Legal Research

The Professional Ethics Committee (PEC) of the Florida Bar has decided that the ethical rules, as presently drawn, don?t prevent Florida attorneys from outsourcing paralegal work to India - or any other foreign country, for that matter. Its Advisory Opinion  cautioned attorneys who plan to do so that it?s up to them to avoid aiding the unauthorized practice of law, and to adequately supervise their foreign workers.  Nonetheless, the PEC determined that, as committee member Bill Wagner said, there was nothing in the Florida Bar Rules to ?make a distinction between the border from here to Georgia and from here to India or here to Mexico.? Outsourcing legal work has been much in the headlines of late. See U.S. Legal Work Booms in India   Indian attorneys are drafting contracts and doing research for U.S. firms.  The Florida Bar Board of Governors will consider the PEC opinion at their meeting on May 30.