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Breaking Tradition: How New Law is Challenging Big Law

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April 07, 2021 | Analysis

Clients See ALSPs as More Efficient. Law Firms See a 'Frustrating' Perception Problem

While law firms are onboarding automation, data analytics and other technologies in an effort to improve client services, many C-suites still perceive ALSPs as the more efficient and tech-friendly service option.
5 minute read
April 06, 2021 | Analysis

2 'Very Different' Pitches: How Captive, Untethered ALSPs Get Business

Whether an ALSP is associated with a law firm or not, it has to "play nice" with firms when pitching to legal department clients.
6 minute read
March 29, 2021 | News

Elite Firms Deepen Ties to ALSPs in New Division of Labor

With these new partnerships, law firm lawyers devise the high-level strategy and outside providers execute on it.
6 minute read
March 23, 2021 | Analysis

ALSPs Stand to Benefit Most From Booming Contract Services Demand—for Now

There's money to be made in the contract managed services market, with ALSPs likely taking the lead over law firms due to their emphasis on process and technology. However, the expertise law firms bring to the table can't be written off, especially for clients with complex agreements.
4 minute read
March 19, 2021 | News

Turbo Boost to ALSPs Fueled by Rise of In-House Legal Ops

"I tend to look for the folks who are a little more innovation-forward, even if it costs a little more, because at the end of the day it's still going to be less than a law firm," said Mike Russell, head of global legal operations at Expedia Group Inc.
8 minute read
March 01, 2021 | Analysis

Flexing Their Market Muscles, ALSPs Can Elicit Tech Discounts for Small Firms

While IT providers' negotiations can lead to discount perks to small firms, they can also lead to awkward conversations and rescinding recommendations.
3 minute read
February 25, 2021 | News

ALSPs Using Contract Workers Isn't a Deal Breaker for Corporate Clients

Corporate buyers aren't concerned about alternative legal service providers (ALSPs) employing a mix of full-time and contract workers. While faces may change, legal departments' main demand is that domain expertise remains consistent.
4 minute read
February 18, 2021 | Analysis

3 Tips for Avoiding 'Petty' ALSP-Law Firm Collaboration Struggles

From setting roles early to understanding the dynamic captive ALSPs may play in quality concerns, legal ops professionals and a former GC offer their strategies for a smooth collaboration.
4 minute read
February 12, 2021 | Analysis

With Limited Talent Pool, ALSPs Might Have Hiring Advantage Over Big 4

The velocity with which ALSPs can move the hiring process as well as their growing prestige within the legal industry could make them more of an appealing prospect for legal talent.
5 minute read
February 11, 2021 | News

Majority of US Firms Are Working with ALSPs, With Pandemic Likely Fueling Reliance

Law firms' captive ALSPs saw the most growth from 2017 to 2019 compared with other ALSPs, according to a new report.
3 minute read
January 29, 2021 | Podcast

Morgan Lewis eData Head Tess Blair Talks Project Management, Outsourcing and Why AI Isn't Sci-Fi

The founder and leader of Morgan Lewis' eData practice discusses outsourcing vs. insourcing, what it takes to deal with massive amounts of data in an efficient and cost-effective way for clients and why artificial intelligence will actually make attorneys more valuable.
1 minute read
January 28, 2021 | Commentary

50 Shades of White Labeling Alternative Legal Service Providers

'White labeling' has been around for decades. White labeling allows law firms and other legal service providers to try something new, quickly, and with little investment.
7 minute read
January 22, 2021

What 2020 Meant to the Big Four, Elevate and Beyond

Elevate posted its 2020 performance last week. And founder Liam Brown has some thoughts about what the Big Four's growing interest in legal work has for his business and the wider sector.
5 minute read
January 20, 2021 | Analysis

'Business-Minded' Law School Students Grab Big 4's Hiring Attention

The Big Four wants recent law school graduates that not only understand the law, but corporate strategies that can enhance services for clients. Some law schools are listening and they are adjusting their curriculum to keep up.
3 minute read
January 08, 2021

What Went Wrong at Atrium? Founder Kan Speaks Up

Fueled with $75 million in venture capital, Atrium was a high-profile effort to apply the lessons of Silicon Valley to the legal industry. Then Justin Kan pulled the plug.
5 minute read
January 07, 2021 | Commentary

Legal Tech's Predictions for Business of Law and ALSPs in 2021

Many attorneys, technologists and legal experts expect continued change in the legal ecosystem in 2021. But it's not just alternative legal service providers—it's how law firms and corporate legal departments fundamentally interact with their data, their people, and even each other.
12 minute read
January 06, 2021 | Analysis

Legal Departments Limited Budgets May Spur More In-house Staffing Services

Epiq announced last week that it was a launching a new supplemental staffing service geared toward corporate legal departments. Other legal vendors might be eager to follow in the e-discovery provider's footsteps.
3 minute read
December 29, 2020 | News

Epiq Launches Attorney Staffing Service for Legal Departments

"There is no constraint in terms of flexibility," Epiq's managing director of legal transformation services, Tom Finke, said of the company's new service, Epiq Counsel.
3 minute read
December 28, 2020 | Slideshow

Been There, Done That: 8 Law Firms That Have Launched ALSPs

Law firms are diversifying their revenue streams with the creation of alternative legal service providers (ALSPs). LTN highlights a few of the law subsidiaries that have recently made news, along with the variety of tasks they're looking to perform.
1 minute read
December 23, 2020 | News

Deloitte's Big Year: The ALSP Hires That Fueled Its Legal Business Expansion

A look back at the ALSP hires that allowed Deloitte to vastly expand its reach in the legal market in 2020.
3 minute read
December 22, 2020 | News

The New Market: A Look Back At ALSP Hires of 2020

Law firms and in-house aren't the only career paths for legal professionals. Here's a look back at some of the tech talent ALSPs hired this year.
4 minute read
December 17, 2020 | Slideshow

5 Things Legal Departments Want From Their ALSPs

While legal departments are already making use of ALSPs, there are still some basic criteria that providers have to hit before they can get the job.
1 minute read
December 09, 2020 | News

With Technology a Constant, Baker & Hostetler Unit Aims to Make Sense Of Options

The firm's IncuBaker program was envisioned as a "voice of reason" as legal technology floods the market. 
7 minute read
December 08, 2020 | Analysis

5 Ways Law Firm ALSP Growth May Accelerate Post-Pandemic

While law firm ALSPs may have experienced some temporary losses in the early days of the pandemic, many could be poised to come back stronger as clients look for ways to streamline the delivery of their legal advisory and technology-based needs.
1 minute read
December 03, 2020

The Future is Not Just About Innovation

Today's law firms that are trying to marry law and technology through alternative legal services are finding it's important to not choose one or the other.
6 minute read
December 01, 2020 | News

After Sliding at Pandemic's Start, Law Firm Subsidiaries Are Soaring

Captives focused on e-discovery, alternative staffing and automated legal expertise all witnessed clients back off amid the widespread economic uncertainty of late March and April, but interest then rebounded.
6 minute read
November 24, 2020 | Commentary

Some ALSPs are More Secure than Most Law Firms

Taking a cue from this year's ABA Legal Technology Survey Report, Yvonne Nath explores why security concerns should not stop law firms from exploring opportunities to leverage ALSPs.
5 minute read
November 20, 2020 | Analysis

Law Firms or the Big Four—Who Knows Legal Departments Better?

