A law firm which has a speciality in a particular field, is a good all-rounder and which can provide a quick response and prompt access to a partner is what Irish in-house lawyers are looking for from their advisers. They are uninterested in international link-ups or glossy brochures, and price is not a major concern.
These are just some of the findings of a recent survey of corporate and public service solicitors. The survey, the first of its kind ever undertaken in Ireland, was conducted by the Law Society’s Corporate and Public Sector Committee.
Almost all of the respondents reported that they outsource at least some of their legal work. The vast majority outsource around 35%-50% of legal work and an average of six law firms were instructed by each organisation. The committee’s survey set out to find the answer to three key outsourcing questions:
Who are the decision makers?
In all key areas, at least 50% of the decision-makers on outsourcing are the in-house lawyers or legal department. The company secretary handled the decision in 9% of responding companies, the same amount said the decision-making authority rested with the financial controller or financial officer. A manager or head of function made the call at 15% of the enterprises surveyed, and the balance of the decision-makers came from other managers within the business.
A similar pattern emerges with other outsourcing questions:
