1. Legal Process Outsourcing related FAQs

What is Legal Process Outsourcing?
Legal outsourcing refers to a law firm or company seeking legal support services from an external entity or legal support services company. When that entity is based in another country, it is then considered Offshoring.

What does an LPO do?
LPO companies are providers of offshore legal services to clients across multiple jurisdictions – mostly U.K. and U.S. The nature of outsourced legal work falls under four broad categories:
Contract drafting and review – primarily commercial contracts
Litigation Support
Evidence related work – reviewing documentary evidence procured through the discovery process
Drafting of pleadings and applications
Legal research related to the litigation
Intellectual Property: Copyrights, Trademark and Patents
Filing of claims
Prior art searches (looking for similar IP protections)
Claim infringement related notices and applications
Legal research and drafting – researching and providing legal advice in memo or opinion format on diverse areas of the law.
Some LPOs also undertake work in immigration law, tax law and insurance law related areas.
LPOs therefore provide the above-mentioned legal services to attorneys / companies in the U.S. and U.K. However, an attorney in the US always reviews work that is outsourced to an LPO before being sending the same to the ultimate client.

What are the standard remuneration scales?
Remuneration scales in the LPO sector are quite attractive. At the fresher level, depending on the organisation and location, a top tier LPO may pay between 15,000 – 25,000/- per month.

Do LPOs take on people part-time?
Yes, LPOs are open to taking people on a project basis – typically in 3-month cycles. Working part of the day is also an option, but will likely be considered an internship or on contract basis. This will have to be negotiated separately with the individual LPO, as it is not the norm.

Do LPOs take on students part-time?
Yes, some LPOs sometimes do take on students on a part-time basis.

Will I have to work night shifts?
As the LPO industry does not involve real time telephonic / e-solutions being provided to overseas clients, most LPOs do not function on a night shift system. However, there are a few LPOs that do work on a 24x7 system.

Normally do LPO offer drop and pick up facilities?
Yes, some do, though there is no industry standard; it depends on the city and LPO. For example Gurgaon based LPOs typically offer drop and pick up facilities.

I don’t live in a metro. I don’t want to leave my town eg. Nasik/Aurangabad/Nagpur. What opportunities would I have in this field here?
There are LPOs across the country, and some are being set up in non-metros as well. However, you will be limiting your opportunities by being immobile.

Which are the LPOs that have tied up with the PGDLPO programme?
Many of the nation’s leading LPOs are associated with the PGDLPO programme in a variety of capacities which include:
Being part of the Programme Advisory Committee
Scholarship offers
Internship offers
Programme content
However, this is a rolling list – it is best to check the programme website periodically.

Do LPOs recruit non- law graduates?
Yes, the LPO industry does employ graduates from a non-law background. Typically non-lawyers are employed in two areas:
1. Patent related work: Engineers and other professionals from a technical background (biotech, medicine, IT) are employed by LPOs to draft and process patents that require a high level of technical input.
2. Basic Documentation: Graduates proficient in English are employed by the LPO industry to undertake legal transcription, document review, deposition summarizing, case summarizing etc.

2. Programme related FAQs

2.1. Organisations behind PGDLPO

Who is Rainmaker?

What is the IGNOU?

Who is Rainmaker?
Rainmaker is a quality service provider focussed on the legal industry, specifically India. With a combination of market-leading capabilities across Executive Search, Education and Training, Knowledge Services and Consulting, we support and create solutions for organisations and individuals across the country.
Rainmaker specialise in training programmes for legal professionals and law students, and also run India’s first and most popular Post-graduate Diploma in Legal Process Outsourcing (PGDLPO) in collaboration with the IGNOU.
For more information on Rainmaker, please visit www.rainmaker.co.in .

What is the IGNOU?
The Indira Gandhi National Open University was established by an Act of Parliament in 1985. It is the world’s largest university, with over 1.4 million students. The University is located in New Delhi, and has Regional Study Centres in over 40 locations across India.
For more information on the IGNOU, please visit www.ignou.ac.in

2.2. Admission related FAQs

How do I register for the programme?
Enrolment is through an online process. You have to fill out a simple registration form, and submit certain certificates, such as a certified copy of your graduation degree or final-year marksheets etc. Please visit the ‘How to Register’ section at www.ignouonline.ac.in/pgdlpo.

Where is the programme being conducted?
The programme will be delivered online, through a unique mix of self-learning and interactive-learning content on eMentor, Rainmaker’s proprietary e-learning platform. There will also be a set of self-study material that will be sent to you at the correspondence address you indicate in the form.
You can complete programme requirements at any place you choose, and are not location bound. Almost all of the programme’s testing and evaluation will also be conducted online.

What is the duration of the programme?
The minimum duration of the programme is one year. However, you are allowed repeat attempts for a maximum period of four years to complete programme requirements.

What are the commencement and closing dates of the programme?
The next batch commences on October 1, 2010 and ends in October 2012. The last date for enrolment is September 30, 2010, without late fee.

