Alternative fee arrangements are no longer optional - freelancers can help law firms adjust

The Wall Street Journal has cited Pfizer, Cisco, and American Express as just a few companies intent on reducing the amount of legal fees it pays to its outside law firms. "'Billable Hour' Under Attack," Wall Street Journal, August 24, 2009, Nathan Koppel and Ashby Jones.

Rio Tinto, a leading international mining group, is reportedly bypassing its external counsel and working directly with a legal outsourcing company to outsource some of its legal work, saving $1M in legal fees by paying lower rates that its main external counsel Linklaters and Baker & McKenzie. "Outsourcing is taking hold," Financial Post, August 26, 2009.

U.S. law firms ought not wait until their clients start outsourcing for them. Onshore outsourcing by using freelance legal professionals needs to be explored, and through the use of FreelanceLaw.com, that is easy to accomplish.

FreelanceLaw.com is an online, searchable database that allows law firms to connect with freelance legal professionals. Instead of paying hundreds of dollars to post a single job/project post for 30 days, law firms can search a database of over 1,200 freelancers at no cost and directly negotiate agreements with them. Furthermore, unlike other freelancer sites like guru.com, FreelanceLaw was designed by an attorney, factoring in the specific needs and requirements of the legal industry.

Explore the FreelanceLaw.com experience with a FREE "Introduction to FreelanceLaw.com" webinar, offered on September 28th at 11:00am Pacific (2pm Eastern), and October 1st at 3:00pm Pacific (6pm Eastern). REGISTER NOW at the FreelanceLaw website.

Prior registration as a user of FreelanceLaw.com is recommended, but not required, for participation in the webinar.

A growing number of law firms are looking to FreelanceLaw to find legal freelancers

The recession is hitting the legal profession hard, reportedly putting at least 10,000 legal professionals out of a job just this year. Law firms that learn to adapt and modify their business practices will be the ones that survive and thrive. Strategic use of legal outsourcing is one part of an evolving law firm business structure.

Law firms from 12 states, ranging from AmLaw100 to solo practitioners, have already turned to the FreelanceLaw database to locate freelance attorneys, paralegals, interpreters, and more. Unlike any other freelancer website, FreelanceLaw was designed by an attorney for attorneys with confidentiality of law firms and their underlying clients a priority. There is no need to publicly post project needs; just confidentially search profiles of over 1,100 freelancers and directly contact them through the FreelanceLaw website.

Profiles of new FreelanceLaw members in Tacoma, Washington

The FreelanceLaw database lists over 1,100 attorneys, paralegals, interpreters, translators and other professionals ready to work for law firms on a project basis. Two of these freelancers are Kim Bennett and Mariya G. Stiles.

Freelance legal assistant Kim Bennett has over 20 years of legal freelancing experience, and won an award for Outstanding Young Woman of America in 1997. Her experience includes freelancing as a legal assistant, paralegal, word processor, receptionist, office manager, and consultant. Additionally, Kim has experience with document production, special project management, help desk, bookkeeping, data entry, time keeping, and more.

Need a Russian or Ukrainian interpreter or translator? Mariya G. Stiles was born and raised in Ukraine, and speaks Russian, Ukrainian, and English fluently. She received an MA degree in foreign language education and world literature and upon moving to the United States, she became certified to work as a medical and social interpreter in Russian and Ukrainian. In addition to her language skills, Mariya has an Associate Degree is in Paralegal Studies. She is accepting new projects and can freelance in interpreting, translating, document drafting, and more.

Find out more about Ms. Bennett, Ms. Stiles, and other legal freelancers that are offering services to assist your law firm at www.freelancelaw.com.

New FreelanceLaw members in San Diego, California

The ranks of legal freelancers available to work on a contract basis for law firms that are listed on the FreelanceLaw database are increasing daily, now totaling over 1,100. Some of the new additions in the San Diego, California area are attorneys Jill Ballard and Richard Dennis Strassman.

New attorney Jill Ballard has selected a niche market of animal rights, being bi-lingual in Spanish, graduating with a plethora of law school honors and scholarships, and is capable of handling a variety of projects. Jill has a background clerking in criminal defense, delinquency, dependency, and disability rights. She also assisted in corporate taxation research and DUI defense preparation. Further, Jill has experience in various animal cases, including dangerous dog hearings, dog bite defense, defense of animal rights activists and animal rights.

