Any insider information regarding the future of paralegals at Allstate? Will they be the next to go? Now that the axe has fallen on lead counsel, who will be next?
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Your assessment is very astute, but if you are willing to bet your next paycheck on what Allstate may do (other than move jobs to Pune), then yes I still think that you are naive.
@1gva+1cQWLcRG the OP was asking about Paralegal jobs, and that's what I answered. Any position, including paralegals, that they can do without or do for less money, could be replaced. I was simply stating that I have heard no talk of that happening to paralegals/support staff at this time, and have no idea how they would be able to either automate or outsource those positions at this time.
Moreover, if file counts drop in any complex, jobs will go away. Plus, the minute we become as or more expensive than Retained Counsel, than it all goes away. Claims is getting pretty tired of us having to turn work away because of staffing issues and increased Retained Counsel fees in certain markets. Still think I'm naive?
I'm willing to bet my next paycheck that the SMC's will be reduced and that complexes will be merged. There are places like FL with 150+ people and one SMC, then complexes like LA or PA with half that number and each with their own SMC. Ask yourself, if one SMC can handle 150+ people, then why do we need two SMC's to each handle half that amount?
I suspect many of the Lead Counsel could post for open attorney roles in their areas. Yes, perhaps a downward change in pay, but unsure on the job market for attorneys. Most were better as attorneys than as administrators and may find the work more fulfilling. Claims continues to generate enough lawsuit activity based upon tight evaluation processes and the general trend towards social inflation wherein plaintiffs can generate decent awards in arbitration/jury work. You can't send true Legal work requiring courthouse appearances and admission to the bar to Pune.
The transition from regions to zones is happening in 2022 in claims. Expect similar impacts as 2020 to that area for this change not to mention the already planned move of many claims areas to India that is to correspond with this new zone structure.
In legal for 10+ years and still so naive to say "your jobs are safe"? It's the time of year when the home office know-it-alls are preparing budgets. Expect that they will be asking if claims can go from 14 regions to 4 zones, why does legal need 14 complexes with 14 SMCs. There will be some attorneys leaving in October due to the buyout; look for more changes after Jan 1.
I'm in Legal and have been for 10+ years. Lead Counsel were let go because they now have non-attorneys managing the non-attorney roles in the office, and they're paying the non-attorney managers a LOT less money than they're paying Lead Counsel. That's all there is to it. Until they can figure out how to pay other people a lot less, or use AI to do the work of the support staff, your jobs are safe.
Billy & his team in Pune will be taking care of all the legal work.
All paralegal fuctions will be moving to Pune.
I don't think anyone from Managing attorney down has any idea
As if someone in legal would ever respond here. They do value their positions you know.