I missed the original New York Times article, but did see a post at ‘The Paralegal’ which echoed many of my feelings on the subject. (“I’m going to take this one head-on“)
As a paralegal, now working virtually outside the big law model, I find the entire concept flawed and consider it a slap in the face to my profession.
The news that lawyers, or any American company, is willing to outsource to India sends shivers down my spine. It boggles the mind that, at a time when we are trying desperately to achieve economic recovery for our own country, that anyone would willingly outsource to another country.
Paralegals have the ability, experience, competence, compassion and availability in the US to perform the same jobs that these law firms are ready to send overseas.
Furthermore, paralegals are more accessible to the clients and bill at much lower rates. Do these firms actually think they will be saving money when their clients realize that they are being billed at attorney rates for simple status update calls that would normally have been handled by the paralegal?
What are your thoughts?
Outsourcing is a concern vibrating across the U.S. It reflects the thinking we’ve been in for a while based on scarcity and fear/ haves and have nots. How can we come together and reap the benefit of the wonderful human and natural resources we have? I am interested to follow this post and see what vibrant discussion comes of it.