Pros and Cons of Outsourcing Legal Transcription Services

News 13 August, 2019

If you need some legal transcribing work done, then you may be torn between hiring someone full-time or outsourcing it. This can leave you in a bit of a dilemma, but luckily, there are ways for you to simplify the whole process by looking at the pros and cons.

Pro: You only Pay for What you Need

Your transcription volume and even requirement will probably fluctuate. A lot of companies probably won’t need to have courtroom transcription done on a daily basis. Having an in-house team can be a bad idea because at times you may not have enough work for them to do, and at others, you might have too much. One benefit of outsourcing is that you never have to worry about dilemmas like this happening, so you can focus on the other more important parts of your business.

Con: Contractual Obligations

If you do choose to rely on an outside company, then you may be locked into a contract for a specific period of time. You are really put at a disadvantage here, mainly because you won’t be able to make the required adjustments as you proceed through your legal cases. A lot of companies out there may even alter your contract from time to time too, which can be frustrating.

Pro: It can Save Money

Outsourcing can save you a lot of money. The cost-savings are significant because when you hire someone in-house, you need to pay for their healthcare, insurance, furniture, electricity and even their computer too. The transcriptionist may also take time off for annual leave or illness, which will cost you even more in comparison.

Con: You Don’t Always Know Who You’re Working With

Sometimes when you outsource, you may do so to another country. This is normally a benefit because it means that they can essentially carry on working long after you leave the office due to the time difference. The issue with this is that you don’t always know who you are working with. Sure, you may know their qualifications and their name, but you won’t know them on the same personal level that you would if you hired someone in-house.

Pro: Specialist Skills

An outsourced transcription provider, especially one who works in the law industry can provide you with the specialised knowledge you need and at a fraction of the cost. If you were to hire someone in your local area then there’s a high chance that you would need to pay a huge amount of expense just to utilise their services, and sometimes it can be quite ineffective in terms of cost. Outsourcing on the other hand allows you to broaden your horizons and it also gives you the chance to connect with other professionals who have much lower fees. This is ideal if you have a specialist case, or even if you need to hire someone on a one-off basis just while you progress through the legal proceedings. Outsourcing, in special circumstances, can also help you to ensure a more positive result due to the vast pool of talent you have access to.