As a company’s legal needs change, managing attorneys and general counsel should consider how much time they spend on administrative tasks that take time away from client matters and managing outside counsel. Employing a legal administrator allows certain tasks to be delegated, freeing up attorney time for more substantial matters.
It would be nice if there were hard-and-fast rules about when it is time to hire an administrator, for example, when you get to X number of attorneys. Unfortunately, there is no magic formula or rule. What normally drives law departments to hire their first administrator is a fear that things are slipping through the cracks – a fear that usually peaks when turnover rises or morale plunges.
