January 7, 2011

LEGAL WORK BEING SENT OFFSHORE
Rep. Dillon authors bill to keep legal “doc review” from going to unlicensed workers overseas

Representative Pat Dillon (D-New Haven) has filed legislation (HB 5083) that would prevent companies from offshoring the drafting, reviewing or analyzing of legal documents to unlicensed workers overseas. 

“The licensure of teachers and health professionals is often not portable across state lines in this country, yet some legal work is being done abroad with no quality oversight,” Rep. Dillon said.

In crafting the legislation, Rep. Dillon noted that in order to legally hold oneself out for legal work in Connecticut one must be licensed by the state. The state regulates many professions to protect consumers and assure a level of quality.

“Interpreting the law is about more than the ‘letter of the law’ on the page of the Connecticut statutes,” Rep. Dillon said. “Attorneys admitted to the Connecticut Bar have been steeped in not only the law, but Connecticut’s legal traditions and values.”

Rep. Dillon noted the legislation was also about protecting jobs.

“Offshoring American jobs is nothing new,” Rep. Dillon continued. “We have seen it in manufacturing. We have seen it in customer service call centers. Now we are seeing an undertow of white-collar jobs heading to foreign soil.”

Under the legislation: offshore, unlicensed workers who engage in the drafting, reviewing or analyzing of legal documents for clients in Connecticut could be charged with the offense of the “unauthorized practice of law.”

Rep. Dillon is also considering adding a provision to the bill that would require disclosure of who provided the legal work and where it was done.