Youngstown Daily Legal News

Poor economy has created opportunities for freelance attorneys throughout nation

RICK ADAMCZAK
Special to the Legal News
Published: August 30, 2012

Freelance work has long been associated with creative fields such as writing, photography and graphic design, but the nation’s recent recession has added another dimension to freelancing.

Factored into the equation were companies that couldn’t hire full-time employees and displaced workers looking to make money any way they could. The phenomenon of freelancing reached across many industries, including the legal profession.

The concept of contract attorneys, also referred to as per diem, project or freelance attorneys, is not new, but when the economy soured more clients sought this type of legal assistance.

In fact more than 80 percent of law firms plan to maintain or increase the use of contract lawyers or paralegals this year, according to a survey, “Law Firms in Transition 2012,” by consultant firm Altman Weil.

The good news for businesses, according to the report, is that because of the sluggish economy there are more and better qualified attorneys available for project work.

“(T)here is now also an entirely new cadre of freelancers who excelled in law school, went on to clerkships and/or top law firms, and then subsequently chose to take a break from firm life. There is often something very compelling pulling them away from the private practice of law. Most commonly, parents are attracted to this model in order to spend more time with their children while they are young,” wrote Nicole Bradick for the Maine Bar Journal.

She also wrote that other attorneys want to “start a side business unrelated to the law or want to do freelance work while getting a solo practice up and running.”

Besides corporations, law firms too, often hire contract attorneys during busy periods and the lower cost of project attorneys is beneficial for the law firms because they can pass along the saving to their clients. Ideally those clients will be happy with their legal costs and continue to bring their legal needs to that firm.

For attorneys who are doing contract work, the situation can range from ideal to self destructive.

Bradick wrote that for many years the concept of a contract lawyer had a negative connotation.

The Wall Street Journal recently published a story noting that some contract attorneys receive low pay and are tasked with menial work.

But in reality, temp work can help new lawyers needing experience or those struggling to find business.

In addition, they not only earn some money, though often at a lower rate than full-time attorneys, they’re staying in the loop and making contacts, too.

One resource to help contract lawyers is the National Association of Freelance Legal Professionals, which offers courses and webinars on such topics as developing clients, financial management for freelancers, getting started as a contract lawyer and managing multiple assignments.

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