Legal writing is a broad field, with many different types of job opportunities. This field includes corporate law and business law, personal injury attorneys and criminal defense attorneys, and everything in between.
Writing for this industry can be challenging because of the complexity of legal terminology, yet it also offers a sense of accomplishment when you’ve mastered the subject matter.
The good news is that most lawyers don’t know how to write well enough to do their content marketing or website copy; this is where you come in!
In this guide, we’ll go over all of the steps necessary to become a freelance writer in the legal field (and how to start making money doing it). We’ll talk about how much you can make as a legal writer it’s more than you think and what skills are required to find success.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Gain a strong understanding of legal concepts and terminology. |
| 2. Develop excellent research and writing skills. |
| 3. Consider obtaining a degree or certification in law or legal studies. |
| 4. Build a professional portfolio showcasing legal writing samples. |
| 5. Network with legal professionals and join relevant industry associations. |
| 6. Explore freelance platforms and job boards specializing in legal writing opportunities. |
| 7. Stay updated on current legal trends and developments. |
| 8. Continuously improve your legal writing skills through practice and feedback. |
| 9. Deliver high-quality work and meet deadlines to build a positive reputation. |
| 10. Be proactive in marketing yourself as a freelance legal writer to attract clients. |
Create A Website Or Portfolio
Having a website is essential as it allows you to showcase your work, build your portfolio and encourage potential clients to hire you.
To create a website, you’ll need to register a domain name and hosting service. There are many options out there but some of the most popular are GoDaddy and Bluehost.
These companies offer both domain names (your website address) and hosting services that store all the files for your site. In addition, they provide easy-to-use tools that allow you to set up blogs or websites in no time at all!
Once these basic components are in place (domain name/website), it’s time to add content such as articles or blog posts so people know what kind of writer they’re hiring when looking at your portfolio!
This can be done through either Google Docs or by manually uploading documents into WordPress through its interface both methods will allow others to read this post on social media websites like Facebook, Twitter etcetera…
Are you interested in becoming a freelance writer in the legal industry? Our comprehensive guide on How to Become a Freelance Writer in the Legal Industry provides valuable insights, tips, and resources to help you navigate this specialized field and establish a successful freelance career.
Research Clients That Need Help
Now that you’re ready to find new clients, it’s time to do some research. The first thing you should do is find out who your competitors are and what they have been doing recently.
This will give you an idea of what type of work is being done in the field, and what kind of services are needed by lawyers.
Next, look at all the companies around your area or country that specialize in legal services. You can visit their website for more information about how they operate or call them directly to ask about their needs as well as their requirements for hiring freelancers like yourself.
Lastly, check out online forums where people discuss issues related to law firms like Upwork or ProBlogger (for example).
This will help provide insight into areas where there may be demand for freelance writers so that when someone posts “I need help with my blog” on these sites’ forums which happens often!
You’ll know right away whether this might be a good opportunity for you if so many others agree too.
Learn How To Start Pitching
It all starts with the query letter. In law, a query letter is also called a “prospectus” or “statement of interest,” but it’s essentially just a letter that introduces you and your services to potential clients.
A good pitch should be concise and end with a call-to-action (CTA) asking the recipient: “What do you think?” or “How can we work together?”
Your message should be clear, concise, and informative enough for the reader to decide whether or not they want more information about what you’re offering them.
Learn how to write proposals and other basic legal documents like briefs, motions, etc., which are generally included in litigation packages provided by attorneys who hire freelance writers such as yourself
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Understand Different Payment Rates
It’s important to understand how much you can expect to earn and what payment methods, terms, and schedules are available.
Payment rates vary across the industry based on experience and quality of work. Rates may also be affected by whether you’re writing a short article or a book-length project.
If you’re new to freelancing, it’s best not to expect a high rate until you’ve proven your worth by completing several projects successfully.
Many clients will require payment upfront before work begins (this is often called “fronting”), which can be risky for both sides if the client decides not to pay or if something happens that prevents them from paying at all (such as bankruptcy). Other clients may prefer payment upon delivery of final content;
Others pay only when certain milestones have been reached during the production process; still, others only make payments after publication has taken place (or even never).
