The Flexible Future Of Legal: Why ALSPs Are More Than ‘Alternative’ – Above the Law

The
legal
industry
is
no
stranger
to
evolution.
Over
the
last
few
decades,
corporate
legal
departments
have
transitioned
from
reactive,
siloed
teams
to
proactive,
integrated
business
partners.
Yet,
one
of
the
most
impactful
shifts
is
still
gaining
momentum:
the
rise
of
Alternative
Legal
Service
Providers
(ALSPs).

Despite
their
name,
ALSPs
are
far
from
“alternative.”
Today,
they
are
essential
for
modern
legal
operations,
offering
scalable,
cost-effective,
and
tech-enabled
solutions
that
reshape
how
legal
departments
operate.
In
fact,
the
“A”
in
ALSP
may
no
longer
reflect
the
central
role
they
now
play.

What
Defines
an
ALSP
Today?

When
ALSPs
first
emerged,
they
represented
a
novel
departure
from
the
traditional
law
firm
model.
The
industry
was
skeptical,
viewing
these
providers
as
niche
players
fit
only
for
routine
tasks.
However,
the
last
two
decades
have
proven
that
ALSPs
are
far
more
versatile.
Modern
ALSPs
offer
a
comprehensive
suite
of
services,
from
handling
complex
compliance
issues
to
managing
tech-heavy
contract
lifecycle
management
(CLM)
systems.
Their
core
attributes
—
flexibility,
scalability,
cost-effectiveness,
and
tech
enablement
—
make
them
indispensable
for
legal
teams
juggling
constrained
budgets
and
rising
workloads.

Consider
a
recent
example:
A
corporate
legal
team
grappling
with
a
six-month
contract
backlog
turned
to
an
ALSP
for
support.
Within
weeks,
the
ALSP’s
flexible
talent
cleared
the
backlog,
rebuilt
the
team’s
templates,
and
implemented
a
playbook
to
prevent
future
delays.
The
result?
Happier
business
stakeholders
and
a
newfound
respect
for
the
legal
department’s
adaptability.

Busting
Myths
About
ALSPs

Despite
their
growing
adoption,
misconceptions
about
ALSPs
persist.
One
of
the
most
common
is
that
flexible
talent
means
lower-quality
talent.
In
reality,
ALSP
professionals
often
come
from
elite
law
firms
and
have
extensive
in-house
experience.
They’re
not
“temp
workers,”
they
are
experts
who
choose
flexible
engagements
for
reasons
ranging
from
career
pivots
to
better
work-life
balance.

Take
it
from
Monica
Zent,
CEO
and
Founder
of
ZentLaw,
a
pioneer
in
the
ALSP
space.
“Many
of
our
professionals
are
Biglaw
veterans
or
seasoned
in-house
counsel.
They’re
not
just
filling
gaps
—
they’re
elevating
the
quality
of
the
work
being
done,”
she
explains.

Key
Benefits

Why
are
ALSPs
becoming
the
go-to
solution
for
so
many
legal
teams?

• 
  Efficiency
  and
  Cost-Savings
  
  
  ALSPs
  streamline
  onboarding,
  reduce
  costs
  compared
  to
  traditional
  models,
  and
  offer
  expertise
  tailored
  to
  a
  department’s
  specific
  needs.
  They’re
  particularly
  adept
  at
  scaling
  teams
  up
  or
  down
  as
  workloads
  fluctuate,
  ensuring
  departments
  aren’t
  overstaffed
  during
  quieter
  periods.
• 
  Access
  to
  Specialized
  Talent
  
  
  ALSPs
  can
  plug
  gaps
  in
  areas
  such
  as
  compliance,
  legal
  operations,
  or
  niche
  subject
  matters.
  They
  also
  bring
  diversity
  in
  background
  and
  perspective,
  enriching
  the
  decision-making
  process.
• 
  Alignment
  with
  Legal
  Tech
  
  
  As
  legal
  tech
  adoption
  grows,
  ALSPs
  provide
  a
  bridge
  between
  the
  technology
  and
  its
  optimal
  use.
  For
  example,
  they
  can
  help
  legal
  teams
  implement
  or
  optimize
  tools
  like
  CLMs,
  ensuring
  smoother
  workflows
  and
  better
  ROI.

