In-House Counsel

A blunt message to law firms that minimizes research costs

By Rees Morrison

Among the cost-cutting ideas accumulated in the ACC Docket, Vol. 27, March 2009 at 47, here is a hard-nosed suggestion by someone: "When you're calling your law firm with questions, make it clear that if the lawyer on the phone cannot answer the questions that you are posing and if he/she doesn't know the right lawyer internally who can, then you are not interested in proceeding. You may also need to be clear that you want no memo or research to be initiated."

This chokehold on research means you need to talk to experienced lawyers, probably partners. Your effective rate will rise, but so too will your effective use of your funds.

Full post as published by Law Department Management on March 19, 2009 (boomark / email).