Because they are responsible for ensuring that law firm operations run smoothly (and profitably), legal administrators and managers are clearly critical to any firm’s success. And with today’s technological advances, important work can often be done from anywhere in the world – and at a fraction of the cost – without compromising quality. Welcome to “Outsourcing 101.” Outsourcing is no longer a novel concept. For years, many companies have outsourced billing, customer support and information technology-related work overseas. More recently, some companies are also outsourcing their legal work. By year’s end, researchers say, worldwide legal outsourcing will be a $163 billion industry. And according to Hildebrandt International, U.S. law firms outsource more than $600 million in legal research and nearly $5 billion in litigation support. As surprising as these statistics may be, it’s not as shocking as what the future may hold, thanks to the aging of members of the “baby boom” generation. By 2008, experts say, approximately one-fifth of the workers with skills that companies need to survive will leave the workforce. Rather than wait for the mass exodus, legal administrators must identify solutions before the issue negatively affects their firms. Perhaps the most cost-effective solution is outsourcing. While many law firms have begun outsourcing a considerable amount of work, others shun outsourcing because of the myths associated with it. Take a closer look at these myths to better understand how outsourcing can be a sound solution for your firm. MYTH #1: OUTSOURCING IS BAD FOR THE ECONOMY The concern that outsourcing will harm the economy is misguided because outsourcing typically creates as many jobs as it “destroys,” all while offering consumers more services for lower prices. For instance, when U.S. consumers spend money on outsourced services, the foreign workers and firms often spend their money on U.S. products and services. Thomas Friedman, a reporter for the New York Times, went to India to investigate the outsourcing business and acknowledged that he was “prepared to denounce the whole thing.” He went to a call center in Bangalore, where he observed hundreds of young Indian workers responding to customer service and technical support queries for U.S. companies. The call center’s founder, S. Nagarajan, pointed out that he had purchased all of his computers from Compaq, his software from Microsoft and his phones from Lucent. He used air conditioning from Carrier and ordered bottled water made by Coca-Cola. Ultimately, while Indians benefit from job outsourcing, the United States benefits even more economically.		For information, contact: Kunoor Chopra 315 Arden Ave., Suite 11 Glendale, CA 91203 Ph: (800) 432-0LAW (0529) www.law-scribe.com kchopra@law-scribe.com