With the emergence of the legal process outsourcing (LPO) industry, both core legal and support services are being outsourced to LPO companies located onshore as well as offshore in countries such as India and the Philippines. The outsourcing of legal work raises issues pertaining to the outsourcing lawyer’s ethical obligations to his or her client. The ABA and various state bars have issued opinions covering the key issues relating to outsourcing of legal work. More recently the ABA Ethics 20-20 Commission has proposed amendments to the Model Rules of Professional Conduct reflecting the burgeoning interest in LPO.
Companies and law firms entering into outsourcing agreements need to be sure that they are in compliance with ethical rules such as those governing the unauthorized practice of law, duty to supervise, ensuring competent client representation, protecting client confidentiality, conflicts, and appropriate billing practices. This upcoming webinar (Feb. 7th, 12:00pm EST) with Integreon's Mark Ross will help attendees to:
- Avoid aiding and abetting the unauthorized practice of law and comply with the duty to supervise
- Ensure competent client representation when outsourcing legal work
- Comply with appropriate legislation affecting US and UK lawyers' ability to outsource legal work (including Export Administration Regulations, and Data Protection Act)
- Keep up to date with developments from relevant regulatory and professional bodies on both sides of the Atlantic
Ethics CLE credit is available in these states: TX, NY, FL, CA, VA, NC, GA, IL.
By Guest Blogger: Integreon
