As the majority of legal teams—79% of law firms and 71% of corporations, according to Thomson Reuters' Alternative Legal Service Providers 2021 report—rely on ALSPs to support their staffing needs, the question often arises as to what general counsel and law firms should seek in an ALSP partner. Look at the expertise, experience and stability of an ALSP firm; their process for sourcing and vetting talent; and the way they manage their relationships with clients as you compare potential partners. These areas can give you a good sense of how well your two organizations might work together.

Expertise, Experience and Stability

Starting with the basics, the ALSP you work with should have a team of experienced recruiters who are experts in searching for and identifying the ideal candidate for a particular assignment or role. Aligning skill set, experience, availability and temperament with your criteria and culture is paramount to your staffing success. Your recruiters should be able to weed out applicants who aren't up to scratch and send you only the most qualified candidates.