Working as a Freelance Lawyer alternative career options for in house lawyers

Working as a Freelance Lawyer alternative career options for in house lawyers

• The law• The money • The money (and the power)• The non-lawyers• The searching• The depression• The inspiration• The new business• The marketing• The revenue streams• The resources• The benefits and costs• The other people doing interesting things• The beginning

The law

A quarter of all lawyers want to get out of the law 1

1. The Lawyer, 2 July 2007 - http://www.thelawyer.com/twenty-four-per-cent-of-lawyers-want-to-quit/126870.article

The law


A third of all 6 to 10 PQE lawyers want out 2

1. The Lawyer, 2 July 2007 - http://www.thelawyer.com/twenty-four-per-cent-of-lawyers-want-to-quit/126870.article2. The Lawyer, 2 July 2007 - http://www.thelawyer.com/twenty-four-per-cent-of-lawyers-want-to-quit/126870.article

The law



55% of lawyers are unhappy with their current job 3

1. The Lawyer, 2 July 2007 - http://www.thelawyer.com/twenty-four-per-cent-of-lawyers-want-to-quit/126870.article2. The Lawyer, 2 July 2007 - http://www.thelawyer.com/twenty-four-per-cent-of-lawyers-want-to-quit/126870.article3. SEEK, 27 October 2004 - http://www.seek.com.au/media/about_media_centre.asp#81

The law



55% of lawyers are unhappy with their current job 3

1. The Lawyer, 2 July 2007 - http://www.thelawyer.com/twenty-four-per-cent-of-lawyers-want-to-quit/126870.article2. The Lawyer, 2 July 2007 - http://www.thelawyer.com/twenty-four-per-cent-of-lawyers-want-to-quit/126870.article3. SEEK, 27 October 2004 - http://www.seek.com.au/media/about_media_centre.asp#814. Times Online, 2 July 2007 - http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/law/article2013532.ece

$4

The law

The money

25% of lawyers earn less than $50,000 pa 5

5. The Law Report, 25 March 2008 - http://www.abc.net.au/rn/lawreport/stories/2008/2195243.htm

The money



5. The Law Report, 25 March 2008 - http://www.abc.net.au/rn/lawreport/stories/2008/2195243.htm6. The Law Report, 25 March 2008 - http://www.abc.net.au/rn/lawreport/stories/2008/2195243.htm

The money



15% of lawyers earn more than $115,000 pa 7

5. The Law Report, 25 March 2008 - http://www.abc.net.au/rn/lawreport/stories/2008/2195243.htm6. The Law Report, 25 March 2008 - http://www.abc.net.au/rn/lawreport/stories/2008/2195243.htm7. The Law Report, 25 March 2008 - http://www.abc.net.au/rn/lawreport/stories/2008/2195243.htm

The money

The money (and the power)

8. The Financial Review, 14 November 2008


8

There are 200 companies in the S&P/ASX200 9

8. The Financial Review, 14 November 20089. ASX, http://www.asx.com.au/


8

There are 200 companies in the S&P/ASX200 9

ACLA has more than 3,000 members 10

8. The Financial Review, 14 November 20089. ASX, http://www.asx.com.au/10 ACLA Annual Report 2009


8

The non-lawyers

73% of employees are actively looking for work 11

11. Lawyers Weekly, 2 February 2010 - http://www.lawyersweekly.com.au/blogs/matters_briefs/archive/2010/02/02/law-firms-brace-for-employee-quot-mass-exodus-quot.aspx

The non-lawyers


22% are passively looking for work 12

11. Lawyers Weekly, 2 February 2010 - http://www.lawyersweekly.com.au/blogs/matters_briefs/archive/2010/02/02/law-firms-brace-for-employee-quot-mass-exodus-quot.aspx12. Lawyers Weekly, 2 February 2010 - http://www.lawyersweekly.com.au/blogs/matters_briefs/archive/2010/02/02/law-firms-brace-for-employee-quot-mass-exodus-quot.aspx

The non-lawyers



= 95%

11. Lawyers Weekly, 2 February 2010 - http://www.lawyersweekly.com.au/blogs/matters_briefs/archive/2010/02/02/law-firms-brace-for-employee-quot-mass-exodus-quot.aspx12. Lawyers Weekly, 2 February 2010 - http://www.lawyersweekly.com.au/blogs/matters_briefs/archive/2010/02/02/law-firms-brace-for-employee-quot-mass-exodus-quot.aspx

The non-lawyers



= 95%

Average Weekly Earnings = $1,223.30 pw 13

11. Lawyers Weekly, 2 February 2010 - http://www.lawyersweekly.com.au/blogs/matters_briefs/archive/2010/02/02/law-firms-brace-for-employee-quot-mass-exodus-quot.aspx12. Lawyers Weekly, 2 February 2010 - http://www.lawyersweekly.com.au/blogs/matters_briefs/archive/2010/02/02/law-firms-brace-for-employee-quot-mass-exodus-quot.aspx13. ABS August 2009 - http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/[email protected]/mf/6302.0

The non-lawyers



= 95%

Average Weekly Earnings = $1,223.30 pw 13

Median income of writers (from writing) = $4,800 pa 14

11. Lawyers Weekly, 2 February 2010 - http://www.lawyersweekly.com.au/blogs/matters_briefs/archive/2010/02/02/law-firms-brace-for-employee-quot-mass-exodus-quot.aspx12. Lawyers Weekly, 2 February 2010 - http://www.lawyersweekly.com.au/blogs/matters_briefs/archive/2010/02/02/law-firms-brace-for-employee-quot-mass-exodus-quot.aspx13. ABS August 2009 - http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/[email protected]/mf/6302.014. http://www.australiacouncil.gov.au/research/artists/reports_and_publications/dontgiveupyourdayjob

