As an independent or small office, you are probably used to doing everything yourself. It doesn’t have to be that way.
Maybe you’re overwhelmed, maybe you have enough work to hire a colleague for a month or a week, but not permanently. Whatever the reason, outsourcing your work to a freelancer or contract attorney can add value to your business
1) Improve profitability.
\Increase profits while reducing customer costs. As stated in ABA Formal Opinion 00-420, attorneys are allowed to charge clients a reasonable fee for using free attorneys. Because you view work as your own, you can rate the work product as if it were a full-time employee, and it’s clearly appropriate to charge a premium for that position.
Freelance attorneys typically charge less than what your clients are used to paying. So not only can you make a profit from your freelance services, but you can also pass the savings on to your clients.
2) Offer more value to your customers.
It’s no secret: customers want to cut costs. But don’t think this is just a symptom of a recession. It follows a broader trend, where customers are looking for more value. Whether you bill by the hour, a flat fee or a combination of the two, your customers want and want to see a solid ROI.
Hiring a freelance attorney not only increases profitability, it also allows you to focus on your core competencies and client relationships, ultimately increasing the value you deliver.
3) Use your time more strategically.
At least 25% of your time should be spent networking and marketing your practice. Let’s be honest: is this going to happen? What gets put on the back burner when you’re busy? By outsourcing your work to a freelance attorney, you can spend more time doing the things you love, whether it’s marketing or developing a case strategy.
In addition to traditional research and case synthesis, freelance lawyers can write blog posts, white papers, and other important parts of your marketing efforts. These may be syndicated exclusively to you, written by ghostwriters or licensed.
4) Increase flexibility and manage risk.
By using freelance lawyers on a project basis, you can link costs directly to income generation. This allows you to grow without sacrificing flexibility, an important advantage for solos and small businesses.
5) Complement your skills.
Have you encountered a case with a unique legal or business issue that is outside of your expertise? Hiring a freelance lawyer can give you exposure to the field but still focus on your core competencies.
In addition, you add value to your customers and to your relationship by offering your customers a stronger service.
I am based in Washington, DC and practice throughout the country as an attorney and consultant to attorneys and small businesses. Entrepreneurial and progressive, I am able to approach issues from multiple perspectives, utilizing my diverse legal, financial and business development experience.
