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LPO trade makes fertile training ground

LPO trade makes fertile training ground

As the legal outsourcing market continues to grow, evidence is emerging that LPOs in India are fulfilling a complementary role with domestic law firms in terms of harnessing and sharpening the talents of young lawyers. Prevailing attitudes towards LPOs from conventional law firms have tended to define a debate between traditional and modern approaches, with LPO jobs often regarded as clerk work compared to full practice.

However, traditional firms are beginning to alter their view of the LPO sector and see it as a useful training ground for future litigators. The trend challenges long-held assumptions that LPOs have prevented graduates from developing their skills.

An article published in the Hindu on 6 July indicates that the chief attraction of LPO personnel is their fast-learned expertise in international law. The partner of a traditional law office with its own LPO branch told the paper: 'If we find a lawyer [is] extremely good in our LPO and is up to expectation, then we offer him to join our firm.' The effect is also influencing hiring patterns for major corporations – some Fortune 500 companies have already snapped up LPO staff to work with them as the recruits have already been managing the relevant accounts on an outsourced basis.

This paints a more fluid picture of legal career paths than had previously been envisioned, with lawyers potentially free to move between traditional firms, corporate giants and LPOs according to preference and industry demands. The two main drivers of the trade are still work from the US and IP-related matters. CPA India country head, Bhaskar Bagchi, says: 'IP currently accounts for over 45% of the LPO market and is expected to lead the growth in this sector in the next three to five years.'

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