The Legal Process Outsourcing (LPO) industry in India is expected to grow by $564 million in the next three years, according to a recent study by ValueNotes Research, a business intelligence and research provider based in India. The industry, which reached $146 million in 2006, is likely to grow to $640 million by 2010 (See Chart).

The industry that presently employs around 75,000 people will hire another 32,000 by 2010 end. This figure stood at only 1,800 till March 2005, according to the study.  It also identifies Evalueserve, Integreon and OfficeTiger as the frontrunners in this space of outsourcing. CPA Global, Mindcrest, Pangea3 and QuisLex are the niche players of the industry, according to the study, while LawScribe, NewGalexy, SDD Global Solutions and Tusker Group are the emerging players.

Indian legal service providers’ offerings have also increased from services such as legal transcription, litigation support, secretarial services and legal research in 2005 to also include contract-related services, and intellectual property in 2006, says the ValueNotes’ study.

The research also lists a couple of emerging niche areas including document review, eDiscovery, legal publishing, and some niche areas in intellectual property and contract services. Now, customers are inking long-term legal services offshoring deals with Indian providers. However, such deals include a blend of legal and other support services.