These days, law firms and the Big Four are both vying for the attention of legal departments who want to work with providers that can demonstrate a solid understanding of their business. But while law firms may be making strides, the Big Four's institutional knowledge remains formidable.
4 minute read
November 18, 2020 | Q&A

Neither 'Captive' Nor an 'ALSP': Morgan Lewis' Tess Blair Surveys the Firm's eData Practice

"I always joke that if we did actually spin out into a subsidiary, we'd actually be one of the biggest, most mature and most successful e-discovery ALSPs out there," Blair says.
7 minute read
November 16, 2020 | Q&A

Factor's New VP Has Advice for ALSPs Competing With Firm Captives: 'Stay the Course'

Law companies' biggest battle isn't competition with law firms' "captive" ALSPs, says Factor's new VP, Michael Callier. Instead, ALSPs need to earn trust to broaden adoption and disrupt a long-standing culture.
5 minute read
November 13, 2020 | Podcast

Why SPACs Are the New Black: Inside Corporate Law's Hottest Trend

This year's boom in special purpose acquisition companies is spinning off a ton of corporate work and rippling into other practice areas.
2 minute read
November 10, 2020 | Analysis

COVID-19 Pushing Corporate Law Into Broader Tech Transformation, ALSP Acceptance

Deloitte's 2020 Legal Department Survey found that despite budget restrictions, increased workloads courtesy of the COVID-19 pandemic is driving more departments to embrace technological transformation or engage the services of alternative legal service providers.
4 minute read
November 06, 2020 | News

Australian Law Firm Allens Launches Tech Accelerator

The Linklaters-aligned firm is aiming to find solutions for compliance and contract creation.
2 minute read
November 05, 2020 | News

Outsourcers Beware: What LPOs Should Know About Law Firm Finances

In the wake of new details about the UnitedLex-LeClairRyan debacle, third-party vendors stress the importance of vetting firms' books and motivations.
5 minute read
November 04, 2020 | News

'This Is a Landmark Transaction': Deloitte Legal Head on Kemp Little Takeover

The deal to double the Big Four firm's U.K. legal head count marks the culmination of 12 months of negotiations.
4 minute read
November 03, 2020 | News

Deloitte Legal to Add Around 86 UK Lawyers In Major Acquisition

The legal arm of the Big Four accountant will add 29 partners as part of the deal, significantly expanding its U.K. presence.
3 minute read
October 30, 2020 | Podcast

Big Law Goes 'Alternative': Can Traditional Firms Disrupt the Disrupters?

With clients demanding more cost-effective solutions, traditional law firms are positioning themselves to compete with New Law providers.
1 minute read
October 30, 2020 | Q&A

Elevate's 'VP of Get Sh*t Done' Explains How Elevate Plans to Get Sh*t Done

Stephen Allen has experience working in both a law firm and consultancy environment. But as the ALSP looks to update its consulting services to meet the present day needs of legal departments, can it take on the resources of the Big Four?
5 minute read
October 29, 2020 | Quick Takes

Law.com Barometer: New Law is Big Law's Next Big Global Threat

Markets that were previously the purview of only the largest law firms are beginning to see competition that isn't only local firms, but also fellow multinational firms presenting alternative structures.
5 minute read
October 29, 2020 | Commentary

Alternative Legal Service Providers and The Art of War for Talent

Will ALSPs be able to maintain competitive pricing, culture, and strategy as they grow through expensive lateral hiring sprees? We have seen how this can play out in law firms, though ALSPs can be more highly leveraged with outside investment and they can eventually go public... but will investors see a positive ROI? Will clients?
6 minute read
October 28, 2020 | News

$128M Suit Against UnitedLex Over LeClairRyan Demise Shows Outsourcing No Cure for Dying Firm

LeClairRyan was already on its last legs when it negotiated a joint venture with UnitedLex. In the end, its creditors paid the price, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday.
7 minute read
October 27, 2020 | News

Baker McKenzie Hires PwC Economist in Bid to Compete With Big Four

The addition of a non-lawyer to the partnership comes as part of a major effort to grow the firm's tax advisory practice in Germany.
2 minute read
October 23, 2020 | News

'We're Through the Worst of It': KPMG's Global Head Sees Promising Future

Stuart Fuller says that the Asia-Pacific region, in particular, is strong and that legal work in Europe and in the Americas has been increasing.
6 minute read
October 16, 2020 | News

Australian New Law Firm LegalVision to Expand to New Zealand

The firm plans to tap into demand from small and medium businesses and will offer the same tech-driven fixed-fee legal advice model as it does in Australia.
2 minute read
October 14, 2020 | News

KPMG Launches Legal Ops Advisory Service as Pandemic Accelerates Need to Streamline Services

"You need to build an ecosystem within legal that serves the different needs of the department," Eric Gorman, a partner at KPMG, said. "There are specific technologies that don't always fit together and they're not adopted the right way."
2 minute read
October 14, 2020 | Q&A

Newest Deloitte Hire Says In-House Success Stories Will Be Told in Metrics

Steven Walker joined Deloitte's Legal Business Services practice this month as a managing director—and he doesn't think that COVID-19 will hold legal departments back from taking an innovative new approach to procuring services.
6 minute read
October 13, 2020 | News

The Outsourcing Continues: Wilson Sonsini to Send Office Services Work to New 3rd Party

While the firm stated the move to a new vendor will not impact existing staff positions, firms in general continue to outsource back office functions as they rework their internal business processes.
4 minute read
October 09, 2020 | News

Axiom Doubles Down on Diversity Efforts as It Seeks to Woo In-House Legal Departments

"We can demonstrate a much, much higher threshold of diversity," said Axiom global head of legal Catherine Kemnitz.
3 minute read
October 06, 2020 | News

Big Law Doing More Than Dabbling in New Law, Report Finds

Thirty-five firms out of the Am Law 100 have launched captive alternative legal service providers, according to the NewLaw practice at Baretz+Brunelle.
4 minute read
October 06, 2020 | Analysis

A Different World: For Attorneys, It's Not the Same Job at an ALSP

While alternative legal service providers (ALSPs) are unique in demanding innovative problem-solving abilities of their attorney, such skills are also being required in more corporate legal departments and law firms.
3 minute read
October 05, 2020 | News

Alternative Firm Rimon Enters Latin America with New Partner Hire

Rodrigo Castillo Cottin, who joins Rimon from Baker McKenzie, says he was drawn by the firm's 'modern approach towards the practice of law.'
2 minute read
October 01, 2020

