The Onshore Attorney's Role in the Review Process

When United States attorneys evaluate the efficiencies and savings of outsourcing certain legal tasks, they find themselves weighing the merits of two different LPO business models: The entirely offshore model versus the blended onshore/offshore model.

While an entirely offshore model connects the client directly with the offshore office, the blended onshore/offshore model inserts a layer of United States based attorneys to work with the client and shepherd each project.

This layer of onshore managing attorneys serves a number of crucial functions, including project management, quality control, and as a liaison directly from one U.S. attorney to another.

LegalEase's managing onshore attorney, Chris Crawford, recently explained the organizational structure and the managing attorneys role in the workflow and review process. Here's an excerpt from that article.

When a client approaches an LPO with a blended onshore/offshore model, how is the work organized and what is the workflow process?

“Initially, the client will contact the U.S. office about a project. A U.S. based attorney will then get the client specifications for the project, including all facts, documents and directions needed to complete the project. The U.S. based attorney then reviews the project, doing preliminary research and drafting as necessary. He/she then assigns components of the project to the offshore attorneys with specific instructions for the completion of the project.”

What is the review process?

“The U.S. and offshore team work together to complete the project, much the same way an associate and a partner would work to complete a project at a law firm. There is a constant, open line of communication between the two offices for feedback and to answer any questions that may arise. Once the project is complete, a U.S. attorney gives it final review and approval for delivery.”