Outside Counsel Guidelines Sections and Examples

Our experience suggests that more than two thirds of major change management efforts within legal departments typically fail. We recognize that traditional change management techniques do not always work in the legal environment.

Outside Counsel Guidelines

Outside Counsel Guidelines Example Sections

Updated February 18, 2025 | Argopoint Consulting

As an industry leader in outside counsel rationalization and RFP processes, Argopoint is committed to ensuring that the client gets the most out of their outside counsel services. Effective outside counsel guidelines are one component of this effort, and in our experience, most legal departments have not reviewed and updated their OC guidelines in some time. Updating these guidelines can lead to significant billing savings.

EFFECTIVE OUTSIDE COUNSEL GUIDELINES

The outside counsel guidelines serve as a framework for not only each engagement but the overall relationship and partnership, and provide the outside counsel with appropriate guidance and expectations regarding their work for the client.

Argopoint works closely with clients to realign outside counsel guidelines with the goals of the corporate legal department, close any gaps, and ensure long-term and effective relationships with outside counsel that make the best use of legal department resources.

TYPICAL OC GUIDELINES EXAMPLE: SECTIONS

The length, complexity, and detail of guidelines should depend on the department and their ability to enforce the guidelines, as well as the outside counsel panel/partnership framework in place (or lack thereof).

The Typical Sections of Outside Counsel Guidelines include:

  • Introduction

  • Modification Rights

  • Termination / Transition

  • Conflict of Interest

  • E-Discovery

  • Staffing

  • Hourly Rates

  • Invoice Submission

  • Blocked Billing

  • Daily Hour Limit

  • Budget

  • Reimbursible Expenses

  • Travel Policy

  • Non-Reimbursable Expenses

  • Media Relations

These sections, paired with additional sections and detail as appropriate for the organization, allow in-house teams to effectively communicate their expectations in a standardized, enforceable way.

An Outside Counsel Guidelines Review is a low-investment, high-return initiative that can be completed in isolation or as part of a larger outside counsel rationalization effort. Having seen guidelines from many of the top legal departments in the world, we at Argopoint are well positioned to provide recommendations to your current guidelines or provide you with a template or draft.