The most noticeable change to law departments that Susan Hackett, general counsel of the Association of Corporate Counsel, has seen during the recession is the way they look at staffing — both internally and with their outside counsel.

Hackett said there is a “much more aggressive” discussion within law departments about staffing. A number of the tasks given to high-end attorneys either within the departments or at the firms are now being considered for outsourcing or contract projects.