Lawyers on Demand: Changing the Way Legal Work is Done in Africa by Playing the “Scale Game” (By Glenda Irvine-Smith)
African legal clients are demanding a practice model that is swift, cost-effective and transparent
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, February 14, 2020/ -- By Glenda Irvine-Smith
According to the Director of Business Development & International Relations at Centurion Law Group (https://CenturionLG.com/), and Key Coordinator of the firm’s unique Centurion Plus model, Glenda
Irvine-Smith the demand for “agile” local lawyers has risen
significantly on the African continent. This is why Centurion has
developed its Centurion Plus platform to respond to this need.
Despite numerous global and regional challenges, investment in Africa is predicted to grow in 2020; with African M&A values in 2019 valued
at around $13 billion in total, there is a lot to play for on the
continent.
To take advantage of this positive investment climate, investors must
form close working relationships with the best legal counsel, as well as due diligence experts and local advisors on the ground in Africa, who
have specialist knowledge and understanding of the particular commercial challenges within their investment locations.
Investors in Africa must also consider geo-political and economic
uncertainty on the continent as well as a plethora of country and
region-specific governance, compliance and regulatory challenges when
investing in the region.
In order to close deals on the continent, investors need access to the
right information and data. The success of a transaction depends on
having real knowledge instead of relying on market perception.
Furthermore, investors can never assume one country is the same as any
other in Africa. Even if they are geographical neighbours, each country
is vastly different to the next. The legal systems in many countries are also changing rapidly, stemming from a desire to encourage foreign
investment, but also out of a need to protect the rights and resources
of a country and its people.
This is why in Africa, the demand for “agile” local lawyers has risen
significantly: African legal clients are demanding a practice model that is swift, cost-effective and transparent. With a cost model that is
scaled to the client’s needs and a service model that is tailored to the job. Clients are also looking for non-traditional, outside of the box
thinking which can seize opportunities in a way that a one-size-fits-all traditional legal approach cannot.
Centurion Law Group has developed its Centurion Plus platform to respond to this need. The firm believes in providing flexible solutions to
clients that address mounting workloads and budgetary constraints.
Centurion Plus is a platform which provides on-demand-lawyers that can
work with clients on site or remotely, on various flexible models such
as secondments, special projects, rotational work or flexible support.
Clients also get the benefit of expertise at a far more competitive rate that reflects the significantly lower overhead costs of this model.
Not only does this alternative to orthodox law firms, work for clients;
it works for lawyers too. It is certainly a growing trend that instead
of working at a law firm, working extremely long hours, and having a
portion of your earnings going into the owners’ pockets, you can become a freelance lawyer, working on demand.
So many companies have adopted this design thinking model for the
delivery of its legal services – by telling lawyers what, when and how
they need their work completed.; This has led to the successful
implementation of on-demand-services, dramatically reducing lawyers’
time on transactions, while improving the insight, judgement and
predictability of outcomes. Furthermore, “buyers” of legal services are increasingly driven to purchase legal services online, decoupled from
traditional institutions, to access quality and convenience without the
high costs.
While the concept is not new, this hasn’t been done in the unchartered
waters of Africa yet. The challenge for African firms operating
platforms like Centurion Plus will revolve around the mindset shift of
becoming more process-driven, technology-enabled and delivering quality
legal services.
About Glenda Irvine-Smith:
Glenda Irvine-Smith is the Director of Business Development &
International Relations at Centurion Law Group. She is the Key
Coordinator of Centurion Plus, where she leverages her network and
database of leading African law firms and lawyers to assist large
companies with their need to upscale quickly or take on new projects,
making use of flexible lawyers and advisors. Glenda has had vast
experience in navigating clients accessing Africa through a variety of
different models.
Play online games for free at games.easybranches.com
Guest Post Services www.easybranches.com/contribute