Richard Dennis Strassman has over 20 years of experience in the legal field, both as an attorney and a law clerk. He is licensed in California and the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. With a background in general practice law firms performing duties such as legal research, client interviews, depositions, jury trial, bench trials, discovery drafting, and so much more, Richard’s legal knowledge and capabilities are worth exploring.

Find out more about how Ms. Ballard, Mr. Strassman, or other legal freelancers can assist your law practice at www.freelancelaw.com.

FreelanceLaw cited as "new and intriguing website for the legal profession"

This week FreelanceLaw earned a mention on Robert Ambrogi's LawSite blog list of "new and intriguing websites for the legal profession."

We couldn't agree more. Now with over 1,000 freelance legal professionals from 48 states profiled, FreelanceLaw should be the first source for law firms and inhouse counsel who are looking for freelance lawyers (often referred to as contract lawyers), paralegals, and other independent professionals.

These freelancers are available to work directly for other attorneys for projects of all sizes and on terms individually negotiated. FreelanceLaw is not an employment agency and thus the cost savings can be shared between law firms and freelancers.

FreelanceLaw will be holding a series of "Introduction to FreelanceLaw.com" webinars on July 29, August 5, and August 6 to introduce its services and features to law firms and freelancers. Registration as a user on the site in advance of the webinar is recommended, but not required. Click here to register for the webinar.

Member feature - Lilia Ornelas (Los Angeles County, CA)

Lilia Ornelas is a bilingual (Spanish/English) freelance paralegal available to work on a freelance basis for law firms in Los Angeles County. Ms. Ornelas is experienced in all areas of litigation, discovery, and trial in both state and federal courts, and assists attorneys with discovery and document review.

Find out more and contact Ms. Ornelas at http://www.freelancelaw.com/.

Member Feature – Ruth E. Thaler-Carter

Ruth E. Thaler-Carter of Rochester, New York, is a freelance writer, editor, proofreader, desktop publisher, speaker, offering her expert services to law firms via the FreelanceLaw.com website.

Ms. Thaler-Carter has more than 25 years of writing, editing and proofreading experience, as well as working for several years providing freelance proofreading services to a Rochester-based law firm with offices around the U.S. and overseas. She is available for writing firm newsletters, articles, marketing and promotional materials, website copy, press releases, and other writing.

Ms. Thaler-Carter will be offering two seminars this week:

Web Sites for Writers, Editors and Others
Thursday, May 14, 2:00 - 5:00 p.m.
The Sumner School, 1201 17th Street NW, Washington, DC
Ruth E. Thaler-Carter

Editorial freelancers today have to get noticed on the World Wide Web, and that means having our own Web sites. Find out the basics of getting a domain name, using it for a permanent e-mail address, and creating an effective, attractive Web site that will help attract clients to you and your work. Examples of good and bad sites will be included to use as inspiration. (This is a general class, not a high-tech offering.)

EFA member and national newsletter editor Ruth E. Thaler-Carter, who maintains her own Web site and manages content for several others, has offered this program at Writers and Books in Rochester, NY.

EFA Members $60 — Nonmembers $85

Getting Started in Editorial Freelancing
Thursday, May 14, 6:30 - 9:00 p.m.
The Sumner School, 1201 17th Street NW, Washington, DC
Ruth E. Thaler-Carter

Whether you are a writer, editor, indexer, graphic designer—you name it—you will find out how to jump-start your dream of living the freelance lifestyle with tips on setting up and organizing, finding work, networking, using resources, getting paid, combating isolation, and more. Energize your business with practical, upbeat insights into the joys and challenges of editorial freelancing. Even seasoned freelancers will garner new insights and useful suggestions.

Instructor Ruth E. Thaler-Carter has been a full-time editorial freelancer since 1984. She has been published locally, regionally, nationally, and by businesses, associations, and not-for-profits; and she does proofreading and editing for a variety of clients. Her freelancing seminars have been popular with EFA, Washington Independent Writers, the National Press Club, National Writers Union/DC Local, and other groups. Visit her Web site at www.writerruth.com.

EFA Members $60 — Nonmembers $85

Contact Ruth E. Thaler-Carter via http://www.freelancelaw.com/.