Freelance legal work

[Poppytime]

Hello - just wondering if anyone has done this/has experience of this? Am considering it now have young DC after 7+ years working in-house. Only concerns are making sure I have control over amount of work as need to work around school and baby etc and also wondering if I will miss the office camaraderie etc by going freelance! Thank you in advance

[Badbadbunny]

Not sure how practical it would be to do legal work on your own. What happens if you're ill, on holiday, etc. A lot of legal work is time-sensitive, especially in the middle of something like a house move, legal dispute, etc. Wouldn't it adversely impact your clients if they had no-one to contact if you were out of action?

Also, have you factored in the costs of PI insurance, professional body requirements, etc., which are disproportionate for someone working on their own as opposed to being spread over many fee-earners in a more traditional office environment.

Some trades/professions are more suited to lone working than others. I've seen few, if any, lone part time solicitors, so I suspect there's a reason for that. Compare it with accountants where there must be thousands of lone home part-timers, and probably a dozen or more in every small town - at least it seems that way!

[Poppytime]

Thanks bad! It would actually be through a law firm off shoot which specifically hires freelance lawyers, they cover the professional indemnity insurance etc, you have access to their resources. They provide you with work according to your criteria - eg 10 hours a week, and the client liaises with you but also with the legal firm. I totally get what you are saying about lone solicitors - not an avenue I am looking at going down. Sorry should have been clearer in my OP!

[heslop50]

k soI am a Carer I have worked in Residential Homes,worked in Community,also worked has a live in Carer,caring for elderly lady with Vascular Dementia which I did for over a year when I lived in Kent,i now live in North Bransholme Hull,and ready to go back to work,so looking for private clients.

[whydidhesaythat]

I do this, it's good.:) I've been on my own since 2004!
Only problem is making enough money!
I think it depends on your area of law. What field are you in?

[Poppytime]

Oh thanks why! Are you a 'sole trader' if you like or doing it through a firm? I'm in financial services/funds

[whydidhesaythat]

2004-2015: non practicing solicitor so sole trader. Business though word of mouth. It is mainly R&D companies.

2016 regulation changed alowing me to do both regulated and unregulated work. yeah! So teamed up with a virtual firm specialisingv in the venture capital sector. lovely people.

If you are in London you will have no problem I think.

I would love to have a lawyer corner on here but mnhq wont do it:(

[Brugmansia]

I'm about to try to start doing this.

I have provisional arrangements with 2 firms to work on a consultancy basis. I'll work remotely, have access to new enquiries and will be paid a percentage of what I bill.

I'm not sure yet how it will work out. I'd it does though I'll work from home and be able to fix my own hours.

My concerns at the moment is making sure in set up properly. I'll be covered by the firms' PII but to benefit from this the SRA have said that there must be exclusivity. I can still work for multiple firms but apparently I need to make sure that my time is divided quite distinctly. This conflicts with my ideal of being fully flexible in my working arrangements.

Would also appreciate a freelance lawyer thread.

[mrsmaggie]

Hi Poppy,

There are so many Solicitors/Consultants working from home. I myself am a home based legal audio typist and I currently type for.... 11 Solicitors (at the last count). Most of them work from their own homes and they all say they would never go back to work in an office again.

Obviously I don't know what their workload is like, save for the fact that they all keep me very busy. The Solicitors I work for practice in family law, litigation, conveyancing and prison/criminal law. A real mixed bag! Some of them work under one firm, others work as Consultants for several firms.

Anyway, good luck in whatever route you decide to take.