Connect With Other Freelance Writers And Editors
One of the best ways to learn about the industry is to connect with other freelance writers and editors. You can do this through social media like LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook.
You can also join a professional association for freelance writers like Freelance Writers Association (FWA).
There are also online forums and groups where you can connect with other legal industry freelancers. Some of these include:
- Freelance Writing Jobs Online – Forum
- Legal Content Writer Group – Facebook Group
Find Out About Tax Laws For Self-Employed Workers
As a freelance writer, you will need to pay taxes on your income. It’s important to understand how taxes work and how much you’ll owe each year before diving into freelance writing full-time.
You’ll also want to file quarterly tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and state tax agencies, as well as pay estimated taxes throughout the year so you don’t get hit with penalties at tax time.
The IRS has information about paying estimated taxes online or by calling 800-TAX-FORM (829-3676).
If your total income from all sources is $400 or more in any calendar quarter, you may be required to pay self-employment (SE) taxes if you are self-employed in addition to working part-time or full-time as a freelancer.
Self-employment taxes include Social Security and Medicare payments that help fund social security benefits when retirees reach retirement age
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Join A Professional Association For Freelance Writers, Such As The National Writers Union
Joining a professional association is an excellent way to make contacts, exchange ideas, and get advice from your peers.
For example, if you’re interested in freelance writing for the legal industry, joining a professional association such as the National Writers Union or PEN American Center (for nonfiction) could help you get started on that path.
Choose A Niche Or Two
The first thing you should do is choose a niche or two. If you have a background in law, then this should be easier. However, if your background isn’t in the legal industry, that doesn’t mean you can’t still write about it!
The reason for choosing a niche is because it will make it much easier for you to find clients and get work as an expert writer on that topic.
This also makes marketing yourself much easier because people will know exactly what type of content they need from you when they see that “expertise” tag on your profile (more on this later).
In addition to having expertise in a specific area, several other factors should be taken into account when deciding on what topics make sense to write about:
Create An Editorial Calendar So You Can Plan For Each Client’s Needs
As a freelance writer, you’ll be asked to provide various types of content for your clients. You may find yourself working on everything from press releases and speeches to blog posts and articles.
This can make it difficult to keep track of all the projects that need to be completed in a given month or quarter.
Creating an editorial calendar is one way to help ensure that you complete all tasks on time, but there are several other benefits as well:
An editorial calendar allows you time for research so if you’re writing about a new technology or legal issue (or anything else), having this information ready will save you time in the long run
An editorial calendar helps prevent potential overlap between projects so that no matter what happens with one client’s project timeline, another client’s project won’t suffer delays due to your schedule being full
Keep A Backup Of All Your Files And Records In Case You Lose One Computer Or Device
If you lose your computer or another device, it’s important to have a backup so that you can still access all of your files. There are several ways to do this.
- Email yourself the file as an attachment (or use Dropbox if you want to be hip and modern).
- Save it directly on another hard drive or cloud storage service like Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, Apple iCloud, etc.
- Copy and paste into another file on your computer or device (a copy is under “Edit” at the top of most programs).
It’s good practice to make sure that whatever way(s) you choose for backing up your files are easy for YOU personally.
For example, some people like having everything backed up automatically in case something happens without their knowledge;
Others prefer not worrying about whether or not they remembered to back up yesterday’s work today when going through their morning routine before heading out into the world for work/school/whatever else occupies them during those hours during which many freelancers write best.
Whatever works best for YOU is what matters most!
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Set Up Separate Email Accounts And Phone Numbers For Business And Personal Use
One of the most important things you can do to separate yourself from your personal life is to create a distinct email account (and phone number) just for business. You may already have an employer who pays you and sends you emails, but this should be separate.
Once you have your email address, make sure that it’s not connected to any other accounts like Facebook or LinkedIn. Some companies will check these platforms before hiring someone, so it’s better if they don’t find out about them at all!
You’ll also want to get a new phone number that people can only reach through a professional name (like Jane Smith). Give this out only when necessary and keep it private from others in your life such as friends or family members.