What is the late fee. When and how does the late fee apply?
The late fee is an additional fee of Rs. 200 levied on all enrolments between October 1, 2010 and October 15, 2010. However, if you have filled the online form prior to October 1, and despatched the necessary documents thereafter, there will not be any late fee levied. All enrolment forms and necessary documents must reach the University before the September 30, 2010.

What is the eligibility?
In order to be eligible for the programme, you need to be either
A law graduate
Or
A final-year law student

Is there any age bar?
No there is no age bar but the candidate must be at least a final-year law student.

I am not a law graduate. Can I enrol for the programme?
Unfortunately not. The programme is designed specifically for law graduates and law students.

I am a final-year law student. Can I enrol for the programme?
Yes. Final-year law students are eligible for the programme.

What is the fee and can I pay in instalments?
The programme fee is Rs 18,000/-. There is no instalment option, and the entire fee must be paid at the time of enrolment.

Are final-year law students eligible for a discount?
Yes. Final-year law students are eligible for a Rs.1,500/- discount on the course fee. However, this will be refunded to them after validation of status, and such candidates must make a full programme fee payment at the time of enrolment.

What are the payment schemes?
You may pay online using a credit card, or by submitting a demand draft.

Can we pay the fees through credit cards?
Yes. Please refer to the ‘How to register’ section at www.ignouonline.ac.in/pgdlpo for details on how to do this.

Can we pay through cheques?
No. Programme fees are accepted only via a credit card payment, or by a demand draft.

Can we send the DDs to any city other than New Delhi?
No. Payments may only be made directly to the University at its New Delhi campus.

2.3. Programme delivery related FAQs

What is the evaluation methodology and do we give exams?
The programme follows a unique evaluation system that is a combination of continuous evaluation and term-end testing. You will be assigned a number of research assignments, projects, and online quizzes (all on the on eMentor, Rainmaker’s proprietary e-learning platform). If you complete these successfully, you will have fulfilled the programme’s continuous evaluation requirements. Additionally, there will also be term-end testing (at IGNOU centres or other such designated locations) at the end of each Semester for which you will have to register with and travel to the nearest such location. The details of this will be made available to you on your successful enrolment into the programme.

Are there any printed materials that will be sent to me?
Yes. Some of the programme’s self-study content is delivered through print material that will be sent to you at your correspondence address.

Who will provide the training?
The learning will be delivered by Rainmaker and IGNOU, through eMentor, Rainmaker’s unique e-learning platform, and through a set of self-learning materials.

Since the programme commences on August 1, 2010, will I miss out on anything by enrolling on the last date i.e. August 31, 2010?
No. The programme is designed to be delivered asynchronously, which means that learners do not necessarily have to progress at the same pace. Unlike how you may have experienced conventional education in your school and college, the MIPL programme allows you to learn at your own pace, and so, even if you enrol by the last date, you will still experience the programme as if it were made specifically for you and was meant to start the day you enrol!

2.4. Other Queries

Is P.G.D.L.P.O. training only for L.P.O.s?
Yes. The PGDLPO training programme is designed to ensure a fit for a legal professional in the LPO industry.

Does the programme help me for any other industry?
The programme is primarily designed for a fit in the L.P.O. industry. Yet, if you were to break down the course components, you find that much of what you learn in this course is relevant to being a legal profession in any industry:
English – While some parts of this relate to the L.P.O. industry, for example – knowledge of U.S. English and U.K. English, an in-depth understanding of drafting, which is also part of the course, is essential for a legal professional in any industry.
Similarly, online legal research skills are a value-add to a lawyer in any industry.
The personal effectiveness component, SPEED, is again useful for a legal professional in any industry.
While the LEAP portion of the programme does have an L.P.O. industry perspective, there are areas such as the ‘Contracts module’, which are still relevant to the legal industry at large.

When will the next batch commence?
The next batch details will be put up after September 1. Enrolments for the August 2010 batch are open. The August batch will commence from August 1, 2010.

Can we try your class and decide later?
No. The University rules do not permit any trials before enrolling for courses.

Is there any placement assistance?
No. At present, there is no placement assistance being offered to students of the programme.

Is the programme Central Government-accredited?
Yes. All IGNOU diplomas, degrees, and certificates are recognised by the Central Government, and are equivalent to diplomas, degrees, and certificates granted by any Indian university.

I want to start my own LPO. How can your course help me?
Would you help me set it up? The course is specifically designed for people looking to enter / working in the LPO industry. Even if you are keen on starting up your own LPO, the course would greatly benefit you in terms of understanding the LPO operation and the nature of work involved. You may also reach Rainmaker’s consulting team that looks into advising start-up LPOs at info@rainmaker.co.in

Will I have to do the training programme the L.P.O.s offer when I join them if I do your course?
Yes. The P.G.D.L.P.O. programme will prepare you to work in any organisation across the L.P.O. industry. While you will still require training at the L.P.O., your period of internal training will be considerably shorter as you will have acquired the necessary skills and knowledge, and this will be an organisation specific training.

Is there someone I can speak with for any other queries?
Yes, you may reach either
The Rainmaker team at
Delhi: +91 11 4345 4345
Mumbai: +91 22 4035 0900
Email: training@rainmaker.co.in

Or

The IGNOU School of Law at
Delhi: +91 11 2953 1115