Law.com Barometer: ALSPs Are On a Hiring Tear

The first Law.com Barometer breaks down how alternative legal service providers are gobbling up talent—and what that means for law firms.
4 minute read
September 29, 2020 | Analysis

Why Corporate E-Discovery Insourcing Isn't Keeping ALSPs Up at Night

Enterprising corporate legal departments taking on e-discovery internally doesn't mean less business for ALSPs. But it does mean a different client relationship.
3 minute read
September 25, 2020

Law Firms in Australia Are Looking to Grow by Adding Non-Legal Services

More firms are offering "adjacent services," as clients express a desire for broader advice and services.
5 minute read
September 25, 2020 | News

Arizona Firms Quietly Explore Opportunities From Ownership Rules Change

One firm fielded a call from an accounting firm curious about a partnership, while another is weighing a subsidiary with nonlawyer shareholders. But regulations governing the new reality still need to be clarified.
7 minute read
September 25, 2020 | Analysis

For ALSPs' Clients, Scalability Matters More Than Head Count

Alternative legal service providers' ability to quickly hire legal personnel has always been the sector's specialty. By leveraging legal technology, permanent head count has become less of a necessity, or client demand.
3 minute read
September 23, 2020 | Commentary

Captive LPOs: The Right Type of Subsidiary for Your Law Firm?

A wholly owned Captive LPO will be more closely tied to the strategy and culture of the parent law firm, but it's not the only model that can address the goals and provide the benefits of a having a law firm subsidiary.
6 minute read
September 16, 2020 | Slideshow

4 Reasons ALSPs Aren't (Yet) Changing Law Firms

While alternative legal service providers have disrupted the legal market, law firms are proving more resilient to larger changes—and adept at retaining their clients.
1 minute read
September 14, 2020 | News

KPMG UK Law Chief: COVID-19 'Absolutely Will Change' Legal Industry

Nick Roome discusses the future of remote working, his division's expansion plans and what gives KPMG an advantage over traditional law firms.
6 minute read
September 09, 2020 | Analysis

ALSPs' Contract Expert Hiring a Product of Newcomers' Quick Growth

While new alternative legal service providers (ALSPs), or those that have launched a new service, are fast building up their contract teams, most established ALSPs aren't in a rush to add contract tech experts to their staff.
3 minute read
September 08, 2020 | Analysis

For Legal Tech Providers, ALSP Partners Are a Bridge to the Corporate Market

For legal tech companies, counting an ALSP as a client or partner can have a significant "multiplier effect" in terms of product exposure and adoption.
3 minute read
September 08, 2020 | News

Utah Approves Rocket Lawyer for New Regulatory Sandbox

Utah's Supreme Court unanimously approved Rocket Lawyers application to join the state's pilot program, which allows nonlawyers to provide certain traditional legal services and authorizes new legal business models.
3 minute read
September 07, 2020 | News

Deloitte Builds Legal Consulting Offering With New Law Team Raid

A senior U.K. trio from Elevate are to join the firm's department focused on assisting in-house legal teams.
2 minute read
September 04, 2020 | Q&A

Tech Spinoffs One Way Law Firms Can 'Flip the Script' on Disruption

In this Q&A for its Breaking Tradition series, Law.com catches up with Justin Hectus, CIO and CISO at Keesal, Young & Logan and CIO at its spinoff tech company KP Labs. Hectus explains why the firm separated KP Labs as a distinct company, and the positives and negatives that come with law firm tech spinoffs.
7 minute read
September 01, 2020 | News

Arizona's Ownership Rules Have Major Implications for Consumer Law, the Big Four, Lit Funders and More

From opening the door to legal advertising in 1977 to allowing nonlawyers an equity stake in law firms this year, Arizona is shaping the way for an evolution of legal services. Consumer law is lining up first ... but what's next?
8 minute read
August 28, 2020 | Event

As Law Departments Adjust Focus, Broader May Be Better for Legal Service and Tech Providers

Service providers or tech vendors that concentrate strictly on legal could potentially find themselves at a bit of a disadvantage as corporate legal departments are pushed toward an increasingly multidisciplinary and collaborative approach.
3 minute read
August 27, 2020 | Analysis

If Market Culture Can't Push Firms to Embrace Tech, ALSPs Won't Either

ALSPs continue to embrace the use of new technologies within their services, but even the ongoing competition generated from those outlets may not be enough to push law firms to up their own tech infrastructure before it's too late.
4 minute read
August 25, 2020 | Analysis

Utah Broke the Lawyer Fee-Sharing Mold. Now Other States Watch With Interest

All eyes were on Utah when it allowed nonlawyers to perform more legal services and share fees with lawyers for the first time in the U.S. Now states will closely watch how Utah lawyers' revenue and consumer complaints fare in the new "sandbox."
4 minute read
August 25, 2020 | Q&A

Want a Job in Legal Technology? Your Answer is Increasingly at ALSPs

In this Q&A for its Breaking Tradition series, Law.com catches up with Jared Coseglia, CEO and founder of TRU Staffing Partners. He explains why tech jobs are shifting from law firms to ALSPs, and why law students need permission not to have to practice law.
7 minute read
August 20, 2020 | Commentary

What If... Chambers Ranks Law Firms Alongside ALSPs?

The language Chambers uses in a recent report strongly suggests they are testing their audience's reaction to ranking ALSPs like law firms. What does that mean for the broader legal marketplace?
6 minute read
August 20, 2020 | Analysis

Law Firms' ALSPs are Banking on Expertise Over Price. It's Working.

While a law firm's alternative legal service provider (ALSP) may be more expensive, corporate legal departments says there's more than just the vendor's Big Law backing that is appealing.
3 minute read
August 18, 2020 | News

Factor Plans Hiring Spree Following New Investment

With Carrick Capital as its new majority shareholder, Factor plans to almost double its staffing levels with a particular focus on industry specialists.
4 minute read
August 17, 2020 | Q&A

Why It 'May Take a Full Generational Transition' to Shift Perception of ALSPs

In this Q&A for its Breaking Tradition series, Law.com catches up with Lucy Bassli, founder and principal of InnoLegal Services and former assistant general counsel at Microsoft. She tells why she went "irregular" out on her own, and why transparency and trust are important in alternative legal service provider relationships.
4 minute read
August 13, 2020 | Analysis

COVID-19 Pushes More Legal Outsourcing, but Not All ALSPs Will Benefit

Budget realities and the move to remote work movement have accelerated the use of alternative legal service providers. But not all legal departments and law firms are comfortable leveraging these new law companies.
5 minute read
August 12, 2020 | Analysis

Data Can't Help Clients Decide Between ALSPs and Law Firms

ALSPs have made it easier for legal departments to gain valuable data-driven insights. But those same clients may be struggling to articulate similar demands to their law firms, many of which still aren't feeling the pressure to upgrade their analytic capabilities.
4 minute read
August 05, 2020 | Editor's Letter

