Weil, Gotshal & Manges has set up an ancillary function that is unusual. “One of the things that we have done is to create an in-house graphics group for trials and hearings. They do all the in-court graphics rather than our going outside and paying extraordinary fees.” The quote comes from Met. Corp. Counsel, Vol. 18, Feb. 2010 at 11, by a partner at Weil (James Quinn james.quinn@weil.com). Only the most mega of mega firms can support such a specialized service but it does distinguish the firm.
Other instances of law firms that set up complementary services have been pointed out on this blog. Most plentiful these days are firms that advise on and handle discovery. But many other forms of extra assistance, at a charge, are available.
Law departments have not lacked for opportunities to obtain from law firms services that complement legal advice (See my post of June 28, 2006: added-value services – IT support, access to work product, CLE, secondees, extranets, recruitment, and contract tracking; July 21, 2005: higher-level listing; Feb. 25, 2007: law firm training of in-house counsel; June 5, 2007: rules-based guidance; June 18, 2007: software development; May 28, 2007: TV for CLE; Nov. 18, 2007: appellate advocacy training; and Feb. 17, 2008: team at a law firm includes academics.).