Businessweek reported that Dupont has hired OfficeTiger of the Philippines to handle documents in an asbestos case it is fighting. Its good reading.
I have gleaned five reasons why all or at least most legal activity should be offshored.
1. It Saves Money - Law firms make much/most of their revenue on admin and paralegal work at $150/hr. Firms in the PI and India can do the same job for one-fifth of that. But, don't count on the lawyers to tell you about their savings. An attorney in the PI costs about $30,000, half the salary of a corporate paralegal and one-fifth the salary of first-year NY attorney.
2. It is more efficient - Dupont estimates that the discovery process in insurance cases can be reduced from 18 months to just 3 months.
3. Big business can fight back - there is no mystery that our legal/awards system is broken. Our health system and education system are broken, too...but...Anything remotely bad that happens at the work place is considered by many the equal of winning the 'lottery.' Ultimately it is the consumer that pays for it, not the company. Offshoring will give businesses a fighting chance.
4. It helps clean up the mire - Dupont says that it has 200,000 boxes of papers 2,500 each. Perhaps in time, with help from India and PI, where English is spoken, they'll catch up. Additionally, the papers can be digitize and Google can create another search engine to find things.
5. Lawyers will be less hated - well probably not, but at least its worth a shot.
I'm for taking any work at all away from our legal system, from our crooked lawyers. I am for fair settlements. I am for saving money. Maybe this will work.
What do you think?
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