Whether your firm consists of only you or several other attorneys, there are benefits in hiring a contract attorney to handle some of your work. A few benefits of hiring a contract attorney are as follows:
- Hiring a contract attorney is a productive way to assess a new attorney before taking the risk in hiring someone into your practice. Also, contract attorneys can simply serve a temporary solution for very busy times.
- Hiring a contractor will cost less than hiring someone full-time, since the employer is not responsible for government contributions such as disability. They also generally work at an hourly rate, or may sometimes take a definite project at a flat rate.
- Contract attorneys can also take on basic projects, like research and writing, freeing up your time to perform other tasks more essential to your practice. The contractor could also take on projects you have not had the time for.
Some of the concerns you may have when looking to hire a contract attorney may be related to trust. You cannot always be sure of how well someone will perform their job. This is especially true when you will not have time to closely supervise the contractor. Using a search firm can help calm worries about trust. They can vouch for a candidate and can also help locate attorneys with the experience and education to match your needs.
Another concern is malpractice insurance. Not all contract attorneys have their own policies. Check your own policy, as it might cover contract attorneys as well.
If you do decide to hire a contract attorney, remember to consider the rate your firm can afford, how and where the contract attorney will work, payment and billing procedures, and any conflicts of interest.
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