OPPORTUNITIES ABOUND!
THE FUTURE OF LPS
by Paige Hunt Wojcik of Perkins Coie LLP
NITIES AB
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O
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There is no denying e-discovery has created incredible demand
for litigation and practice support professionals and propelled
many careers forward quickly. The industry continues to expand in
response to big data, new data types and ever-changing technology
tools. Client expectations and attorney interest in leveraging
technology to work more efficiently contribute to the development
of litigation and practice support positions, such as legal project
management and trial support. The only consistency in our
profession is the demand for talent is always greater than the supply.
In 2012, we saw significant changes in law firm litigation and
practice support models. Some firms created subsidiaries of their
litigation support departments while others outsourced their entire
departments to vendors. Many firms implemented managed service
models to create a balance of insourcing and outsourcing. While
some firms made these decisions in 2012, most firms are still at a
crossroads in developing the strategic plan for their litigation and
practice support departments.
What does that mean for litigation and practice support
professionals? Opportunities abound! If you are open to change
and have the drive to prepare yourself for what will happen next,
the state of the profession can work in your favor.
I asked Florinda Baldridge and Michelle Mahoney, two thought
leaders in the litigation and practice support arena, to share their
predictions on the future of our profession and to provide guidance
on how individuals can prepare.
