When the pandemic hit, I was one of the lucky ones. Although my employer furloughed me, I retained my job and had the opportunity to receive unemployment benefits.
HOWEVER, while I was on furlough, I realized that waiting for my workplace to reopen wasn’t a viable option for me.
As someone who has relied on their ability to commute to work by bike or public transit during the pandemic and as someone who has endometriosis and requires surgery from time to time, maintaining a traditional job just isn’t feasible right now.
So, instead of waiting around for “normal” life to resume (and it may never), I leaped: I became a freelance lawyer! Eight months later and I’m happier than ever! And you can be too. Here’s how:
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Master the Legal Craftmanship |
| – Hone your legal skills and expertise through continuous |
| learning and practice. |
| – Stay updated with the latest legal developments and |
| regulations. |
| 2. Build a Strong Online Presence |
| – Create a professional website showcasing your expertise. |
| – Utilize social media platforms to connect with clients. |
| – Engage in legal blogging and contribute to legal forums. |
| 3. Network and Collaborate with Peers |
| – Attend legal conferences and events to expand your |
| professional network. |
| – Collaborate with other freelancers on legal projects. |
| – Seek mentorship from experienced freelance lawyers. |
| 4. Offer Exceptional Client Service |
| – Prioritize clear communication and responsiveness. |
| – Understand and meet the unique needs of each client. |
| – Provide reliable legal solutions and exceed expectations. |
| 5. Manage Finances and Legal Business |
| – Set transparent pricing and billing policies. |
| – Keep track of expenses and manage finances effectively. |
| – Ensure compliance with legal and tax obligations. |
Give Your Clients The Best Service
As a freelance lawyer, your clients are the most important thing. You need to make sure that you are always available for them and ready to help them with their legal issues.
To give your clients the best service, you should be:
Always available for them.
Sometimes life gets busy and we all have other things on our plate that need attention too, but if your client needs something from you they reach out and get a response right away or at least within 24 hours (unless otherwise agreed upon).
This is especially true when they need help or advice with their case they shouldn’t have to wait long periods before hearing back from you.
Ready to help them solve any problems they may face while working on their cases together as well as how they can take care of themselves in general (I’m talking about things like getting adequate sleep).
You want everything running smoothly so there aren’t any roadblocks preventing either party from getting work done efficiently which means being proactive instead of reactive whenever possible!
Navigating the world of freelance lawyering requires a strategic approach. Learn the secret to becoming a successful freelance lawyer and discover valuable insights that can help you thrive in the legal freelancing industry.
Be A Part Of The Community
The first step to becoming a successful freelance lawyer is to find the right community for you.
Once you’ve identified your target audience and the type of work that’s most suitable for you, it’s time to get involved with other people who share similar interests.
If you’re thinking about working with lawyers, look into joining an association or group dedicated specifically to law professionals.
You could also try attending events such as legal conferences or seminars where there will be plenty of opportunity for networking and building new relationships within your industry.
Or if working with corporate clients appeals more than representing individuals, consider joining an organization like Women in Finance or Young Entrepreneurs’ Organization (YEO).
The key here is finding others who have similar goals as yourself so that when things do get tough and they will you’ll always have someone at hand who understands what it feels like being on the road less traveled by everyone else around them.
Be Willing To Teach
Teach others how to do what you do, and people will be willing to pay for your knowledge. This can be as simple as creating tutorials on your website or sharing hints and tips in social media groups.
You might also want to consider offering access to a private Facebook group where people can ask questions and get answers directly from you.
If this sounds like something that would interest you, start by picking up some inexpensive software that allows you to record screencasts (such as Camtasia).
Then, think about what sort of information you could create tutorials on and how many levels of information there might be (e.g., beginner, intermediate and advanced).
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Always Keep A Backup Of Your Work. Keep It Safe And Secure
The secret to becoming a successful freelancer is always keeping a backup of your work. You can never be too careful when it comes to backing up your work because there will always be something that goes wrong.
That’s why it’s important to keep a backup of your work and make sure that the copies are stored in multiple locations so you’re covered if something happens to one of them.
You can use a cloud storage service like Dropbox or Google Drive to back up your files, or maybe even use an external hard drive like the Seagate Backup Plus Slim Portable External Hard Drive.
