Contract local attorneys are other names for freelance lawyers. They are attorneys who operate on a case-to-case basis, independent and not full-time employees of either the law firm or the legal department. The legal profession has evolved, and most law offices look to fill their job openings and staffing needs with contract attorneys rather than full-time associate attorneys.
More and more talented attorneys start a full-time career as a contract attorney, while many other attorneys may consider this step in their career but have an interest in salaries for a contract attorney. Let’s discuss salary ranges and influencing factors for the position of a contract attorney.
What is most important when determining your freelance rates?
In fact, the annual salary that freelance lawyers are able to make can be very different depending on such factors as a freelancer’s location, years of experience, practice area expertise, and demands of the work being delegated to independent contractors.
Geographical Situation
When pricing your contract rate, consider your state of physical presence as well as the state for which you will be working. Pay rates for traditional legal work vary between and among cities and countrysides. The rates a hiring attorney is willing to pay a contract lawyer will be the same.
Experience Level Your years of experience will also play a part in determining your freelance rate. Obviously, this type of pay for an entry level contract attorney will be low in comparison with other freelancers who have been practicing their profession ten years or more. That does not mean that their services are not in demand though, and contract attorneys can find freelance work right out of law school performing research, document review, or even helping with discovery. Practice Area Knowledge Another factor to consider in determining your rate as a contract attorney would be expertise required in the practice area for the work. If hardly any expertise is required to complete the work-say, just filling out preexisting forms or templates-your areas of expertise do not justify a higher rate.