Frequently Asked Questions for Law Firms
How does it work?
What are your rates?
Can we mark-up Counsel On Call's hourly rates?
Describe the attorney who works with Counsel On Call.
How do you find your attorneys?
Do you work only in markets with Counsel On Call offices?
How do you ensure that your attorneys are going to stay on for the entire assignment?
Do you design review protocols and quality control processes?
Do you partner with technology companies on e-discovery?
Do you carry professional liability (malpractice) insurance for your attorneys?
How does it work?
All it takes is one phone call. We can have a detailed discussion about your specific need or how you can reduce legal costs for your clients moving forward. If you have an immediate need, we will immediately begin discussing our experienced attorneys; many of our clients like to interview our attorneys personally before the work begins, which we are pleased to coordinate. For e-discovery matters, we assign a Project Manager to every client who becomes your point of contact as new cases and matters arise.
What are your rates?
It depends on the specific need and level of experience required, but typically our clients achieve cost savings in excess of 75% or more on an hourly rate basis. We also work with our clients on alternative billing solutions.
Can we mark-up Counsel On Call's hourly rates?
In nearly every state, the answer is yes. Please check with your state regulations to be sure.
Describe the attorney who works with Counsel On Call.
Talented. Experienced. Passionate. We don't throw these words around lightly. Our attorneys have a minimum of three years of big firm or corporate legal experience and most of our attorneys graduated in the top third of an excellent law school. Our placement coordinators and executive directors are all former practicing attorneys themselves and put a candidate through a rigorous selection process before he or she becomes a Counsel On Call attorney.
There are always exceptions to the standards we hold, such as an attorney who might not have graduated from a top 50 law school but has 10 years of quality experience. That's why those meeting with the candidate and checking references are experienced attorneys themselves: they get to know the candidate and determine if he/she is qualified to work with our clients.
Our attorneys also must posses a love of practicing law. They have come to Counsel On Call for a variety of reasons, but one common element is that they enjoy intellectual stimulation and the law.
How do you find your attorneys?
Mainly via referrals from clients and our attorneys, as it seems many of us know a talented attorney who wants more control over his or her schedule. But we are all former practicing attorneys and know many attorneys in our cities. We are also very active in our respective communities and members of our respective bar associations and feel, as attorneys, it's important to give our time and abilities to pro bono, continuing legal education and other volunteer efforts. We meet a lot of attorneys in this manner.
Do you work only in markets with Counsel On Call offices?
We currently have attorneys working across the country, not just in one of our markets. Many of our clients have offices in other cities and we provide them attorneys wherever the need exists. We have networks of highly qualified attorneys in every region of the country. Many Counsel On Call attorneys are licensed to practiced in multiple states.
How do you ensure that your attorneys are going to stay on for the entire assignment?
No one likes turnover during a case. Although there are no guarantees, we give a lot of thought to pairing the right attorney to the assignment. Our attorneys choose to work in this manner – they are not between jobs or interviewing for the next offer – and understand the importance of commitment and a good reputation. Our attrition rate is incredibly low, and we're always happy to share this information with a client or prospective client.
Do you design review protocols and quality control processes?
Yes, and work closely with the law firm on these measures. We have battle-tested protocols that we have developed in conjunction with law firms that we tailor for the specific assignment.
That being said, many law firms already have their own protocols in place and our attorneys can simply work within that existing structure. Our Project Managers and attorneys are accustomed to working in a variety of ways and we make sure we are a collaborative, productive partner.
Do you partner with technology companies on e-discovery?
Although there are ample opportunities to do so, we purposely do not have formal partnerships or agreements with hosting or software companies. This allows Counsel On Call to remain objective when a client seeks consultation on which platform or tool to use, and we always want to make sure we are acting in a client's best interest.
That does not prevent Counsel On Call from offering full, end-to-end solutions for e-discovery matters, from document retention policies to the production of documents. Our Project Managers and attorneys possess a thorough understanding of all the services and features of multiple platforms and tools, and we dedicate significant resources to this effort and design detailed protocols for every platform we utilize.
Do you carry professional liability (malpractice) insurance for your attorneys?
Counsel On Call is a lawyer-to-lawyer business and our attorneys work under the direction and supervision of our client's hiring attorney. We have insurance that covers the work done by our attorneys under the direction and supervision of the hiring attorney.
On e-discovery assignments, we also identify at least one of our attorneys serve as Team Leader to provide a simpler chain of communication. In many cases, the Team Leader reports daily to the managing attorney.