The point is, don’t just rely on one method because there were two people once who thought they could recreate themselves by using only paper as their computer and they ended up being sad little clams who had no friends but still weren’t happy at all!
Convert Your Network Into Clients
As a law student, you’ve probably heard the term “networking” thrown around. It’s a buzzword that can be interpreted in many different ways, but what is networking?
In short, it’s about developing relationships with people who can help you achieve your goals. Whether it be job opportunities or even clients.
As an aspiring lawyer, your network of contacts will become an integral part of your business as soon as you start practicing law on your own or starting a firm with others (which is what I did!).
You should always be thinking about how to build this network of contacts and make sure that they are all people who are willing to refer work to you whenever possible.
Let me show you how this worked for me:
When I started my solo practice in law school, I knew only one person who had any experience working at a law firm my former boss from summer jobs during high school and college so naturally, he referred me as his first client!
This client was very happy with our services and referred us to another client shortly after!
Work On Your Reputation. It Will Propel You Forward If It’s Good
Your reputation is your most valuable asset. It’s what will keep you in business, and it’s the reason clients will want to work with you again.
You can’t buy a good reputation it has to be earned over time by consistently providing excellent service at reasonable prices.
And if that sounds like a lot of pressure, it is! But there are ways you can make sure your client relationships stay positive and keep earning that invaluable word-of-mouth advertising:
Be honest about what you know and don’t know, and explain why something may take longer than expected so there are no surprises down the road.
Make sure all communication methods (phone calls, emails) are answered promptly so people feel like they’re being heard out when things come up unexpectedly during work hours or weekends (even if they don’t realize that’s what happened).
This includes sending updates after long periods where nothing seems to be happening on either side…which leads us directly to our next point:
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It’s Better To Be Undervalued At First Than To Over Value Yourself And Struggle Later
If you think of yourself as a freelancer, it’s important to know how much your services are worth. If you undervalue yourself, you will be able to charge more later on.
On the other hand, if you overvalue yourself and decide that this is something that only billionaires or rich people can afford then guess what?
You won’t get any clients and may have trouble finding work because no one else wants to pay your high fees!
The key here is moderation: price your work correctly, get help from other freelancers in the industry if necessary (because we all have different experiences with various companies),
Discounting will win you more clients than not discounting at all; giving them options for how much they want to pay for different options such as service level agreements (SLA), etc., which I cover below in detail.
Get The Right Tools To Do Your Job Well
There are many tools you can use to help you do your job well.
I’m going to give you some examples of tools that have worked for me and some that haven’t, but the point is that whatever tools you choose, it is important to have them so that they are always on hand when needed.
When choosing a tool, think about how often it will be used or how much time it will save in doing something repetitively.
If it saves very little time or adds more work than not having the tool would have done in the first place then don’t bother with this one!
Do More Than Is Expected Of You
As a freelance, you’re expected to be able to do more than is expected of you.
This means having backup plans in place. It could mean keeping up with your work while sick and having an assistant that helps out when things get crazy.
The best way to make sure there’s no hiccup in any project is by getting the right tools for the job.
If you don’t have them already, then invest some money into these tools so that they become an extension of your body and not just another piece of equipment sitting in a corner collecting dust!
It’s better to be undervalued at first than overvalued yourself and struggle later on down the road as a result of being overwhelmed by too many clients who are expecting too much from one person alone!
Be willing to teach people what you know about your industry so that others realize how valuable this knowledge base re especially those who may not know much about it but need advice anyway (i.e., clients).
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Take On As Much Work As You Can Without Jeopardizing Quality
As a lawyer, you are in the business of providing legal services. So if your business is not doing well and you don’t have enough work to keep yourself busy, then it’s time to take action.
The first thing you need to do is figure out how much time each day will be spent on marketing and proposals versus actual legal work (e.g., research, drafting contracts).
Then set aside time for client meetings and phone calls (if necessary). These activities will help bring in new clients so that you can start working again!
Once those tasks are completed, write down all of the other tasks that need doing around your office or house:
Cleaning windows; scrubbing floors; dusting furniture; vacuuming carpets, etc… These tasks should also count towards your daily routine because they’re important too!
