Case study
How a civil litigation firm added 80 weekly hours of legal documentation support
A multi-state US civil litigation firm needed help with e-filing, document management, and demand preparation while maintaining strict accuracy and confidentiality. The firm partnered with Global Squirrels to hire two full-time documentation specialists through a managed office model. Global Squirrels handled sourcing, screening, confidentiality requirements, onboarding, payroll, and local compliance, adding 80 hours of weekly legal documentation support for attorneys.
Executive summary: Expanding legal documentation capacity without adding local overhead
A growing US civil litigation firm needed additional support for e-filing, document management, and demand preparation as its operations expanded across multiple states. The practice handled personal injury, auto accident, and medical malpractice matters, where document accuracy, confidentiality, and timely filing were critical.
The firm wanted to begin carefully with one or two documentation specialists before expanding the model. Each specialist would work directly with an attorney, creating clear ownership and accountability.
Global Squirrels helped the firm launch with two full-time documentation specialists through a managed office model. Each professional worked 40 hours per week during hours synchronized with the US legal team.
Candidate screening focused on legal documentation experience, communication, night-shift readiness, confidentiality, and the ability to work under strict accuracy expectations. The client received screened candidates within 3 to 5 business days and completed the broader hiring and onboarding process within approximately 2 to 3 weeks.
The result was 80 additional hours of weekly documentation capacity while keeping the monthly budget at or below the firm’s target of approximately $1,100 per employee.
About client: Multi state civil litigation law firm
The company already had access to candidates in Canada. Its challenge was not simply finding applicants. It needed a multilingual hire whose cost structure made overseas recruitment worthwhile.
The challenge: Scaling legal documentation without compromising accuracy
The law firm was expanding geographically, but documentation work could not simply be distributed to anyone with administrative experience.
E-filing, demand preparation, and case document management involve sensitive information. Errors can slow case progress, create additional attorney work, or affect important filing processes.
The client therefore set unusually clear performance expectations. New hires needed to become productive quickly, with the firm expecting them to meet established performance targets by approximately day 45. The client also followed a strict two-strike approach to significant errors because of the sensitivity of the documents involved.
Data protection was another major consideration. The firm needed confidentiality and privacy provisions for employees who would handle legal documents and access case information.
Time zone alignment added another layer. Because the employees would be based in the Philippines but support US attorneys directly, the firm wanted candidates who were already comfortable working night shifts.
The hiring solution therefore had to balance four priorities: cost, accuracy, confidentiality, and reliable US-hours coverage.
The solution: Managed office legal documentation specialists
Global Squirrels recommended a managed office model rather than relying on an unstructured freelance arrangement.
For the client, the office-based model provided a clearer working environment for documentation-heavy legal support. Candidates could work from a managed location with appropriate equipment while following a schedule aligned with the firm’s US teams.
Global Squirrels screened candidates for communication skills and job-specific experience before presenting profiles. The client could also add up to three pre-interview questions and request video cover letters to evaluate communication and professionalism before spending attorney time on interviews.
Confidentiality requirements could be added to offer documentation based on the firm’s needs. Global Squirrels supported employment administration and local payroll processes, while the law firm retained direct control over case access, work assignments, performance standards, and internal data security procedures.
This division of responsibilities allowed attorneys to manage legal work directly without taking on international payroll and employment administration.
How the hiring process runs: From job description to attorney support
Step 1: Define Each Documentation Role
The firm provided job descriptions covering e-filing, document management, demand preparation, work hours, required experience, confidentiality expectations, and budget.
Step 2: Source and Pre-Screen Candidates
Global Squirrels screened candidates for relevant documentation experience, communication ability, availability, and suitability for synchronized US working hours.
Night-shift experience was treated as an important practical requirement rather than something to address after hiring.
Step 3: Add Client-Specific Screening
The firm could include pre-interview questions and video cover letters. This helped the legal team assess written and verbal communication before scheduling interviews.
Step 4: Review Shortlisted Candidates
Instead of sorting through large numbers of applications, the client received curated profiles for review.
The firm retained full authority to approve, reject, or request additional candidates before an offer was made.
Step 5: Interview and Select
Attorneys and hiring stakeholders interviewed shortlisted candidates through video meetings and evaluated role knowledge, communication, attention to detail, and comfort with legal documentation processes.
Step 6: Complete Offer and Confidentiality Documentation
Offer letters defined duties, compensation, schedule, and other employment terms. Client-specific confidentiality provisions could also be incorporated into the onboarding process.
Step 7: Onboard and Manage Through the Portal
After hiring, the client could use the Global Squirrels portal for employee records, timesheets, tasks, and performance-related workflows. Multiple team members could receive access, allowing attorneys and administrative staff to collaborate without sharing a single login.
Results: 80 weekly hours of dedicated legal documentation support
Starting with two documentation specialists gave the law firm approximately 80 combined hours of additional support every week.
That capacity was directed toward recurring work such as e-filing, document organization, preparation support, and attorney-specific administrative workflows.
Each specialist was paired with an attorney, which made feedback more direct and reduced ambiguity around ownership.
The managed office structure also supported the firm’s confidentiality and work-environment requirements. Screening included equipment and internet considerations, while additional privacy and confidentiality provisions could be applied to the employment documentation.
The initial team also remained within the firm’s target cost structure of approximately $1,100 per employee each month.
Most importantly, the company could evaluate performance during its planned three-month period before deciding whether to expand documentation support across additional attorneys or offices.
Testimonial: More documentation capacity with clear accountability
Why law firms choose Global Squirrels
Legal staffing requires more than finding someone who can complete administrative tasks.
Law firms often need employees who can work within strict processes, protect sensitive information, communicate reliably with attorneys, and perform consistently across repetitive but important documentation workflows.
Global Squirrels helps businesses build international teams while keeping hiring decisions and employee performance under client control.
The service can support candidate sourcing, pre-screening, custom interview questions, video assessments, offer documentation, onboarding, payroll, timesheets, and local employment administration.
For this civil litigation firm, the model provided a practical way to test overseas legal support without immediately committing to a large team.
The company began with two documentation specialists, gained 80 hours of weekly capacity, maintained synchronized US working hours, and kept costs within its defined monthly budget.
The three-month evaluation model also gave leadership a clear point to review accuracy, productivity, attorney feedback, and workload before expanding the team.
For growing legal practices, that measured approach can be more useful than hiring several people at once. Start with clearly defined roles, establish measurable quality expectations, pair employees with accountable managers, and expand only after the workflow proves itself.
Add legal documentation capacity without adding more local overhead.
Hire dedicated global professionals for e-filing, document management, demand preparation, and recurring attorney support. Global Squirrels handles sourcing, pre-screening, onboarding, payroll, and HR administration while your firm keeps direct control over confidentiality, training, workflow, and performance.