What are some reasons a business may work with more than one lawyer?
- With budget cuts, specialized projects, and large workloads, there is a lot of demand placed on in-house legal departments. In those scenarios, it is not uncommon to work with more than one lawyer or law firm.
- Businesses may be looking for various subject matter experts and any one law firm may not be have a lawyer that is able to meet their needs.
- Businesses who don’t have an in-house legal department retain law firms to meet their needs. It’s not uncommon for companies to work with multiple law firms to get what they need, on time, without breaking their budget. While some may see this as inefficient, there are several reasons why working with multiple law firms can be beneficial.
Why it’s Beneficial to Work With Multiple Law Firms:
- Better Quality of Service: Working with multiple law firms can also lead to better quality of service. When you have more than one firm working on a particular legal matter, each firm is compelled to deliver its best work. This creates some healthy competition, which ensures that each firm is doing its best to provide the highest quality of service possible.
- Specialized Expertise: Every law firm has its strengths and weaknesses, and no single law firm can provide specialized expertise in every area of law. By working with multiple law firms, you can take advantage of expertise in specific legal areas. For example, one firm may specialize in corporate law, while another may have extensive experience in intellectual property law.
- Mitigation of Risk: Working with multiple law firms can also help mitigate legal risks. If a law firm has a conflict of interest in a particular matter, working with multiple firms can provide alternative legal counsel when needed. This way, you can ensure that there is no bias and that your legal needs are being met.
- Alternative Legal Service Providers: In addition to traditional law firms, alternative legal service providers (ALSPs) are a viable option for legal services. These providers offer a range of legal services, including document review, contract management, legal research and more. Working with an ALSP allows you to take advantage of their specialized expertise and cost-effective solutions.
- Keeping Law Firms Honest: Complacency can develop as a result of lack of competition. If a firm knows you are working with one or more other firms, they are more likely to be motivated to deliver their best work. Even if you’ve worked with a firm for a while and trust them, it never hurts to start a little fire under people. There are likely no bad intentions, however it does get easier to take short cuts or rush through work, when they know the client well. Over time, less thought could be put into work. With greater demand for lawyers to help with business objectives and revenue growth, it’s important that competition keeps them on their toes and delivering the best work product they can.
- Increased Flexibility: Working with multiple law firms provides increased flexibility in terms of cost and availability. For example, a smaller firm may charge lower fees but may have limited availability, while a larger firm may have higher fees but can provide more extensive resources and faster turnaround times. By working with a lawyer from multiple law firms, you can choose the best firm for each specific legal need.
It’s essential to weigh the pros and cons of each firm or provider and choose the ones that best fit your legal needs. Don’t be afraid to question the firm, make sure they are a good fit for you. If the law firm is working in collaboration with someone in your office, let that person interview them to determine if they will be able to work effectively together.
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