Breaking Tradition: Why We're Examining the New Law Market

There are many questions left unanswered about where New Law entrants fit into the preexisting legal space. Our goal for the next 12 months in the Breaking Tradition series will be to further understand New Law and its past, present and future.
3 minute read
August 06, 2020 | Slideshow

5 Ways That Corporate Legal Departments Are Evaluating Their Relationships With ALSPs

ALSPs have become an increasingly prominent fixture of the legal ecosystem, but corporate legal departments aren't embarking on that relationship blindly. Everything from an ALSP's reputation to the amount of supervision a matter could require comes into play.
1 minute read
August 05, 2020 | Analysis

What Is New Law? The Definition Can Be Broad, but It's All About Value

While most agree that New Law provides a large umbrella, it's also one with a purpose: augmenting and supporting the traditional path of law with increased value.
10 minute read
August 05, 2020 | Analysis

ALSPs Are Still More Threat Than Partner to Law Firms

Law firms have tried to stake out a distinct territory inside the legal ecosystem as providers of high-end advisory services, but as the demand for process-oriented work continues to fuel ALSPs, firms could nevertheless find their footprint shrinking.
8 minute read
August 05, 2020 | Analysis

Law Firms Must Learn How to Collaborate With ALSPs—Clients Are Waiting

"Law firms have to stop seeing things through their own prism—what's good for us. Instead they need to look for what is in the best interest of the clients," says one former firm managing partner. And increasingly, that means collaborating with outside service providers.
8 minute read
August 05, 2020 | Q&A

Why ALSPs Are In a 'Unique Position' to Aid Today's Legal Departments

In this Q&A for its Breaking Tradition series, Law.com catches up with NetApp director of legal operations Connie Brenton. She explains what ALSPs need to have in order to be considered for a job—and why ALSPs may drop the "A" altogether.
7 minute read
August 05, 2020 | Q&A

The Law Firm Subsidiary: Marrying Firm Practice Integration with Flexibility and Agility

Law.com catches up with Troutman Pepper eMerge managing director Alison Grounds for its Breaking Tradition series. In this Q&A, Grounds shows the benefits of being connected with a major firm, and how an on-site due diligence project turned into a tech-savvy engagement.
6 minute read
August 05, 2020 | Q&A

Law Firms and Outside Legal Service Providers Have Begun to 'Meet in the Middle'

Law.com catches up with Integreon CEO Bob Rowe for its Breaking Tradition series. In this Q&A, Rowe explains why the "alternative" designation doesn't work for his company, and where legal services providers fall in the legal value chain.
8 minute read
July 27, 2020 | Analysis

ALSPs Under Review: Becoming A Go-To ALSP Follows Common Criteria, With Some Noticeable Omissions

Despite growing their exposure, alternative legal services providers aren't forced to meet wildly different expectations from their various legal clients. Technology and scalability are also consistent components reviewed during most vetting processes.
9 minute read
July 17, 2020 | News

Eversheds' ALSP Konexo Targeting Continental Europe Launch

The provider, which currently has a presence in the U.K., Asia and the U.S., is aiming to shore up its offering post-Brexit.
2 minute read
July 15, 2020 | News

EY Law's Former Global Innovation and Tech Leader Jumps to Factor

Ed Sohn formerly served in EY Law and Thomson Reuters' ranks to deliver innovation to the legal industry. Now he's joined Factor, where the goal is still to deliver innovation but now without competing for a voice in a large accounting firm.
4 minute read
July 13, 2020 | News

The Talent in Deloitte's New Legal Business Practice Has ALSP Roots

Deloitte announced the launch of a new Legal Business Services practice on Monday that includes the talents of several former ALSP or legal technology professionals. As the Big Four continues to aggressively pursue new legal expertise, ALSPs could find themselves dealing with a shallower talent pool.
3 minute read
July 08, 2020 | Analysis

Competition Where? ALSPs Are Baked Into Law Firms' New Offerings

On the surface, more law firms offering advanced data analysis and consulting services are invading the alternative legal service provider (ALSP) market. However, firms are powering these endeavors with ALSPs' technology and resources.
4 minute read
June 25, 2020 | Analysis

Big Law Branches Out: Firm Subsidiaries Want a Piece of the $10B ALSP Market

Faced with an expanding field of competitors, law firms are branching out, forming ancillary businesses that they hope can help them secure a place in the growing market for alternative legal services.
18 minute read
June 03, 2020 | Analysis

Are Complex Legal Matters Kryptonite to ALSPs' Cost Advantage?

Many ALSPs are attempting to increase the complexity of their service offerings to capture a bigger slice of the market, but the skilled labor and extra attention those tasks often require could threaten any cost advantages they may have over law firms.
4 minute read
May 29, 2020 | Analysis

ALSP and Legal Tech Competition Won't Be 'Zero-Sum Game' Post-COVID-19

ALSPs may offer corporations and legal departments a more comprehensive set of services for their investment, but legal tech providers are already finding willing customers for their products in those very same law companies.
4 minute read
May 22, 2020 | Analysis

ALSPs, Tech Providers Call Their Tools 'Best in Breed.' It's Become a Misnomer

"Best in breed" and "best in class" designations may be becoming anachronisms in an era where legal technology is often customized, and the tech products ALSPs have in their toolkit is determined as much by clients as the service providers themselves.
6 minute read
May 14, 2020 | Q&A

Cheese Dip and Legal Tech: How a Food Entrepreneur is Spearheading ALSP Innovation

Level 2 Legal chief strategy and innovation officer Leigh Vickery is not only a champion for legal innovation, but a champion for her own queso product line. In a discussion with Legaltech News, Vickery explains the similarities between the food and legal industry and the challenges facing ALSPs during a recession .
4 minute read
April 08, 2020 | News

In Volatile Economy, Legal Is Becoming More Open to ALSPs, Technology

Facing tightening budgets, legal departments and law firms alike are already eyeing ALSPs and more legal technology. What effect that will have on the future market, however, is still uncertain.
3 minute read
April 06, 2020 | Q&A

Alma Asay: Legal Tech Is Facing an Unprecedented Moment

During a chat with Legaltech News, Litera evangelist Alma Asay discussed the new economic challenges faced by legal tech and how legal's recent surge in remote working may not lead to greater cloud computing adoption.
5 minute read
April 24, 2020 | Analysis

For Tech-Focused Firms, Loosening Ownership Laws May Not Be Such a Boon

For firms eager to improve their tech-enabled services, the prospect of regulatory changes may be more of a mirage than a viable source of investment capital.
9 minute read
March 30, 2020 | News

Despite Growth, ALSPs Still Rely on Firms for Malpractice Insurance

As ALSPs venture into more advanced legal work, most won't be able to tout their malpractice insurance coverage, absent a law firm's blessing.
3 minute read
April 07, 2021 | Analysis

