Should you become a freelance paralegal?

While starting your own freelance paralegal business might sound ideal, being a freelance paralegal takes a lot of determination, tenacity, and business sense.

In today’s rapidly evolving professional landscape, many individuals are considering alternative career paths that offer greater flexibility and autonomy. One such option is venturing into the world of freelance paralegal work. As a paralegal, you possess a unique skill set that can be leveraged to provide valuable services to law firms, attorneys, and other legal professionals on a freelance basis.

In this article, I will shed light on the advantages of embracing a freelance career as a paralegal, as well as the cons that you should consider before embarking on this journey.

By delving into the flexibility, variety of work, financial potential, and personal growth opportunities, we will explore why becoming a freelance paralegal could be a compelling option for those seeking a more independent and fulfilling professional life.

Pros of paralegal freelancing

Here are some of the pros and cons to consider when contemplating whether or not you should become a freelance paralegal!

Depending on your individual career goals, there are definite advantages to being a freelance paralegal. Some of these might include: 

Flexibility

Are you a paralegal who gets bored working for just one attorney, law firm, or in one area of law? Freelance paralegals can focus on the work that best matches their experience and interests. They are also free to take time off whenever they want since they are not obligated to any one particular attorney or law firm.

You have the freedom to set your own schedule and choose the projects and clients you want to work with. This flexibility allows you to achieve a better work-life balance, accommodate personal commitments, and even work from anywhere with an internet connection.

Earning potential

Unlike employees, freelance paralegals can also set their own rates based upon their skills, experience, and what the market will bear. They can market their services to any attorney who is interesting in contracting with them for services rendered on either a short-term or long-term basis, by the day, week, month, or as needed. 

Freelance paralegal work often offers higher earning potential compared to traditional employment. As a freelance paralegal, you can set your own rates and negotiate contracts directly with clients. You have the opportunity to charge based on the value you provide and can potentially earn more by taking on multiple projects simultaneously.

Convenience

Freelance paralegals can work out of their own home office, travel to the offices of the attorneys who hire them, or rent office space if they choose. They aren’t bound to any specific schedule and are able to work and take breaks whenever they want, escape the daily commute, and unless they’re headed to court, a client’s office, or an in-person meeting, they can dress any way they like (no business suits required).

In short, freelancing as a paralegal allows you to work from anywhere, as long as you have access to the necessary technology and resources. This independence provides the opportunity to travel, relocate, or live in a location of your choice without sacrificing your career.

Multiple roles

Freelance paralegals work as a paralegal in their chosen area of law, and must also play the role of business owner with the ability to use their marketing skills to find clients and help their business grow. To help ensure success, freelance paralegals must market themselves via direct mail, social media, referrals, and advertising to attorneys to get the word out about the services they offer.

It also requires a large degree of self-discipline, time management skills, and the ability to market yourself. By taking on the responsibility of managing your own business, you develop valuable entrepreneurial skills that can be applied to other aspects of your life. This personal development can contribute to your long-term success and fulfillment.

Professional growth

Freelancing exposes you to different legal practices, industries, and professionals. This exposure enhances your knowledge and expertise, expands your professional network, and increases your marketability.

In addition to the business side of things, a freelance paralegal can also explore multiple roles and fields in a wide range of legal work. You have the freedom to explore different practice areas, work with various clients, and engage in diverse legal projects. This variety keeps your work fresh and exciting, allowing you to continuously learn and expand your skill set.

Cons of paralegal freelancing

While freelance paralegal work offers numerous advantages, it is important to consider and navigate the potential challenges and disadvantages associated with this career path.

Paralegals who count on routine, familiarity, and consistent income will likely identify strongly with the cons of freelancing, which often include: 

Added expenses

Unlike traditional employment, freelance work often does not come with benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, or paid time off. As a freelance paralegal, you are responsible for sourcing your own benefits or budgeting for these expenses. This can add complexity and costs to your overall financial planning.

Paralegals who are classified as employees don’t usually have to worry about obtaining a federal tax identification (Tax ID) number, setting up a law office from scratch, and footing the entire bill for health, dental, and other types of insurance (as long as their employer provides these benefits). They also typically don’t need to pay for their own computer, online legal research services, office supplies, and business cards either.

These are all substantial costs that any professional considering freelance paralegal work should think carefully about.

Income instability

Paralegals who are employed in the traditional sense can count on a regular schedule and a paycheck, even when their workload is light.

The same cannot be said for freelance paralegals, who can experience instability in their income and find work patterns somewhat hard to predict. Because they don’t have an employer to delegate work to them, freelance paralegals need to market their services and find their own clients.

Freelance work can be unpredictable, and as a paralegal, you may experience fluctuations in the volume and frequency of projects. There may be periods of high demand where you have multiple clients and projects, but there can also be lulls where finding new work becomes challenging. This irregular workload can lead to financial uncertainty and the need to constantly seek new clients.

Added responsibility

As a freelance paralegal, you are responsible for ensuring that you comply with ethical and professional standards. Mistakes or oversights in your work could have legal consequences and potential liability. It is crucial to maintain professional liability insurance and stay updated on legal developments and best practices to protect yourself and your clients.

Although all paralegals have the same responsibilities when it comes to ethics, professionalism, and work product, freelance paralegals are their own bosses, and with that comes the responsibility of keeping meticulous business records, billing for their time, dealing with vendors and clients, and hiring their own employees, if necessary.

You are responsible for managing your taxes, including self-employment taxes, which can be more complex than traditional employment taxes, and will also need to cover expenses such as professional liability insurance, software, and hardware, which can impact your overall financial situation.

To put it simply, there is a large amount of oversight in your dealings that you must be on top of when conducting freelance paralegal work.

Lack of professional growth opportunities

Just as I mentioned above that being a freelance paralegal offers unique opportunities to grow by working in a variety of fields and on different projects, it’s also worth acknowledging the flip side of the coin.

Unlike working within a law firm or legal department, freelancing may provide fewer opportunities for more structured professional development, mentorship, and advancement, like courses offering mandatory continuing learning education (CLE) credits. You may have to be proactive in seeking out continuing education, networking events, and professional associations to stay current in your field and expand your skills.

Conclusion

The reality is that being a freelance paralegal involves much more than just being a paralegal, and it is not usually an option for someone who has just graduated from a paralegal program. Paralegals with five to seven years of experience as well as a good working knowledge of substantive law, office procedures and management, and their local legal market might be prepared to offer freelance paralegal services.