In today’s cost conscious professional environment, legal employers who are reluctant to add another salary to their operating expenses see this as a clear financial benefit. That’s why contract work (also called temporary, freelance or project work) is fast becoming an inside track to long-term employment. Not all temporary opportunities translate into permanent positions though. Follow these tips to help contract work lead you to a full-time job.
Target the right employers. Start your search with small to mid-sized law firms. Many now hire contract lawyers to help with what seems to be just a temporary increase in workload. When that spike begins to look more permanent, the contract lawyer becomes an experienced and tested candidate for the new position.
Lawyers with some experience in civil litigation or transactional work may discover good opportunities with corporate legal departments. Small but rapidly expanding companies with only one in-house lawyer may need temporary assistance with product chronologies, due diligence, routine filings or discovery work that may evolve into a permanent position as the company grows.
Communicate your flexibility. Whenever you make contact with a potential employer, make it clear that you are willing to prove your suitability for a permanent position by starting out with a period of contract employment. Never offer to take on a project without compensation though. That approach signals more desperation than talent.
Do your best work. When a hiring lawyer is dissatisfied with the work of a contract lawyer, there are no second chances. For that reason, accept only assignments within your competency and experience. Get clear instructions up front and repeat back what you have been told to confirm you heard it correctly. Be sure to ask for work samples so you can meet the hiring lawyer’s expectation of style and format. Then check in regularly as you progress to be certain you’re still on track and offer the very best product you can on a timely basis.
Printed with permission from Deborah Arron, J.D. Author of What Can You Do with a Law Degree? and Running from the Law.
