Public and Private Sector Legal Process Outsourcing: Moving Toward a Global Model of Legal Expertise Deliverance

Legal process outsourcing (“LPO”) involves the use of foreign lawyers to conduct, perform and apply domestic law, most often for cost-saving purposes. Large, global firms have already begun to embrace the concept of LPO, and small firms and sole practitioners are increasingly reaching out to foreign firms, seeking more efficient, lower-cost providers. Ethical considerations, liability limiting agreements, ERISA compliance, certification and oversight models are all part of the LPO landscape. This paper discusses these aspects, as well as issues related to outsourcing in non-traditional areas such as the public sector and the judiciary.