Temping as an Attorney

"Temporary employment for attorneys has become more and more popular for a multitude of reasons," reports Terri Williams, regional vice-president for Special Counsel, Inc. "It allows attorneys more flexibility with their schedules. They can work during certain periods of time and choose not to work during other periods of time. Temporary attorneys frequently comment that they have made the move to temporary work because of quality of life considerations, not having to concern themselves with billable hour requirements.

Temping as an attorney is a good way to get to know firms and to determine where one wants to work on a direct hire basis. And in some cases, it provides a candidate with an opportunity to get their foot in the door, allowing the firm to get a good look at the candidate and vice-versa. Finally, it is a great way for an attorney to get experience in a practice area in which they may eventually wish to practice on a regular basis."

The pay rates for temporary lawyers vary based on the expertise and experience required by the client as well as the type of client. Clients are increasingly attuned to the bill rates charged by staffing companies for contract lawyers. The pay rates range from a minimum of $20/hour for document review to well over $100/hour for more substantive work. "Temporary legal work is a great opportunity for those who graduate from law school without a job offer," says Scott Krowitz, a partner in the temporary placement firm Lexolutions. "The work gives young lawyers exposure to the practice of law and creates new networking opportunities. And temp-to-perm (temporary to permanent) positions can lead to permanent jobs that might not have been available to these attorneys through the usual recruiting channels."