Clients See ALSPs as More Efficient. Law Firms See a 'Frustrating' Perception Problem

While law firms are onboarding automation, data analytics and other technologies in an effort to improve client services, many C-suites still perceive ALSPs as the more efficient and tech-friendly service option.
5 minute read
March 23, 2021 | Analysis

ALSPs Stand to Benefit Most From Booming Contract Services Demand—for Now

There's money to be made in the contract managed services market, with ALSPs likely taking the lead over law firms due to their emphasis on process and technology. However, the expertise law firms bring to the table can't be written off, especially for clients with complex agreements.
4 minute read
March 01, 2021 | Analysis

Flexing Their Market Muscles, ALSPs Can Elicit Tech Discounts for Small Firms

While IT providers' negotiations can lead to discount perks to small firms, they can also lead to awkward conversations and rescinding recommendations.
3 minute read
February 25, 2021 | News

ALSPs Using Contract Workers Isn't a Deal Breaker for Corporate Clients

Corporate buyers aren't concerned about alternative legal service providers (ALSPs) employing a mix of full-time and contract workers. While faces may change, legal departments' main demand is that domain expertise remains consistent.
4 minute read
February 12, 2021 | Analysis

With Limited Talent Pool, ALSPs Might Have Hiring Advantage Over Big 4

The velocity with which ALSPs can move the hiring process as well as their growing prestige within the legal industry could make them more of an appealing prospect for legal talent.
5 minute read
February 11, 2021 | News

Majority of US Firms Are Working with ALSPs, With Pandemic Likely Fueling Reliance

Law firms' captive ALSPs saw the most growth from 2017 to 2019 compared with other ALSPs, according to a new report.
3 minute read
December 29, 2020 | News

Epiq Launches Attorney Staffing Service for Legal Departments

"There is no constraint in terms of flexibility," Epiq's managing director of legal transformation services, Tom Finke, said of the company's new service, Epiq Counsel.
3 minute read
December 23, 2020 | News

Deloitte's Big Year: The ALSP Hires That Fueled Its Legal Business Expansion

A look back at the ALSP hires that allowed Deloitte to vastly expand its reach in the legal market in 2020.
3 minute read
December 17, 2020 | Slideshow

5 Things Legal Departments Want From Their ALSPs

While legal departments are already making use of ALSPs, there are still some basic criteria that providers have to hit before they can get the job.
1 minute read
December 08, 2020 | Analysis

5 Ways Law Firm ALSP Growth May Accelerate Post-Pandemic

While law firm ALSPs may have experienced some temporary losses in the early days of the pandemic, many could be poised to come back stronger as clients look for ways to streamline the delivery of their legal advisory and technology-based needs.
1 minute read
November 13, 2020 | Podcast

Why SPACs Are the New Black: Inside Corporate Law's Hottest Trend

This year's boom in special purpose acquisition companies is spinning off a ton of corporate work and rippling into other practice areas.
2 minute read
November 10, 2020 | Analysis

COVID-19 Pushing Corporate Law Into Broader Tech Transformation, ALSP Acceptance

Deloitte's 2020 Legal Department Survey found that despite budget restrictions, increased workloads courtesy of the COVID-19 pandemic is driving more departments to embrace technological transformation or engage the services of alternative legal service providers.
4 minute read
November 06, 2020 | News

Australian Law Firm Allens Launches Tech Accelerator

The Linklaters-aligned firm is aiming to find solutions for compliance and contract creation.
2 minute read
November 03, 2020 | News

Deloitte Legal to Add Around 86 UK Lawyers In Major Acquisition

The legal arm of the Big Four accountant will add 29 partners as part of the deal, significantly expanding its U.K. presence.
3 minute read
October 28, 2020 | News

$128M Suit Against UnitedLex Over LeClairRyan Demise Shows Outsourcing No Cure for Dying Firm

LeClairRyan was already on its last legs when it negotiated a joint venture with UnitedLex. In the end, its creditors paid the price, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday.
7 minute read
October 27, 2020 | News

Baker McKenzie Hires PwC Economist in Bid to Compete With Big Four

The addition of a non-lawyer to the partnership comes as part of a major effort to grow the firm's tax advisory practice in Germany.
2 minute read
October 16, 2020 | News

Australian New Law Firm LegalVision to Expand to New Zealand

The firm plans to tap into demand from small and medium businesses and will offer the same tech-driven fixed-fee legal advice model as it does in Australia.
2 minute read
October 14, 2020 | News

KPMG Launches Legal Ops Advisory Service as Pandemic Accelerates Need to Streamline Services

"You need to build an ecosystem within legal that serves the different needs of the department," Eric Gorman, a partner at KPMG, said. "There are specific technologies that don't always fit together and they're not adopted the right way."
2 minute read
October 13, 2020 | News

The Outsourcing Continues: Wilson Sonsini to Send Office Services Work to New 3rd Party

While the firm stated the move to a new vendor will not impact existing staff positions, firms in general continue to outsource back office functions as they rework their internal business processes.
4 minute read
October 09, 2020 | News

Axiom Doubles Down on Diversity Efforts as It Seeks to Woo In-House Legal Departments

"We can demonstrate a much, much higher threshold of diversity," said Axiom global head of legal Catherine Kemnitz.
3 minute read
October 06, 2020 | News

Big Law Doing More Than Dabbling in New Law, Report Finds

Thirty-five firms out of the Am Law 100 have launched captive alternative legal service providers, according to the NewLaw practice at Baretz+Brunelle.
4 minute read
October 05, 2020 | News

Alternative Firm Rimon Enters Latin America with New Partner Hire

Rodrigo Castillo Cottin, who joins Rimon from Baker McKenzie, says he was drawn by the firm's 'modern approach towards the practice of law.'
2 minute read
September 25, 2020

Law Firms in Australia Are Looking to Grow by Adding Non-Legal Services

More firms are offering "adjacent services," as clients express a desire for broader advice and services.
5 minute read
September 25, 2020 | News

Arizona Firms Quietly Explore Opportunities From Ownership Rules Change

One firm fielded a call from an accounting firm curious about a partnership, while another is weighing a subsidiary with nonlawyer shareholders. But regulations governing the new reality still need to be clarified.
7 minute read
September 08, 2020 | News

Utah Approves Rocket Lawyer for New Regulatory Sandbox

Utah's Supreme Court unanimously approved Rocket Lawyers application to join the state's pilot program, which allows nonlawyers to provide certain traditional legal services and authorizes new legal business models.
3 minute read
September 07, 2020 | News

Deloitte Builds Legal Consulting Offering With New Law Team Raid

A senior U.K. trio from Elevate are to join the firm's department focused on assisting in-house legal teams.
2 minute read
September 01, 2020 | News

Arizona's Ownership Rules Have Major Implications for Consumer Law, the Big Four, Lit Funders and More

From opening the door to legal advertising in 1977 to allowing nonlawyers an equity stake in law firms this year, Arizona is shaping the way for an evolution of legal services. Consumer law is lining up first ... but what's next?
8 minute read
August 28, 2020 | Event

As Law Departments Adjust Focus, Broader May Be Better for Legal Service and Tech Providers

Service providers or tech vendors that concentrate strictly on legal could potentially find themselves at a bit of a disadvantage as corporate legal departments are pushed toward an increasingly multidisciplinary and collaborative approach.
3 minute read
August 25, 2020 | Analysis

Utah Broke the Lawyer Fee-Sharing Mold. Now Other States Watch With Interest

All eyes were on Utah when it allowed nonlawyers to perform more legal services and share fees with lawyers for the first time in the U.S. Now states will closely watch how Utah lawyers' revenue and consumer complaints fare in the new "sandbox."
4 minute read
August 20, 2020 | Analysis

Law Firms' ALSPs are Banking on Expertise Over Price. It's Working.

