The Ohio Supreme Court’s Board of Commissioners on Grievances & Discipline has offered guidance to the state’s lawyers on outsourcing legal or support services. The advisory states that there is nothing the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct that prohibits the use of outsourcing services. Although advisory opinions are non-binding, the opinion marks the first time that a state Supreme Court has officially approved legal outsourcing. Consequently, the move is likely to boost the US profile of LPO service.

The opinion does stipulate that lawyers must obtain the informed consent of their clients before outsourcing work. However, it leaves the extent of supervision for outsourced services to the lawyer’s professional judgement, cautioning them to ensure that the services will be provided with competence and diligence while protecting client confidences and avoiding conflicts of interest.