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As the legal profession evolves to meet the changing demands of the marketplace, freelance attorneys have a new angle on the practice of law, and their numbers have been growing in the largest U.S. legal markets over the past several years. Freelance attorneys enjoy much greater flexibility and control over their law practices than most solo practitioners. And because freelance attorneys are independent contractors hired by other attorneys to handle legal work on a contract project basis, setting up a freelance practice is fairly straightforward.
Some confusion stems from the historical understanding of a contract attorney. Generally, a contract attorney is employed by a legal services agency to work on large-scale projects for an hourly wage paid by the agency. In contrast, a freelance attorney is an experienced attorney who is hired directly by another attorney to work on a specific component of a case or transaction. As independent contractors, freelance attorneys build their own freelance law practices and are responsible for setting their own hours, finding their own clients, and bringing in their own income.Freelance attorneys come from every corner of the legal profession, including big law firms, in-house counsel, government positions, public sector, and solo practice. Usually with five or more years of practicing law on their resumes, freelance attorneys want flexibility not available in most traditional attorney positions. The need for a more-flexible schedule can arise from a variety of personal and professional situations, including caring for young children or aging parents, starting or growing a solo practice, moving with a spouse who is required to relocate for work, starting or growing a side business outside of the legal profession. These attorneys seek out freelance work as a way to continue practicing law on their own schedules.
The cornerstone of freelance work is flexibility and control — freelance attorneys have the freedom to focus on work that interests them and to complete assignments within their own schedules and availability. Most freelance attorneys focus on a niche practice area and offer their expertise to other attorneys who need help with a related case, transaction, or project. The relationship is symbiotic and premised on flexibility — the hiring attorney provides the occasional work and pay while the freelance attorney provides the support and end product as needed.
What are the building blocks of a freelance law practice? There is plenty of advice out there for attorneys looking to build a solo practice representing direct clients. But for an attorney looking to do freelance work, either full-time or part-time, what is truly necessary to get started?. To work as a freelance attorney, the primary considerations are:
- malpractice insurance
- a written freelance work agreement
- technology
- marketing strategy
- a financial plan
- x x x."