Don’t Assume You’re In A Safe Position Just Because You Have One Source Of Income
The good news is that you have a source of income. The bad news is that it’s not enough to live on. You need at least two sources of income to be successful as a freelancer.
There are many reasons for this:
You need to be able to take on more work when things get slow, which may happen even if you’re doing well right now because of something like a natural disaster or economic downturn.
There will always be unexpected expenses (like replacing your car after an accident), so having extra cash on hand can help cover those costs and keep you from going into debt during emergencies.
If one client stops paying their invoices, you’ll have money coming in from somewhere else while they decide whether they want to continue being your client or not.
Always Be Ready For Something To Go Wrong
You should always be ready for something to go wrong, even if it’s a simple mistake. This can be one of the most important aspects of being a freelance lawyer.
You never know when things might not go as planned, so you must always have a backup plan and are constantly prepared for anything that might happen.
When I started my firm, I didn’t have any clients yet and all of my contacts were made through networking events or by word-of-mouth recommendations.
But after spending all day sending out emails on behalf of potential clients and making phone calls back home while staying in my hotel room at night because there wasn’t anything else to do besides work (which was already a full-time job in itself), I suddenly realized that this was going nowhere fast!
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Conclusion
Being a successful freelance lawyer shouldn’t be difficult. You just need to focus on what you’re good at and find out how best to deliver it.
That way, you can build a reputation as someone who gets results fast, without the need for lengthy courtroom negotiations or drawn-out legal procedures.
With that in mind, though, there are still some things that can trip up promising freelancers before they make their first sale.
For example, overspending on marketing materials could lead you into financial trouble before your first client comes through so only spend what you need to!
Further Reading
Indeed: How to Be a Freelance Lawyer Short Description: Explore this comprehensive guide on how to become a successful freelance lawyer, from finding clients to managing your legal freelancing business.
Entrepreneur: The 9 Skills It Takes to Succeed as a Freelance Writer Short Description: Discover the essential skills every freelance writer needs to thrive in the competitive world of freelance writing and content creation.
TweakYourBiz: The Business of Freelancing Short Description: Dive into the intricacies of running a successful freelance business, from effective client management to financial planning and growth strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Can I Become A Successful Freelance Lawyer?
The secret to becoming a successful freelance lawyer is to be yourself. Be true to who you are and what you believe in, and everything else will fall into place.
If you’re not comfortable with the type of work that comes in front of you, then don’t take it on! You’ll never be able to succeed when you’re not doing what makes sense for your values, personality, and goals.
Should I Go Back To School Or Get More Training If I Want To Become A Freelance Lawyer?
It depends on your situation. If you’re looking for a long-term career as a lawyer then yes, education may be important for you.
If however, all you want is some extra income on the side or something temporary until something better comes along then no don’t go back to school just yet!
It’s always good to have options though so keep your eyes open for opportunities that could lead somewhere else down the road if needed.
What Is The Secret To Becoming A Successful Freelance Lawyer?
The secret is that there is no secret. If you are looking to become a successful freelance lawyer, you need to do everything in your power to make it happen. You have to work hard, and you have to be willing to fail multiple times before you succeed.
How Do I Get Started?
The best way to get started freelancing as a lawyer is by approaching people who are already established in their fields and asking for advice.
They will be able to tell you what they did during their early years that helped them get started, what mistakes they made, and how they overcame those mistakes.
They will also be able to give you any other information that may be useful as well!
What If I’m Not Good At Writing? How Can I Become Successful Without Being Able To Write Well?
Writing is an important skill for any lawyer, but it’s not the only skill required for success in this field.
If this is something that concerns you, just remember that there are many other skills besides writing that will help you become successful as a freelance lawyer!
For Example: researching cases and statutes; conducting depositions; interviewing witnesses; preparing briefs and court documents;
What Is A Freelance Lawyer?
Freelance lawyers are not employed by any firm or organization. They may work for themselves or they may work with a few other freelancers, but they do not work within the confines of an employer.
Instead, freelancers are hired by clients to perform specific tasks on an as-needed basis. For example, if you are looking for a lawyer to help you file your taxes, you may hire one to prepare your taxes and file them with the IRS in exchange for a fee.
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.