Freelancing Within the Law

Most people think about creative careers when they consider freelancing. But not Melody A. Kramer. She’s the Co-Founder of the National Association of Freelance Legal Professionals, and has cracked the code on how legal eagles can break into freelancing, too.

Melody, A 42-year-old resident of San Diego, California, got the idea for the organization after working as a freelance attorney for other law firms for years to supplement her own solo practice.

“I started to realize that there were many attorneys, paralegals and other professionals who could use support in doing their jobs. Legal freelancing can be a means to creating a meaningful work-life balance, something seemingly unattainable for workaholic attorneys,” says Melody. “We are changing the entire landscape of how law firms work by raising the profile of freelancers’ role in a successful law firm business model.”

Workaholics? That pretty much includes us all, so even if you’re not in the legal arena, read on to learn about how she carved out her own career.

Tell us about your typical day. What exactly do you do?

I usually get up early and enjoy a cup of coffee before our five-year-old daughter gets up (my husband is already gone to work). We have breakfast and get ready for preschool and work, then drive the seven-minute drive to school. My office is less than a mile away, and I work from around 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 a.m. I have a mix of work, some freelance work for other attorneys, some working directly for clients, and some time building my two businesses that help legal freelancers. I get home in time for dinner with the family and rarely do any work in the evenings.

How’d you get into freelancing?

I got into legal freelancing by accident. Early in my legal career I started my own law firm and needed an office. I was invited to office share with a law firm and did work for them in exchange for office space. The attorneys were also great mentors for me as I learned how to be lawyer. Occasionally other lawyers would ask me to write legal briefs or appear in court for them because of scheduling conflicts. I never looked at freelancing as a career choice until several years later when I got a “real” lawyer job and realized that I didn’t enjoy it at all. The job seemed prestigious to family and friends, but it was too inflexible for my taste.

Tell us about the National Association of Freelance Legal Professionals.

NAFLP is a national association of freelance lawyers, paralegals, interpreters, court reporters, and other legal professionals who work for law firms on an independent contractor, non-employee basis. It includes both active freelancers and others who are interested in learning more about a freelancing career. We promote freelancing as one way to achieve work-life balance. NAFLP is committed to educating, encouraging, and supporting legal freelancers and have begun offering seminars ranging from how to be a freelancer to more practical business topics such as how freelancers can obtain health insurance, plan for retirement, and how to increase their business profitability.

What led you to found the National Association of Freelance Legal Professionals?

Amanda Mineer and I founded the National Association of Freelance Legal Professionals after having personally experienced the benefits and pitfalls of freelancing. We wanted to raise awareness, promote the benefits of freelancing to both freelancers and law firms, and create national standards for conduct and proficiency. No one was out there doing it, so we decided we should. As we suspected, there were many freelancers throughout the country who were interested in learning more, and were thrilled to not feel alone in their profession any more.

How is the organization changing the face of legal professionals? How do you get the word out that legal professionals can freelance?

NAFLP has started discussions about legal freelancing and raised awareness through our blog and also by word of mouth. Others in the legal profession, the California State Bar president among others, have again started talking about how long work hours and the billable hour law firm income structure are creating huge problems in the legal profession. There is a huge attrition rate for young lawyers based upon working conditions. Although some people are simply dropping out and seeking an entirely new profession, we are advocating a change within the profession. However, we are not calling on large law firms to change, we are encouraging lawyers themselves to make a change in their own lives and how they work. I believe that the legal profession is more likely to change one lawyer at a time than trying to convince the hierarchy of law firms to change.

I thought all lawyers worked 80 hours a week in the same office. They can freelance?

Many lawyers do work ridiculously long hours in the same office. There is no good reason for them to do it, however. No one’s brain is working at optimal conditions without adequate rest. By freelancing, lawyers can work on a variety of projects or for a single law firm if they choose, but they can structure their hours to fit their own needs. Freelancers also have low overheads to maintain and don’t have to share their billable income with partners. In short, an experienced freelancer can make more money in less time than their overworked counterparts.

Do many lawyers have issues adjusting from a workaholic lifestyle to a freelance one? How can any new freelancer get used to what is sometimes a slower pace?

Absolutely. I know that first-hand. Being a workaholic is often what causes someone to gravitate to the law in the first place. You can still be a workaholic and a freelancer if you want, but by the time your body has worn out from the frantic 80-hr-week pace, you’ll be wanting the choice to work fewer and more flexible hours.

What is your most helpful tip for getting and retaining clients?

Tell people what you do for a living. Don’t be embarrassed about being a freelancer. Network extensively at business networking events, tell people what you do, and tell them how you can help them (i.e. “If you are ever up against a tight deadline, I write killer legal briefs; feel free to give me a call.”) Then when you do get clients, do quality work and always respectfully and meaningfully deal with any complaints. You will get far more referrals this way, and keep the clients, than any other type of advertising.

How do you market and promote your services?

I haven’t done any formal marketing of my services for years because I’ve had more than enough work from word-of-mouth referrals. People know I freelance and know they can make a profit out of using me. Also, having a mix of freelance work and direct client work and a simplified office structure, my billing rates are lower than large law firms and I get referrals of clients who cannot afford $400-per-hour rates, but can pay my reduced rates. Between the two, I am more than busy.

Kristen Fischer is the author of Creatively Self-Employed: How Writers and Artists Deal with Career Ups and Downs and Ramen Noodles, Rent and Resumes: An After-College Guide to Life. Visit www.kristenfischer.com for more information.