegal support
Most outsourced paralegals are virtual, which means that you will never meet in person. However, you may communicate through phone, email, or video conference. Some services will even offer in-house tools to make communication with your virtual paralegal more effective.
The upside to this outsourcing service is that you will not have to deal with part-time paralegals leaving your firm on a consistent basis. You can find a virtual paralegal that you trust, and they will work with you long-term.
Read more: Considering a virtual paralegal? What you need to know>>
#6: Litigation assistance
Litigation assistance can be one of the more difficult tasks to outsource. It can be hard to find a company that you trust to provide you with knowledgeable and experienced professionals. However, if you do find someone you can rely on, it can be a lifesaver.
Litigation assistance can include a variety of tasks. Investigating accidents, developing exhibits, acquiring expert testimonies, and reviewing cases are just a few services that a company may offer.
#7: On-demand eFiling services
Have your court documents all prepared and just need a few final tweaks before submission? Services like those provided by One Legal’s Concierge team will finish assembling and checking your documents—including applying optical character recognition and exhibit bookmarks—before completing the data entry to file them on your behalf.
It’s as easy as sending an email to file court documents no matter where you are.
Each of these services can easily be outsourced to more experienced professionals. By doing so, you will save yourself time and money. Just remember to do your research and select the right company to meet your firm’s needs.