No one must know how much money you make because some freelancers have been targeted by criminals after their information was leaked online!
Do Not Take On More Than You Can Handle At Once. If Necessary, Turn Down Work Because There Will Be More Coming Along
When you take more work than you can handle, your quality of output will suffer. You don’t want to be known as the writer who delivered subpar work because they were too busy juggling 20 gigs at once.
If you have to turn down a job, it’s usually not a big deal; most clients understand that there’s only so much time in the day and that sometimes they need to wait until another project is done before moving forward with anything else.
However, if you keep turning down jobs regularly and have no other available projects on the horizon, it may be time to rethink how many different types of writing assignments you’re taking on at once (or even if this is the right type of freelance writing for your skill set).
Know When To Stop Working
If you’re a writer, chances are you know the value of taking breaks. When it comes to your writing career, taking an occasional break is just as important as keeping up with your schedule.
If you force yourself to write too much and don’t allow yourself time off, it can make it difficult for you to get back into the groove of writing later on.
To help avoid this problem, try not to work more than eight hours per day (or 40 hours per week) unless necessary.
You should also make sure that you have at least one full day off every seven days and take it easy on weekends by not scheduling any work then either!
If possible, don’t plan anything major like moving house or getting married during busy periods like tax season or holiday season when stakes are high in terms of deadlines;
Instead, focus on setting aside some quiet time where there won’t be any pressure from colleagues/clients etcetera
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Conclusion
Now that you’ve reached the end of this article, it’s time to put into practice what you’ve learned and start planning your freelance career. You can begin by setting up an account with one of these companies or using their resources to find clients who are looking for writers.
Remember that there is no right way to be successful at a job like this – it’s all about finding out what works best for your lifestyle and goals. Just remember: if you stay focused on what matters most (your work), then everything else will fall into place as well!
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources to further explore the topic of becoming a freelance writer in the legal industry:
How to Become a Legal Writer: This article on Indeed provides insights into the steps and skills required to become a legal writer, along with tips on finding job opportunities in the field.
What Is a Freelance Legal Writer and How to Become One: ZipRecruiter offers a comprehensive overview of freelance legal writing, explaining the role and providing guidance on how to pursue a career in this niche.
What Is Legal Writing and How to Become a Legal Writer: Freelance Writing Gigs delves into the specifics of legal writing, outlining the skills needed and offering advice on how to enter the field as a legal writer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are You A Freelance Writer Who Is Looking To Make A Career Change?
If so, you may be wondering how to get started with your new career. The legal industry is one of the most competitive fields in which to work as a freelancer, but it also offers some of the best opportunities for growth and professional development.
The following FAQs will help answer some common questions about becoming a freelance writer in the legal industry.
What Do I Need To Know About Becoming A Freelance Writer In The Legal Industry?
The first step in becoming a freelance writer in the legal industry is making sure that you are ready for the challenges that come with working for yourself.
You’ll need to be prepared for long hours and lots of research, but if you’re willing to put in the work, you’ll find that being your boss can be extremely rewarding!
How Much Does It Cost?
Becoming a freelance writer can be an expensive endeavor, especially if you don’t know how much effort will be required on your part. However, there are ways around this problem:
For example, many companies offer free trials so that potential customers can see what they have to offer before committing financially; some even offer discounts on
What Is A Freelance Writer?
A freelance writer is someone who writes for a living and is not employed by any particular company. They work from home or in a coworking space and are paid per article or project, depending on the type of writing they do.
How Much Does It Cost To Become A Freelance Writer?
The answer depends on what you want to write about and where you want to publish it. If you want to write about legal topics, then it will cost more than if you wanted to write about sports or science.
The cost ranges anywhere from $0-$1000+ depending on your topic and publication outlet.
How Can I Learn How To Become A Freelance Writer?
You can take online courses through Coursera or Udemy that teach you all of the skills necessary to become a freelance writer.
Taking these courses, it will give you an idea as far as what kind of content there is out there and what types of companies will hire freelancers like yourself!
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.
