Managing legal expenses cannot be segregated from managing the legal work, including strategy, tactics, staffing, quality, and other non-monetary aspects of legal work that nevertheless trigger higher bills. In short, performance and cost must be managed together. This provides additional competitive leverage to encourage outside firms to work leanly. Equally important, in-house lawyers anticipate legal risks and head them off at the source, before they become problems.
Preventive law provides the best possible form of legal cost containment.
Selection of firms is based entirely on merit, with cost and prior experience being factors in merit. The goal is to select particular lawyers, not an amorphous firm, with whom a long-term relationship is expected, so long as the client's own expectations are met. Biases favoring large firms must be overcome. Healthy competition among firms to better serve clients is promoted. Alternatives are designed to meet client goals, while rewarding efficiency and quality.