For Immediate Release
May 28, 2009
PRACTICE AREA MAKES PERFECT
Corporate Attorneys Say Practice Area Expertise Key When Choosing a Law Firm
MENLO PARK, CA -- Rather than trying to be all things to all people, the best way for law firms to attract new corporate clients is to emphasize their specialties, a recent survey suggests. Almost half (45 percent) of in-house attorneys interviewed said practice area expertise is the most important factor when deciding to hire outside counsel. Previous experience working with the law firm ranked second, with 35 percent of the response from corporate attorneys. Litigation and intellectual property were identified as the matters legal departments most often assign to outside counsel.
The survey was developed by Robert Half Legal, a leading staffing service specializing in attorneys, paralegals and other highly skilled legal professionals. It was conducted by an independent research firm and includes responses from 150 attorneys from among the largest corporations in theUnited States and Canada. All respondents have at least three years of experience in the legal field.
Lawyers were asked, “Which one of the following criteria is most important when deciding to hire outside counsel?” Their responses:
| Practice area expertise |
|
45% |
| Previous experience working with the firm |
|
35% |
| Knowledge of business/industry |
|
9% |
| Reputation of the firm |
|
6% |
| Cost or project pricing |
|
3% |
| Other |
|
2% |
| |
|
100% |
Lawyers also were asked, “Which of the following matters, if any, does your legal department assign to outside counsel?” Their responses:*
| Litigation |
|
92% |
| Intellectual property |
|
75% |
| Mergers and acquisitions |
|
71% |
| Bankruptcy |
|
60% |
| Financial or regulatory |
|
60% |
| Employment |
|
55% |
| Electronic discovery |
|
53% |
| Environmental |
|
52% |
| Corporate transactional |
|
51% |
| Real estate |
|
45% |
| Securities |
|
3% |
| Antitrust |
|
1% |
| Insurance |
|
1% |
| Other |
|
3% |
| |
|
|
*Multiple responses were allowed.
“In a challenging economy, competition among law firms has intensified as legal departments carefully monitor their spending and assign more projects to internal teams,” said Charles Volkert, executive director of Robert Half Legal. “But for certain matters, companies will always have a need for specialized legal services. Law firms that showcase their practice area expertise and demonstrate a thorough understanding of an organization’s specific needs, challenges and goals will have an advantage in attracting business.”
Volkert added that legal departments often must develop comprehensive strategies to prepare for litigation and to safeguard their company’s assets. “In-house attorneys are seeking timely, value-added advice and support from outside firms to successfully navigate complex issues and minimize risk.”
About Robert Half Legal
Robert Half Legal is the legal staffing division of Robert Half International. The company provides law firms and corporate legal departments with highly skilled professionals, including attorneys, paralegals and legal support personnel, on a project and full-time basis. Robert Half Legal offers online job search services at www.roberthalflegal.com.
Media Contacts
Quick Link: http://www.roberthalflegal.com/PressRoom?id=2475
Robert Half Legal
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