What is LPO?
LPO emerged in the early 2000s as globalization and digital workflows allowed routine legal work to be performed outside expensive on-site offices. Initially focused on document review and due diligence, LPO has evolved into a strategic legal-services model encompassing advanced analytics, e-discovery, and AI-assisted review.
Modern LPO providers combine legal expertise, technology, and automation to deliver faster turnaround times at lower cost. Many operate across jurisdictions, offering “follow-the-sun” service models that keep legal work moving around the clock. It enables law firms and corporate legal departments to reduce costs, scale capacity, and access specialized expertise while maintaining compliance and quality standards. Typical LPO services include contract management, legal research, document review, compliance audits, and intellectual-property support.
How LPO Works
- Process Identification - A firm or corporation pinpoints legal tasks suitable for outsourcing (e.g., contract review or discovery).
- Vendor Selection - Providers are chosen based on domain knowledge, certifications, and data-security standards.
- Knowledge Transfer - Workflows, templates, and guidelines are shared securely.
- Execution - LPO teams perform analysis, drafting, or review using specialized tools.
- Quality & Compliance Review - Supervising attorneys validate deliverables before submission.
