Connecticut Bill Would Ban Outsourcing Of Document Review

Connecticut state Representative Pat Dillon introduced a bill (HB 5083) that would prevent companies from offshoring the drafting, reviewing or analyzing of legal documents to unlicensed workers. According to Dillon, the bill is designed to insure that qualified people are conducting the document review, and to protect American jobs. The bill provides that unlicensed workers (i.e., those who have not been admitted to practice law in the state of Connecticut) who engage in the drafting, reviewing or analyzing of legal documents for clients in Connecticut could be charged with the offense of the "unauthorized practice of law." Dillon is also considering adding a provision to the bill that would require disclosure of who provided the legal work and where it was done.