by Jose L. Sandoval
http://premierefreelanceparalegal.com

It shouldn't be questionable today the fact that law firms will continue to turn to paralegals to increase profits. Law firms can now efficiently outsource paralegal services in just about any field of law, without having to make expensive commitments of hiring permanent paralegals. Outsourcing paralegal services with freelance paralegals has become a very attractive economical proposition for law firms. Lower fees always keep clients happy and happy clients increase referrals. Clients always want more for less!

Basically, outsourcing means the purchasing of services outside's one company to save more money, be more efficient, or simply get all the work done (Newbury House Online Dictionary). In practice, outsourcing can be one of the most powerful cost-cutting tools available to the law firm. In fact, outsourcing in a law firm should be made part of every attorney-client engagement letter. The savings are immeasurable, not only to the client, but also to the law firm.

INDEPENDENT PARALEGAL, FREELANCE PARALEGAL, OR TEMPORARY?

There are three different active legal groups of paralegals. Thus, not understanding their differences can create confusion, and perhaps, disinterest to prospective legal employers. The misunderstanding can cause obstacles to the development of the trend.

INDEPENDENT PARALEGAL

Independent paralegals provide legal services to the public without attorney supervision. They provide routine form-filling work that does not require court appearances. A law firm, however, may not be able to use an independent paralegal to outsource paralegal services. They do not have the education and skills that are necessary. Independent paralegals may have no history of work in the law firm and may have little or no paralegal education, even though they may had learned to do the work on their own through self-help assistance.

OFFICE TEMPORARY PARALEGALS

Law firms pay hefty fees to temporary offices for temporary paralegals, which are not paid to freelance paralegals. Hiring a temporary paralegal is still cost-effective compared to hiring a permanent paralegal. But, the ~try now and hire later, most often turns into a more costly adventure to the client. Temporary offices rarely can get the right candidates because of time constraints and the difficulty of quickly matching open positions. Law firms waste a lot of time trying and rejecting temporary paralegals. Also, law firms never plan ahead to get the best temporary candidates. Thus, using temporary paralegals to outsource paralegal services in the law firm can still be uncertain, tedious and expensive to the client.

Source: http://marketerpro.net