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Qualifications Needed to be a Freelance Paralegal

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published February 18, 2013

By CEO and Founder - BCG Attorney Search left

There are few areas of the paralegal field more exciting and challenging than working as a freelance paralegal. As a freelance paralegal, you'll be able to be your own boss and chart your own course. An increasing number of paralegals are striking out on their own as freelancers, independent contractors, and entrepreneurs. What is a freelance paralegal? Who are the freelancers? What are their qualifications? How can you become one?
 
Qualifications Needed to be a Freelance Paralegal

What qualifications are needed to be a freelance paralegal? The first thing needed is some expertise. How much expertise is enough? That's really impossible to say, but you'll need enough experience to know what you're doing unaided, and enough to convince prospective clients to trust you. Four to five years experience is suggested before going freelance. A minimum of two years is required to begin handling basic work. In addition to years of experience, you should have a basic knowledge of the tasks most paralegals do in your area.

Where you have gained your experience can be equally important. If you've worked for highly respected, expert lawyers in a specialty area, this can lend added professionalism. Having a letter of reference from your previous employers attesting to your competence can be a big help too.

Finally, experience is needed to know your way around the legal community, to learn how to work with lawyers, about the way different firms are run and to become acquainted with many people in the field. The more the experience, the better it is.

Your personality and drive are equally important qualifications needed to be a freelance paralegal. You'll need the desire to succeed buttressed by a sense of confidence that inspires trust in you. You'll need commitment to long hours and a sense of responsibility and care so that your clients always receive your best efforts. Calmness and ability to deal with pressure and difficult-to-get-along-with personalities will also help you over the rough spots which are part of such work. Finally, you'll need business savvy, organizational ability, punctuality and management to pull it all together.

You don't have to have a lot of capital to get started as a freelance paralegal. All you really need are stationery, business cards, a simple brochure, a mailing address and telephone answering machine or service. Of course you'll have to be able to support yourself while you're getting started, building up a reputation and a clientele- which may take from a few months to a year. Many successful freelancers work for a law firm part time while establishing their own business.

Finally, you'll need some skill in selling.

Specialty Fields

You're interested in testing the water as a freelance paralegal, what's the best field for you to set up shop in? The obvious answer is the field in which you have expertise. Wherever paralegals work, there's a demand and an opportunity for freelance work.

If you have worked in more than one field, or as a generalist, then you'll have an unusual opportunity to either choose a specialty or to increase the work you handle by working in more than one field. You may be thinking about preparing for "going freelance" a year in advance and are willing to switch fields of work to gain more expertise. If so, you'll have some choice in the field in which you'll work. There's no one answer as to which field is best for you. Highly technical fields such as the sophisticated areas of trusts and estates or real estate work will allow you to bill at very high rates. Relatively speaking, there's less work in the narrower specialties than in litigation, for example. But then, there's also less competition, and depending upon where you live and work, you may have more work than you can handle. Specialty areas are affected by changes in the economy. Complex litigation and real estate are generally not as big as they were just a year or two ago. However, there are many paralegals with thriving freelance careers in these areas; so don't discount the opportunities. If you handle contingency-based litigation, make sure you are paid regularly- by the week or month- and not only if the attorneys win their cases.
United States

Getting Started

There are two ways to get started, plunge right in or ease in slowly. We recommend you ease in slowly, but if you're brave, confident and financially secure, why wait? The best way to ease in is to win the approval and encouragement of your current employer. If he'll agree, then arrange to work for him/her part-time on an hourly basis or by the project. If your employer will give you the work you need to begin, you can then spend some time marketing, and begin to develop a clientele. Also ask your employer to recommend you to other attorneys.

Ethical Responsibilities

Conflict of interest can become an issue if you work for many law firms that specialize in the same area, or if you work in a small community. You might find yourself hired by a firm that's on the opposing side of a case from a former client. In matters like this, you'll have to exercise judgment. Talk to the lawyer who wants to use your services, and ask if it would constitute a conflict of interest. Be especially careful if you've taken the personnel service route, and are hiring out other paralegals. Make certain that none of them are involved in conflict of interest projects.

Of course, some cases are clear cut. If you've worked for one side in a litigation, you obviously cannot work for the adversary. It doesn't matter how tempting the offer is; it's your ethical duty to turn down the request.

Unauthorized Practice Of Law

Although the role of a freelance paralegal is challenging and diverse, one caveat must be borne in mind: a paralegal is not a lawyer. In some states, it is a criminal offense to practice law without a license. While it is doubtful you'll ever be thrown in jail, there are a few things you should remember:
 
  1. You may not offer legal advice to a non-lawyer client
  2. You may not represent a client in court
  3. You may not advertise yourself as a lawyer

Few paralegals deliberately set out to break the law. But to be on the safe side, take a few precautions:
 
  • Always work for a lawyer, never directly for the general public.
  • Avoid meeting independently with a lawyer's client.
  • Have a letter of agreement from the attorney, stating that he or she is authorizing you to work for him.
  • Make certain that any lawyer you work for has been admitted to practice in your state.
  • Be sure that the attorney for whom you work reviews and signs your work product.

About Harrison Barnes

No legal recruiter in the United States has placed more attorneys at top law firms across every practice area than Harrison Barnes. His unmatched expertise, industry connections, and proven placement strategies have made him the most influential legal career advisor for attorneys seeking success in Big Law, elite boutiques, mid-sized firms, small firms, firms in the largest and smallest markets, and in over 350 separate practice areas.

