Tuesday, March 23, 2004 1:05 PM
The Wall Street Journal today continues the buzz on the topic of offshoring legal wok. A Chicago start-up,
Mindcrest was featured in the article, which covered a number of white collar occupations that were facing pressure from outside forces.
Looking squarely at the research, analysis and administrative workload handled by junior associates and paralegals, the article offered some interesting thoughts on what can and cannot easily be offshored to highly educated professionals in other countries.
I find it interesting that most of the start-ups I have run across which are targetting this sector, are either run by or funded by, United States-based lawyers. There must be some sense out there amongst U.S. lawyers that they would rather get out in front of the globalization train than chase after it somewhere down the road.
I would think there are a number of hurdles to offshoring legal work (and, clearly, some legal work cannot be offshored). But, I would also think that, over time, intelligent lawyers in the U.S. and overseas will find a way to overcome these hurdles. Finally, looking at all of the new efforts and technologies dealing with information-sharing and collaboration, including blawgs, doesn't it seem likely that the tools needs to simplify offshoring will be in place at some point in the not-so-distant future?
Looking ten years out, what will the legal vertical look like? By teaming with professionals in other countries, will US-based lawyers find themselves generating huge new business opportunities by representing companies from many countries selling globally? Will legal work bounce worldwide via connected legal professionals no longer tied to a library and desk? I doubt anyone has all the answers, but as the Wall Street Journal highlights today, there are already lawyers on the move.