While a law firm's alternative legal service provider (ALSP) may be more expensive, corporate legal departments says there's more than just the vendor's Big Law backing that is appealing.
3 minute read
August 18, 2020 | News

Factor Plans Hiring Spree Following New Investment

With Carrick Capital as its new majority shareholder, Factor plans to almost double its staffing levels with a particular focus on industry specialists.
4 minute read
August 06, 2020 | Slideshow

5 Ways That Corporate Legal Departments Are Evaluating Their Relationships With ALSPs

ALSPs have become an increasingly prominent fixture of the legal ecosystem, but corporate legal departments aren't embarking on that relationship blindly. Everything from an ALSP's reputation to the amount of supervision a matter could require comes into play.
1 minute read
July 17, 2020 | News

Eversheds' ALSP Konexo Targeting Continental Europe Launch

The provider, which currently has a presence in the U.K., Asia and the U.S., is aiming to shore up its offering post-Brexit.
2 minute read
July 15, 2020 | News

EY Law's Former Global Innovation and Tech Leader Jumps to Factor

Ed Sohn formerly served in EY Law and Thomson Reuters' ranks to deliver innovation to the legal industry. Now he's joined Factor, where the goal is still to deliver innovation but now without competing for a voice in a large accounting firm.
4 minute read
July 13, 2020 | News

The Talent in Deloitte's New Legal Business Practice Has ALSP Roots

Deloitte announced the launch of a new Legal Business Services practice on Monday that includes the talents of several former ALSP or legal technology professionals. As the Big Four continues to aggressively pursue new legal expertise, ALSPs could find themselves dealing with a shallower talent pool.
3 minute read
March 30, 2020 | News

Despite Growth, ALSPs Still Rely on Firms for Malpractice Insurance

As ALSPs venture into more advanced legal work, most won't be able to tout their malpractice insurance coverage, absent a law firm's blessing.
3 minute read
April 06, 2021 | Analysis

2 'Very Different' Pitches: How Captive, Untethered ALSPs Get Business

Whether an ALSP is associated with a law firm or not, it has to "play nice" with firms when pitching to legal department clients.
6 minute read
March 29, 2021 | News

Elite Firms Deepen Ties to ALSPs in New Division of Labor

With these new partnerships, law firm lawyers devise the high-level strategy and outside providers execute on it.
6 minute read
March 19, 2021 | News

Turbo Boost to ALSPs Fueled by Rise of In-House Legal Ops

"I tend to look for the folks who are a little more innovation-forward, even if it costs a little more, because at the end of the day it's still going to be less than a law firm," said Mike Russell, head of global legal operations at Expedia Group Inc.
8 minute read
February 18, 2021 | Analysis

3 Tips for Avoiding 'Petty' ALSP-Law Firm Collaboration Struggles

From setting roles early to understanding the dynamic captive ALSPs may play in quality concerns, legal ops professionals and a former GC offer their strategies for a smooth collaboration.
4 minute read
January 28, 2021 | Commentary

50 Shades of White Labeling Alternative Legal Service Providers

'White labeling' has been around for decades. White labeling allows law firms and other legal service providers to try something new, quickly, and with little investment.
7 minute read
January 20, 2021 | Analysis

'Business-Minded' Law School Students Grab Big 4's Hiring Attention

The Big Four wants recent law school graduates that not only understand the law, but corporate strategies that can enhance services for clients. Some law schools are listening and they are adjusting their curriculum to keep up.
3 minute read
January 06, 2021 | Analysis

Legal Departments Limited Budgets May Spur More In-house Staffing Services

Epiq announced last week that it was a launching a new supplemental staffing service geared toward corporate legal departments. Other legal vendors might be eager to follow in the e-discovery provider's footsteps.
3 minute read
December 28, 2020 | Slideshow

Been There, Done That: 8 Law Firms That Have Launched ALSPs

Law firms are diversifying their revenue streams with the creation of alternative legal service providers (ALSPs). LTN highlights a few of the law subsidiaries that have recently made news, along with the variety of tasks they're looking to perform.
1 minute read
December 22, 2020 | News

The New Market: A Look Back At ALSP Hires of 2020

Law firms and in-house aren't the only career paths for legal professionals. Here's a look back at some of the tech talent ALSPs hired this year.
4 minute read
December 01, 2020 | News

After Sliding at Pandemic's Start, Law Firm Subsidiaries Are Soaring

Captives focused on e-discovery, alternative staffing and automated legal expertise all witnessed clients back off amid the widespread economic uncertainty of late March and April, but interest then rebounded.
6 minute read
November 24, 2020 | Commentary

Some ALSPs are More Secure than Most Law Firms

Taking a cue from this year's ABA Legal Technology Survey Report, Yvonne Nath explores why security concerns should not stop law firms from exploring opportunities to leverage ALSPs.
5 minute read
November 20, 2020 | Analysis

Law Firms or the Big Four—Who Knows Legal Departments Better?

These days, law firms and the Big Four are both vying for the attention of legal departments who want to work with providers that can demonstrate a solid understanding of their business. But while law firms may be making strides, the Big Four's institutional knowledge remains formidable.
4 minute read
November 05, 2020 | News

Outsourcers Beware: What LPOs Should Know About Law Firm Finances

In the wake of new details about the UnitedLex-LeClairRyan debacle, third-party vendors stress the importance of vetting firms' books and motivations.
5 minute read
October 29, 2020 | Commentary

Alternative Legal Service Providers and The Art of War for Talent

Will ALSPs be able to maintain competitive pricing, culture, and strategy as they grow through expensive lateral hiring sprees? We have seen how this can play out in law firms, though ALSPs can be more highly leveraged with outside investment and they can eventually go public... but will investors see a positive ROI? Will clients?
6 minute read
October 06, 2020 | Analysis

A Different World: For Attorneys, It's Not the Same Job at an ALSP

While alternative legal service providers (ALSPs) are unique in demanding innovative problem-solving abilities of their attorney, such skills are also being required in more corporate legal departments and law firms.
3 minute read
September 29, 2020 | Analysis

Why Corporate E-Discovery Insourcing Isn't Keeping ALSPs Up at Night

Enterprising corporate legal departments taking on e-discovery internally doesn't mean less business for ALSPs. But it does mean a different client relationship.
3 minute read
September 25, 2020 | Analysis

For ALSPs' Clients, Scalability Matters More Than Head Count

Alternative legal service providers' ability to quickly hire legal personnel has always been the sector's specialty. By leveraging legal technology, permanent head count has become less of a necessity, or client demand.
3 minute read
September 23, 2020 | Commentary

Captive LPOs: The Right Type of Subsidiary for Your Law Firm?

