An article in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin (April 8, 2005) by Bill Myers includes an astounding number, citing New York lawyer Sanjay S. Kamlani, the co-founder of an offshore legal services firm. Kamlani “estimates that the U.S. sent $1.5 billion worth of legal work overseas last year.”
Rees’ Mythical Metric Meter goes deep red. Why?
A pink hue leaks in from Kamlani’s obvious self-interest; add some rouge for the subtle use of “estimates;” carmen everywhere from “worth of” because does this mean that that amount would have been paid to U.S. law firms?; deep flush from the ambiguity of hiring a Magic Circle firm and counting that money in “legal work overseas;” crimson from the question whether non-lawyer litigation support work like Bates stamping counts toward the total.