A Reach Unlike Any Other Legal Recruiter

Most legal recruiters focus only on placing attorneys in large markets or specific practice areas, but Harrison places attorneys at all levels, in all practice areas, and in all locations—from the most prestigious firms in New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., to small and mid-sized firms in rural markets. Every week, he successfully places attorneys not only in high-demand practice areas like corporate and litigation but also in niche and less commonly recruited areas such as:

  • Immigration law
  • Workers’ compensation
  • Insurance defense
  • Family law
  • Trusts & estates
  • Municipal law
  • And many more...

This breadth of placements is unheard of in the legal recruiting industry and is a testament to his extraordinary ability to connect attorneys with the right firms, regardless of market size or practice area.

Proven Success at All Levels

With over 25 years of experience, Harrison has successfully placed attorneys at over 1,000 law firms, including:

  • Top Am Law 100 firms such including Sullivan and Cromwell, and almost every AmLaw 100 and AmLaw 200 law firm.
  • Elite boutique firms with specialized practices
  • Mid-sized firms looking to expand their practice areas
  • Growing firms in small and rural markets

He has also placed hundreds of law firm partners and has worked on firm and practice area mergers, helping law firms strategically grow their teams.

Unmatched Commitment to Attorney Success – The Story of BCG Attorney Search

Harrison Barnes is not just the most effective legal recruiter in the country, he is also the founder of BCG Attorney Search, a recruiting powerhouse that has helped thousands of attorneys transform their careers. His vision for BCG goes beyond just job placement; it is built on a mission to provide attorneys with opportunities they would never have access to otherwise. Unlike traditional recruiting firms, BCG Attorney Search operates as a career partner, not just a placement service. The firm’s unparalleled resources, including a team of over 150 employees, enable it to offer customized job searches, direct outreach to firms, and market intelligence that no other legal recruiting service provides. Attorneys working with Harrison and BCG gain access to hidden opportunities, real-time insights on firm hiring trends, and guidance from a team that truly understands the legal market. You can read more about how BCG Attorney Search revolutionizes legal recruiting here: The Story of BCG Attorney Search and What We Do for You.

The Most Trusted Career Advisor for Attorneys

Harrison’s legal career insights are the most widely followed in the profession.

Submit Your Resume to Work with Harrison Barnes

If you are serious about advancing your legal career and want access to the most sought-after law firm opportunities, Harrison Barnes is the most powerful recruiter to have on your side.

Submit your resume today to start working with him: Submit Resume Here.

With an unmatched track record of success, a vast team of over 150 dedicated employees, and a reach into every market and practice area, Harrison Barnes is the recruiter who makes career transformations happen and has the talent and resources behind him to make this happen.

A Relentless Commitment to Attorney Success

Unlike most recruiters who work with only a narrow subset of attorneys, Harrison Barnes works with lawyers at all stages of their careers, from junior associates to senior partners, in every practice area imaginable. His placements are not limited to only those with "elite" credentials—he has helped thousands of attorneys, including those who thought it was impossible to move firms, find their next great opportunity.

Harrison’s work is backed by a team of over 150 professionals who work around the clock to uncover hidden job opportunities at law firms across the country. His team:

  • Finds and creates job openings that aren’t publicly listed, giving attorneys access to exclusive opportunities.
  • Works closely with candidates to ensure their resumes and applications stand out.
  • Provides ongoing guidance and career coaching to help attorneys navigate interviews, negotiations, and transitions successfully.

This level of dedicated support is unmatched in the legal recruiting industry.

A Legal Recruiter Who Changes Lives

Harrison believes that every attorney—no matter their background, law school, or previous experience—has the potential to find success in the right law firm environment. Many attorneys come to him feeling stuck in their careers, underpaid, or unsure of their next steps. Through his unique ability to identify the right opportunities, he helps attorneys transform their careers in ways they never thought possible.

He has worked with:

  • Attorneys making below-market salaries who went on to double or triple their earnings at new firms.
  • Senior attorneys who believed they were “too experienced” to make a move and found better roles with firms eager for their expertise.
  • Attorneys in small or remote markets who assumed they had no options—only to be placed at strong firms they never knew existed.
  • Partners looking for a better platform or more autonomy who successfully transitioned to firms where they could grow their practice.

For attorneys who think their options are limited, Harrison Barnes has proven time and time again that opportunities exist—often in places they never expected.

Submit Your Resume Today – Start Your Career Transformation

If you want to explore new career opportunities, Harrison Barnes and BCG Attorney Search are your best resources. Whether you are looking for a BigLaw position, a boutique firm, or a move to a better work environment, Harrison’s expertise will help you take control of your future.

? Submit Your Resume Here to get started with Harrison Barnes today.

Alternative Summary

Harrison is the founder of BCG Attorney Search and several companies in the legal employment space that collectively gets thousands of attorneys jobs each year. Harrison’s writings about attorney careers and placement attract millions of reads each year. Harrison is widely considered the most successful recruiter in the United States and personally places multiple attorneys most weeks. His articles on legal search and placement are read by attorneys, law students and others millions of times per year.

More about Harrison

About LawCrossing

LawCrossing has received tens of thousands of attorneys jobs and has been the leading legal job board in the United States for almost two decades. LawCrossing helps attorneys dramatically improve their careers by locating every legal job opening in the market. Unlike other job sites, LawCrossing consolidates every job in the legal market and posts jobs regardless of whether or not an employer is paying. LawCrossing takes your legal career seriously and understands the legal profession. For more information, please visit www.LawCrossing.com.
Gain an advantage in your legal job search. LawCrossing uncovers hidden positions that firms post on their own websites and industry-specific job boards—jobs that never appear on Indeed or LinkedIn. Don't miss out. Sign up now!

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