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Given the demand for sophisticated
legal work at competitive rates, many job seekers are capitalizing
on the increasingly popular alternative of temporary assignments.
For those considering contract work, the benefits are many.
Temporary assignments offer newer attorneys and paralegals the
means to get a foot in the door. Also, a growing number of sole
practitioners are supplementing their practices with temporary
assignments, seizing the opportunity to work for clients with
whom they might not otherwise have contact. For the senior practitioner
with a working spouse, contract work provides an opportunity
to manage one's time and avoid the demanding schedule that partners
and senior associates often face. For more seasoned practitioners,
temporary assignments provide an opportunity to scale back or
even partially retire, without having to bow out of the practice
completely.
Many legal professionals mistakenly assume that "temp work"
means research, writing, or basic document review for just a
few days or a few weeks. In reality, most temporary assignments
last four to twelve months or longer, are full-time, span a wide
range of practice areas, and are not generally confined to the
law library.
For employers, contract labor makes good economic sense, and
the legal industry is no exception. Corporate law departments
are streamlining budgets, reducing the costs of in-house counsel
and demanding more work for less money from outside counsel.
In turn, law firms are looking at reducing costs to meet their
client's demands. As with other segments of the work force, employers
are asking for more time and effort from fewer employees, and
fewer employees means reduced payroll taxes, health insurance,
and contributions to retirement plans. Because contract labor
can be utilized without incurring these expenses and is available
at hourly rates below those paid to full-time employees, temporary
legal professionals have become a very attractive option to corporate
legal departments and law firms.
Even though contract labor represents a cost savings, compensation
should not be a major concern for many legal professionals contemplating
temporary assignments. On the whole, the earning potential is
excellent. The compensation available is sometimes more than
that paid to others working in similar permanent positions. Unfortunately,
not being a regular, full-time employee often means a loss of
health benefits, insurance coverage, and pension sharing. Several
companies across the country, including Kelly Law Registry, offer
such benefits.
Some legal professionals are content to negotiate their own contract
arrangements with a former employer. However, for those who lack
such relationships, who cannot devote the time to marketing themselves
to potential employers or do not want the hassle of managing
their careers, placement firms offer a more efficient alternative,
as well as exposure to a greater number of potential opportunities.
When looking for a firm to represent you, there are a few important
things to consider:
Confidentiality. Make sure that the placement service
truly understands your need for discretion. Will the service
"shop" your resume to its clients without your express
authorization? Do voicemail messages from the service risk exposing
your job search? If the service checks references, will you be
consulted ahead of time to ensure the privacy of your job search?
Cost. Most placement firms are paid by their clients,
not their candidates, so there shouldn't be any fee for registering
with them. Unless you are expressly contracting with the placement
firm to represent you in finding a job, you shouldn't have to
pay a fee.
Geographical Reach. Most placement services with offices
in other major cities can submit your resume for positions elsewhere.
If you are open to moving, this can be a very valuable service.
Hourly Rates. Be realistic. Ask yourself, "What would
I expect to earn on an annual basis doing a particular kind of
assignment?" While one can earn a respectable income from
contract work, it isn't winning the lottery. Temporary legal
professionals are usually paid per hour, so the more hours you
work, the more you get paid, unlike a straight-salary position.
Be careful of holding yourself out as an independent contractor
as you might have to pay twice as much FICA tax.
Benefits. For many of us, hourly rates are an important
piece of the compensation package, but equally important are
benefits. If you don't have the opportunity to take advantage
of COBRA, or if continuing on an existing plan is cost-prohibitive,
find out whether the placement service can extend benefits. Ask
not only about health insurance, but also life insurance, 401k
retirement plans, and disability insurance.
What Else Do They Do? You need to know if the company
you are working with has expertise in the legal profession. Be
careful of firms that place individuals in areas distinct from
and unrelated to the practice of law. Find out if the service
handles permanent placement as well, because after all, even
if you're on a temporary assignment, you don't want that dream
job to pass you by. And don't rule out "temp to perm"
opportunities -- ones that start out temporary but lead to permanent
positions.
Temporary assignments often provide legal professionals with
the flexibility to balance family and work, supplement income,
or network with potential permanent employers. There is great
flexibility in having experienced temporary staff available whenever
and wherever a company needs them. Temporary attorneys and paralegals,
skilled in areas ranging from highly specialized issues to meeting
a filing deadline, can both supplement and complement permanent,
full-time legal staff. Another benefit of the temporary try-out
is that it allows employers to assess an employee without commitment,
gauging the work style and personality fit of temporary legal
professionals who might be considered later for permanent positions
within the firm. |
CINDY EIDNES is the senior sales director in Minneapolis
for Kelly Law Registry, a business unit of Kelly Services, Inc.
Kelly Law Registry provides legal professionals including attorneys,
paralegals, administrators, and general/senior counsel to companies
across the United States. |
