Negligence suit against McDermott Will & Emery puts spotlight on contract attorneys

A lawsuit brought against McDermott Will & Emery by a former client has claimed that the contract attorneys employed by the firm to review documents ‘negligently performed their duties’. The California court proceedings raise the issue of whether the use of contract attorneys, who are paid less than associates – around as $25 to $30 an hour – and have been described as the new ‘third tier’ of workers in the legal profession, undermines the integrity of law firm services. A spokesman from McDermott Will & Emery said the allegations that it failed to properly supervise contract lawyers are “baseless.”

Negligence suit against McDermott Will & Emery puts spotlight on contract attorneys blogs.wsj.com Thu, Aug 4, 2011