In this roundup, coverage on outsourcing, innovation, an EED acquisition, and BigLaw web site awards.
Outsourcing | Offshoring
India needs to hone legal process outsourcing skills in the Business Standard (of India, 10/31/06) reports that when it comes to legal outsourcing, India should be watching other countries over its shoulder: “Nearly 750 professionals, for instance, are involved in legal processes outsourcing (LPO) in the Philippines as compared to 1,750 in India. Moreover, whiel the number is expected to grow to only 7,000 by 2010 in India, in the Philippines, the LPO market is expected to accomodate 10,000 professionals by 2010, according to analyst figures.” The data are interesting but the sources not clear. I spotted this at the blog slaw.
Innovation
Innovation expert Eric Mankin presented on legal market innovation at the College of Law Practice Management annual meeting. The audio recording (Windows media format) is here. Eric offers deep and amusing insight about innovation (or lack thereof) in the legal market.
Social Network Analysis (SNA)
SNA studies how people in an organization interact. Not by looking at org charts, but by analyzing actual communication. It’s a useful approach to undertanding how knowledge is shared (or not) across an enterprise. Blogger Adam Smith, Esq., in 20% of Our Group’s Value Is Quitting has a good write up of a recent article about SNA and adds his own spin as well.
Law Firm Web Sites
Marketing expert and blogger Larry Bodine has a good post, The 10 Best AmLaw 100 Web Sites (10/29/06). It reports on a recently released study that identified the top 10 BigLaw sites. He also reviews his s principles of good site design
E-Discovery
Another e-discovery acquisition: See the 10/6/06 press release, Océ Business Services to Acquire CaseData Inc.. “Océ N.V., (NASDAQ: OCENY), a global leader in digital document management and solutions, today announced that its U.S. division Océ Business Services and CaseData, Inc., a leading provider of electronic discovery and litigation support services to U.S. law firms and corporations, have entered into a definitive agreement for Océ Business Services to acquire all activities of CaseData. The transaction will expand the range of Océ Business Services’ document process management business, and give CaseData clients access to Océ’s comprehensive portfolio of products and services. CaseData is ranked in the top five E-discovery service providers on the basis of experience and capacity. Financial details of the transaction are not being disclosed.”