A wholly owned Captive LPO will be more closely tied to the strategy and culture of the parent law firm, but it's not the only model that can address the goals and provide the benefits of a having a law firm subsidiary.
6 minute read
September 16, 2020 | Slideshow

4 Reasons ALSPs Aren't (Yet) Changing Law Firms

While alternative legal service providers have disrupted the legal market, law firms are proving more resilient to larger changes—and adept at retaining their clients.
1 minute read
September 09, 2020 | Analysis

ALSPs' Contract Expert Hiring a Product of Newcomers' Quick Growth

While new alternative legal service providers (ALSPs), or those that have launched a new service, are fast building up their contract teams, most established ALSPs aren't in a rush to add contract tech experts to their staff.
3 minute read
September 08, 2020 | Analysis

For Legal Tech Providers, ALSP Partners Are a Bridge to the Corporate Market

For legal tech companies, counting an ALSP as a client or partner can have a significant "multiplier effect" in terms of product exposure and adoption.
3 minute read
August 27, 2020 | Analysis

If Market Culture Can't Push Firms to Embrace Tech, ALSPs Won't Either

ALSPs continue to embrace the use of new technologies within their services, but even the ongoing competition generated from those outlets may not be enough to push law firms to up their own tech infrastructure before it's too late.
4 minute read
August 20, 2020 | Commentary

What If... Chambers Ranks Law Firms Alongside ALSPs?

The language Chambers uses in a recent report strongly suggests they are testing their audience's reaction to ranking ALSPs like law firms. What does that mean for the broader legal marketplace?
6 minute read
August 13, 2020 | Analysis

COVID-19 Pushes More Legal Outsourcing, but Not All ALSPs Will Benefit

Budget realities and the move to remote work movement have accelerated the use of alternative legal service providers. But not all legal departments and law firms are comfortable leveraging these new law companies.
5 minute read
August 12, 2020 | Analysis

Data Can't Help Clients Decide Between ALSPs and Law Firms

ALSPs have made it easier for legal departments to gain valuable data-driven insights. But those same clients may be struggling to articulate similar demands to their law firms, many of which still aren't feeling the pressure to upgrade their analytic capabilities.
4 minute read
August 05, 2020 | Analysis

What Is New Law? The Definition Can Be Broad, but It's All About Value

While most agree that New Law provides a large umbrella, it's also one with a purpose: augmenting and supporting the traditional path of law with increased value.
10 minute read
August 05, 2020 | Analysis

ALSPs Are Still More Threat Than Partner to Law Firms

Law firms have tried to stake out a distinct territory inside the legal ecosystem as providers of high-end advisory services, but as the demand for process-oriented work continues to fuel ALSPs, firms could nevertheless find their footprint shrinking.
8 minute read
August 05, 2020 | Analysis

Law Firms Must Learn How to Collaborate With ALSPs—Clients Are Waiting

"Law firms have to stop seeing things through their own prism—what's good for us. Instead they need to look for what is in the best interest of the clients," says one former firm managing partner. And increasingly, that means collaborating with outside service providers.
8 minute read
July 27, 2020 | Analysis

ALSPs Under Review: Becoming A Go-To ALSP Follows Common Criteria, With Some Noticeable Omissions

Despite growing their exposure, alternative legal services providers aren't forced to meet wildly different expectations from their various legal clients. Technology and scalability are also consistent components reviewed during most vetting processes.
9 minute read
July 08, 2020 | Analysis

Competition Where? ALSPs Are Baked Into Law Firms' New Offerings

On the surface, more law firms offering advanced data analysis and consulting services are invading the alternative legal service provider (ALSP) market. However, firms are powering these endeavors with ALSPs' technology and resources.
4 minute read
June 25, 2020 | Analysis

Big Law Branches Out: Firm Subsidiaries Want a Piece of the $10B ALSP Market

Faced with an expanding field of competitors, law firms are branching out, forming ancillary businesses that they hope can help them secure a place in the growing market for alternative legal services.
18 minute read
June 03, 2020 | Analysis

Are Complex Legal Matters Kryptonite to ALSPs' Cost Advantage?

Many ALSPs are attempting to increase the complexity of their service offerings to capture a bigger slice of the market, but the skilled labor and extra attention those tasks often require could threaten any cost advantages they may have over law firms.
4 minute read
May 29, 2020 | Analysis

ALSP and Legal Tech Competition Won't Be 'Zero-Sum Game' Post-COVID-19

ALSPs may offer corporations and legal departments a more comprehensive set of services for their investment, but legal tech providers are already finding willing customers for their products in those very same law companies.
4 minute read
May 22, 2020 | Analysis

ALSPs, Tech Providers Call Their Tools 'Best in Breed.' It's Become a Misnomer

"Best in breed" and "best in class" designations may be becoming anachronisms in an era where legal technology is often customized, and the tech products ALSPs have in their toolkit is determined as much by clients as the service providers themselves.
6 minute read
April 08, 2020 | News

In Volatile Economy, Legal Is Becoming More Open to ALSPs, Technology

Facing tightening budgets, legal departments and law firms alike are already eyeing ALSPs and more legal technology. What effect that will have on the future market, however, is still uncertain.
3 minute read
April 24, 2020 | Analysis

For Tech-Focused Firms, Loosening Ownership Laws May Not Be Such a Boon

For firms eager to improve their tech-enabled services, the prospect of regulatory changes may be more of a mirage than a viable source of investment capital.
9 minute read
January 29, 2021 | Podcast

Morgan Lewis eData Head Tess Blair Talks Project Management, Outsourcing and Why AI Isn't Sci-Fi

The founder and leader of Morgan Lewis' eData practice discusses outsourcing vs. insourcing, what it takes to deal with massive amounts of data in an efficient and cost-effective way for clients and why artificial intelligence will actually make attorneys more valuable.
1 minute read
January 07, 2021 | Commentary

Legal Tech's Predictions for Business of Law and ALSPs in 2021

Many attorneys, technologists and legal experts expect continued change in the legal ecosystem in 2021. But it's not just alternative legal service providers—it's how law firms and corporate legal departments fundamentally interact with their data, their people, and even each other.
12 minute read
December 09, 2020 | News

