Will outsourcing make the generalist lawyer extinct?

Although it is a recent expression, firms of solicitors have always outsourced work – barristers’ opinions and advocacy, costs drafting, agency, and referrals to others lawyers and professionals are all types of outsourcing. This book suggests that there is a strong business case for more of us to seek services outside the firm and that outsourcing is the way for the profession to maintain profit quality and satisfied customers. 

This view is partly influenced by the coronavirus pandemic. Outsourcing of core work enables us to be more efficient and clients to have access to good advice.  

This book examines three areas in detail: patent drafting, cybersecurity and ‘document review’ (discovery and inspection).

Perhaps it is the future of a profession that is sometimes reluctant to let matters go out of house. Let’s face it, we do not always accept we do not know everything. It may provide the edge as highly specialist firms and lawyers become the norm and the generalist follows the way of the dinosaur.  

The writers look to a future where most work for most firms is done by outsourcers. We probably all need to examine how we share knowledge and benefit from the skills of others. However, how do you find reliable outsourcers and what are the risks of using a service that does not have the same standards as our profession? There are dangers in having ‘factory firms’ with little client contact and ‘efficiency’ may just reduce fees.

David Pickup is a partner at Pickup & Scott Solicitors, Aylesbury