Have you ever considered using self-service eFiling rather than an eFiling concierge?
In the ever-evolving landscape of legal support services, making the right choice for your eFiling and support services can significantly impact the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of your firm’s operations.
One of these decisions is whether to opt for a vendor like One Legal or use a concierge service.
In this article, we’ll explore why managing eFiling in-house rather than using a concierge service might be the smart move for your legal practice.
What are EFSPs?
An eFiling service provider, often abbreviated as EFSP, is a company or organization that offers electronic filing services for legal documents in the legal industry.
Most California courts have already adopted eFiling or announced their intention to make the transition soon. As such, eFiling is now standard practice among firms.
Some eFiling vendors offer concierge services at an additional cost, sometimes as high as five times the cost of self-service eFiling. This heavy surcharge may not be worth its weight in convenience when compared to modern self-service platforms that make it easier than ever to submit documents yourself.
Why do law firms opt for eFiling concierge services?
Various factors influence the decision to use an eFiling concierge service, including the firm’s size, resources, client expectations, and the complexity of their caseload.
Here are some of the primary factors why law firms choose concierge services:
- Familiarity and tradition: Legal proceedings have historically relied on physical documents and in-person services, and many law firms have long-established practices built around these traditional methods. There is often resistance to change from what is familiar and has worked in the past.
- Perceived complexity: Electronic filing systems and legal technology can seem complex to law firms. Concierge services offer a straightforward and hands-off approach, sparing firms from navigating unfamiliar technology.
- Resource constraints: Smaller law firms or those with limited IT resources may think they lack the necessary skills to implement and manage legal technology.
- Convenience: Concierge services can save law firms time and effort. They handle the logistics of document filing, serving, and managing court-related tasks.
- Risk mitigation: Some law firms may perceive concierge services as reducing the risk of errors or missed deadlines in court filings. Experienced concierge providers are skilled at ensuring compliance with court rules and regulations.
- Complex cases: For particularly complex cases or cases that involve multiple jurisdictions, law firms may opt for concierge services to ensure all filings meet the courts’ requirements.
- Transition challenges: Implementing new technology and workflows can be disruptive, requiring training and adjustments to established processes. eFiling concierge services offer a way to get the job done without in-house training and adjustments.
It’s important to note that while vendor concierge services offer convenience, they often come at a premium cost.
Some law firms transition to an in-house process or a hybrid approach to balance convenience and cost-effectiveness.
Why should your law firm consider keeping eFiling in-house?
Law firms face important decisions when handling their legal support services, and choosing between a concierge service and a do-it-yourself approach is one of them.
Modern platforms address the most common concerns about switching from a concierge eFiling service to an in-house eFiling team.
Here are seven compelling reasons why you may want to make the switch.
Cost-effectiveness
Do-it-yourself vendor: eFiling yourself offers a more cost-effective solution. With transparent pricing and the ability to select the services you need, you have better control over your expenses and less need for multiple vendors, which will make your accounting department happy.
Vendor concierge service: Concierge services often come with a premium price tag. While they may provide personalized assistance, this typically translates to much higher costs in the long run.
Self-reliance and control
Do-it-yourself vendor: Vendor platforms like One Legal empower you to take control of the process to help you reduce your risk. You can file documents, track progress, and access your files 24/7, reducing the need for constant intermediary assistance.
Vendor concierge service: Relying on concierge services means you delegate tasks and control to a third party. Because they handle everything, you may lose sight of court rules and requirements changes and become dependent on their services.
Experience and knowledge
Do-it-yourself vendor: Vendors like One Legal have extensive experience and industry knowledge. They understand the intricacies of legal procedures and provide user-friendly platforms tailored to your needs.
Vendor concierge service: They sometimes lack in-depth knowledge of specific legal requirements, leading to delays and complications.
Resource availability
Do-it-yourself vendor: You have an abundance of resources. For instance, One Legal provides webinars, blogs, and live training to educate your team, minimize errors, and reduce the likelihood of rejections.
Vendor concierge service: While they offer personal assistance, their resources are often limited.
Adaptability to technological advances
Do-it-yourself vendor: Vendors like One Legal continually invest in technology upgrades to enhance user experiences. They adapt to new court requirements and launch features to simplify processes.
Vendor concierge service: Traditional vendors may not always keep up with technological advancements, potentially leading to inefficiencies and bottlenecks.
Flexibility
Do-it-yourself vendor: Choose add-on services that meet your unique needs, like court document delivery, service of process, and eService.
Vendor concierge service: Concierge services may have a fixed set of offerings, limiting your flexibility and forcing you into a one-size-fits-all approach.
Backup plans
Do-it-yourself vendor: When your in-house team includes confident filers, your firm will always have a backup plan if your primary provider experiences downtime. Experienced filers can seamlessly switch to a different EFSP at a moment’s notice, ensuring business continuity.
Vendor concierge service: Reliance on concierge services without an adequate backup plan can leave you vulnerable during system outages or service disruptions.
Conclusion
While vendor concierge services offer personalized assistance, they often come at a premium cost and may lack the flexibility, resources, and adaptability of vendors like One Legal.
Choosing a different vendor allows you to take control of your legal support processes, access a wealth of resources, stay ahead of technological advancements, and save some money, too.
Ultimately, it’s about finding the right balance between personalized assistance, managing costs, and improving efficiency for your legal practice.