With Technology a Constant, Baker & Hostetler Unit Aims to Make Sense Of Options

The firm's IncuBaker program was envisioned as a "voice of reason" as legal technology floods the market. 
7 minute read
November 18, 2020 | Q&A

Neither 'Captive' Nor an 'ALSP': Morgan Lewis' Tess Blair Surveys the Firm's eData Practice

"I always joke that if we did actually spin out into a subsidiary, we'd actually be one of the biggest, most mature and most successful e-discovery ALSPs out there," Blair says.
7 minute read
November 16, 2020 | Q&A

Factor's New VP Has Advice for ALSPs Competing With Firm Captives: 'Stay the Course'

Law companies' biggest battle isn't competition with law firms' "captive" ALSPs, says Factor's new VP, Michael Callier. Instead, ALSPs need to earn trust to broaden adoption and disrupt a long-standing culture.
5 minute read
November 04, 2020 | News

'This Is a Landmark Transaction': Deloitte Legal Head on Kemp Little Takeover

The deal to double the Big Four firm's U.K. legal head count marks the culmination of 12 months of negotiations.
4 minute read
October 30, 2020 | Q&A

Elevate's 'VP of Get Sh*t Done' Explains How Elevate Plans to Get Sh*t Done

Stephen Allen has experience working in both a law firm and consultancy environment. But as the ALSP looks to update its consulting services to meet the present day needs of legal departments, can it take on the resources of the Big Four?
5 minute read
October 23, 2020 | News

'We're Through the Worst of It': KPMG's Global Head Sees Promising Future

Stuart Fuller says that the Asia-Pacific region, in particular, is strong and that legal work in Europe and in the Americas has been increasing.
6 minute read
October 14, 2020 | Q&A

Newest Deloitte Hire Says In-House Success Stories Will Be Told in Metrics

Steven Walker joined Deloitte's Legal Business Services practice this month as a managing director—and he doesn't think that COVID-19 will hold legal departments back from taking an innovative new approach to procuring services.
6 minute read
September 14, 2020 | News

KPMG UK Law Chief: COVID-19 'Absolutely Will Change' Legal Industry

Nick Roome discusses the future of remote working, his division's expansion plans and what gives KPMG an advantage over traditional law firms.
6 minute read
September 04, 2020 | Q&A

Tech Spinoffs One Way Law Firms Can 'Flip the Script' on Disruption

In this Q&A for its Breaking Tradition series, Law.com catches up with Justin Hectus, CIO and CISO at Keesal, Young & Logan and CIO at its spinoff tech company KP Labs. Hectus explains why the firm separated KP Labs as a distinct company, and the positives and negatives that come with law firm tech spinoffs.
7 minute read
August 25, 2020 | Q&A

Want a Job in Legal Technology? Your Answer is Increasingly at ALSPs

In this Q&A for its Breaking Tradition series, Law.com catches up with Jared Coseglia, CEO and founder of TRU Staffing Partners. He explains why tech jobs are shifting from law firms to ALSPs, and why law students need permission not to have to practice law.
7 minute read
August 17, 2020 | Q&A

Why It 'May Take a Full Generational Transition' to Shift Perception of ALSPs

In this Q&A for its Breaking Tradition series, Law.com catches up with Lucy Bassli, founder and principal of InnoLegal Services and former assistant general counsel at Microsoft. She tells why she went "irregular" out on her own, and why transparency and trust are important in alternative legal service provider relationships.
4 minute read
August 05, 2020 | Q&A

Why ALSPs Are In a 'Unique Position' to Aid Today's Legal Departments

In this Q&A for its Breaking Tradition series, Law.com catches up with NetApp director of legal operations Connie Brenton. She explains what ALSPs need to have in order to be considered for a job—and why ALSPs may drop the "A" altogether.
7 minute read
August 05, 2020 | Q&A

The Law Firm Subsidiary: Marrying Firm Practice Integration with Flexibility and Agility

Law.com catches up with Troutman Pepper eMerge managing director Alison Grounds for its Breaking Tradition series. In this Q&A, Grounds shows the benefits of being connected with a major firm, and how an on-site due diligence project turned into a tech-savvy engagement.
6 minute read
August 05, 2020 | Q&A

Law Firms and Outside Legal Service Providers Have Begun to 'Meet in the Middle'

Law.com catches up with Integreon CEO Bob Rowe for its Breaking Tradition series. In this Q&A, Rowe explains why the "alternative" designation doesn't work for his company, and where legal services providers fall in the legal value chain.
8 minute read
May 14, 2020 | Q&A

Cheese Dip and Legal Tech: How a Food Entrepreneur is Spearheading ALSP Innovation

Level 2 Legal chief strategy and innovation officer Leigh Vickery is not only a champion for legal innovation, but a champion for her own queso product line. In a discussion with Legaltech News, Vickery explains the similarities between the food and legal industry and the challenges facing ALSPs during a recession .
4 minute read
April 06, 2020 | Q&A

Alma Asay: Legal Tech Is Facing an Unprecedented Moment

During a chat with Legaltech News, Litera evangelist Alma Asay discussed the new economic challenges faced by legal tech and how legal's recent surge in remote working may not lead to greater cloud computing adoption.
5 minute read
January 22, 2021

What 2020 Meant to the Big Four, Elevate and Beyond

Elevate posted its 2020 performance last week. And founder Liam Brown has some thoughts about what the Big Four's growing interest in legal work has for his business and the wider sector.
5 minute read
January 08, 2021

What Went Wrong at Atrium? Founder Kan Speaks Up

Fueled with $75 million in venture capital, Atrium was a high-profile effort to apply the lessons of Silicon Valley to the legal industry. Then Justin Kan pulled the plug.
5 minute read
December 03, 2020

The Future is Not Just About Innovation

Today's law firms that are trying to marry law and technology through alternative legal services are finding it's important to not choose one or the other.
6 minute read
October 30, 2020 | Podcast

Big Law Goes 'Alternative': Can Traditional Firms Disrupt the Disrupters?

With clients demanding more cost-effective solutions, traditional law firms are positioning themselves to compete with New Law providers.
1 minute read
October 29, 2020 | Quick Takes

Law.com Barometer: New Law is Big Law's Next Big Global Threat

Markets that were previously the purview of only the largest law firms are beginning to see competition that isn't only local firms, but also fellow multinational firms presenting alternative structures.
5 minute read
October 01, 2020

Law.com Barometer: ALSPs Are On a Hiring Tear

The first Law.com Barometer breaks down how alternative legal service providers are gobbling up talent—and what that means for law firms.
4 minute read
August 05, 2020 | Editor's Letter

Breaking Tradition: Why We're Examining the New Law Market

There are many questions left unanswered about where New Law entrants fit into the preexisting legal space. Our goal for the next 12 months in the Breaking Tradition series will be to further understand New Law and its past, present and future.
3 minute read

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