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Non-lawyer staff at Rosetta Stone’s legal department

As described in the ACC Docket article (June 2011 at 154), the legal department at Rosetta Stone has grown in five years from three to 19 – including currently seven lawyers and a dozen non-lawyers. Among the latter are some who combat piracy of the company’s software.

My basic belief is that counterfeiting and anti-piracy work should fall mostly to the business units, who should seek legal guidance as needed. It is an operational function not well-suited or appropriate for a legal department. In smaller companies, however, perhaps law is the best niche (See my post of March 16, 2010: counterfeit and piracy of goods with 6 references.).

The Rosetta Stone department also has contract administrators. My view is the same as with anti-piracy staff and functions (See my post of March 2, 2010: contract administrators and managers with 9 references.).

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One response to “Non-lawyer staff at Rosetta Stone’s legal department”

  1. Sometimes it makes sense in the corporate world to align groups under the manager/leader who is best suited to handle those particular teams — in other words, a personnel rather than structural alignment. This arrangement can be particularly beneficial in smaller companies less tied to organizational design consultants and pros.
    I have no idea if this is the case with Rosetta Stone.
    I don’t disagree with your comment as a general guideline; I’m just noting that there might be something else in play in particular situations.