The
‘Try-and-Buy’
Model

One
of
the
most
innovative
aspects
of
ALSPs
is
their
“try-and-buy”
model.
This
approach
allows
companies
to
test
talent
flexibly
before
hiring
them
full-time,
minimizing
hiring
risks
for
companies
and
offering
professionals
the
opportunity
to
assess
whether
the
organization
aligns
with
their
values
and
career
goals.

Zent
emphasizes
the
transformative
power
of
this
approach.
“In
my
experience,
this
model
has
transformed
legal
teams.
One
client,
initially
hesitant
about
ALSPs,
used
this
approach
to
rebuild
their
compliance
team.
After
a
successful
trial,
they
converted
two
ALSP
professionals
into
full-time
roles,
cementing
the
partnership’s
value.”

This
adaptability
showcases
how
ALSPs
can
integrate
seamlessly
into
legal
teams,
solving
immediate
challenges
and
contributing
to
long-term
operational
success.

How
Legal
Ops
Professionals
Can
Maximize
ALSPs

Legal
operations
professionals
are
uniquely
positioned
to
integrate
ALSPs
into
workflows
effectively.







Here
are
some
tips:

1. 
   Start
   Small:
   Pilot
   a
   project
   with
   an
   ALSP
   to
   build
   internal
   confidence
   and
   showcase
   quick
   wins.
2. 
   Address
   Resistance
   Early:
   Educate
   stakeholders
   on
   the
   quality
   and
   capabilities
   of
   ALSP
   talent
   to
   dispel
   misconceptions.
3. 
   Treat
   ALSP
   Professionals
   as
   Team
   Members:
   Onboard
   them
   with
   the
   same
   care
   as
   full-time
   staff
   to
   ensure
   seamless
   integration.
4. 
   Measure
   Impact:
   Use
   metrics
   like
   turnaround
   times
   and
   cost
   savings
   to
   highlight
   the
   ALSP’s
   contributions.

A
compelling
example
comes
from
a
client
who
used
ALSPs
to
tackle
a
contract
backlog.
The
partnership
resolved
the
issue
and
earned
the
department
an
Association
of
Corporate
Counsel
(ACC)
Value
Champion
Award,
showcasing
the
strategic
impact
of
ALSPs.

The
Future
of
ALSPs
in
Legal
Operations

Looking
ahead,
ALSPs
will
continue
to
shape
the
future
of
legal
operations.
As
artificial
intelligence
becomes
more
prevalent,
ALSPs
are
uniquely
positioned
to
integrate
AI
tools,
optimize
workflows,
and
manage
transitions.
The
collaboration
between
ALSPs
and
legal
ops
will
be
instrumental
in
navigating
these
changes.
Together,
they
can
push
the
boundaries
of
efficiency
and
redefine
what
it
means
to
deliver
value
in
the
legal
industry.

Monica
Zent
predicts,
“The
next
five
to
10
years
will
see
ALSPs
driving
innovation
in
AI
and
tech-enabled
solutions.
They’ll
be
on
the
frontlines,
helping
legal
teams
adopt
new
tools
while
maintaining
high-quality
work.”

ALSPs
are
no
longer
just
an
alternative
—
they
are
strategic
partners.
They
bring
flexibility,
expertise,
and
innovation
to
the
table,
helping
legal
departments
meet
today’s
challenges
while
preparing
for
tomorrow’s
opportunities.
For
legal
teams
still
viewing
ALSPs
as
an
“extra”
rather
than
an
essential,
it’s
time
to
rethink.
The
future
of
legal
operations
demands
agility,
and
ALSPs
offer
just
that.