The non-lawyers

The searching

The depression

Lawyers experience the highest levels ofdepressive symptoms 15

15. Beyond Blue, Winter 2007 - http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx?link_id=59.855

The depression


(followed by patent attorneys) 16

15. Beyond Blue, Winter 2007 - http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx?link_id=59.85516. Beyond Blue, Winter 2007 - http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx?link_id=59.855

The depression



almost a third of lawyers reported using alcohol or other drugs 17

15. Beyond Blue, Winter 2007 - http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx?link_id=59.85516. Beyond Blue, Winter 2007 - http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx?link_id=59.85517. Beyond Blue, Winter 2007 - http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx?link_id=59.855

The depression



almost a third of lawyers reported using alcohol or other drugs 17

to reduce or manage feelings of sadness and depression 18

15. Beyond Blue, Winter 2007 - http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx?link_id=59.85516. Beyond Blue, Winter 2007 - http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx?link_id=59.85517. Beyond Blue, Winter 2007 - http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx?link_id=59.85518. Beyond Blue, Winter 2007 - http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx?link_id=59.855

The depression

The depression

The depression

“There's some method behind his madness, or is that the other way around?”

dB Magazine, 15 March 2006

The depression

“There's some method behind his madness, or is that the other way around?”

dB Magazine, 15 March 2006

“…among the worst things I have ever seen” The Advertiser, 26 February 2004

The inspiration

19. Robinson David A, Practicing Law Without Clients, American Bar Associated, Chicago, 1996

19

• a ‘wholesale lawyer’ working for ‘retail lawyers’

The inspiration

19



• a freelance associate

The inspiration

19




• a ‘ghostwriter’

The inspiration

19





• specialize

The inspiration

19





• specialize

The inspiration

19 F19. Robinson David A, Practicing Law Without Clients, American Bar Associated, Chicago, 1996




• specialize

The inspiration

19





• specialize

• firm to firm focus

The inspiration

19





• specialize

• firm to firm focus

• your clients are other lawyers

The inspiration

19


“…every lawyer is your friend. Every lawyer is a potential customer. Every lawyer is someone you can help. Every lawyer you deal with on a direct basis is on your side, not against you. You rarely have hostile relations with other lawyers. In fact, you rarely have hostile relations with anyone.” 20

The inspiration

19

19. Robinson David A, Practicing Law Without Clients, American Bar Associated, Chicago, 199620. Robinson David A, Practicing Law Without Clients, American Bar Associated, Chicago, 1996, page 78

The new business

Sole Practitioner& Sole Trader

The new business


GPO Box

The new business


GPO Box

Mobile

The new business


GPO Box

Mobile

Fax to Email

The new business


GPO Box

Mobile

Fax to EmailEmail

The new business


GPO Box

Mobile

Fax to EmailEmailWebsite

The new business


GPO Box

Mobile


• Insurance – low fee earner

The new business


GPO Box

Mobile


• Insurance – low fee earner

• Business plan – lawyers

The new business

The revenue streams

• locum contracts (in house)

The revenue streams

• locum contracts (in house)• external lawyer (in house)

The revenue streams

• locum contracts (in house)• external lawyer (in house)• legal consultant (in house)

The revenue streams

• locum contracts (in house)• external lawyer (in house)• legal consultant (in house)• locum contracts (community legal)

The revenue streams

• locum contracts (in house)• external lawyer (in house)• legal consultant (in house)• locum contracts (community legal)• direct clients (friends and friends of friends)

The revenue streams

• locum contracts (in house)• external lawyer (in house)• legal consultant (in house)• locum contracts (community legal)• direct clients (friends and friends of friends)• drafting (small firms)

The revenue streams

• locum contracts (in house)• external lawyer (in house)• legal consultant (in house)• locum contracts (community legal)• direct clients (friends and friends of friends)• drafting (small firms)• direct clients (small businesses)

The revenue streams

• locum contracts (in house)• external lawyer (in house)• legal consultant (in house)• locum contracts (community legal)• direct clients (friends and friends of friends)• drafting (small firms)• direct clients (small businesses)• micro locum contracts (in house)

The revenue streams

• locum contracts (in house)• external lawyer (in house)• legal consultant (in house)• locum contracts (community legal)• direct clients (friends and friends of friends)• drafting (small firms)• direct clients (small businesses)• micro locum contracts (in house)• locum contracts (small firms)

The revenue streams

• locum contracts (in house)• external lawyer (in house)• legal consultant (in house)• locum contracts (community legal)• direct clients (friends and friends of friends)• drafting (small firms)• direct clients (small businesses)• micro locum contracts (in house)• locum contracts (small firms)• referral commissions (small firms)

The revenue streams

• locum contracts (in house)• external lawyer (in house)• legal consultant (in house)• locum contracts (community legal)• direct clients (friends and friends of friends)• drafting (small firms)• direct clients (small businesses)• micro locum contracts (in house)• locum contracts (small firms)• referral commissions (small firms)• writing (Law Society Journal)

The revenue streams

• locum contracts (in house)• external lawyer (in house)• legal consultant (in house)• locum contracts (community legal)• direct clients (friends and friends of friends)• drafting (small firms)• direct clients (small businesses)• micro locum contracts (in house)• locum contracts (small firms)• referral commissions (small firms)• writing (Law Society Journal)• drafting precedents (via Smokeball)

The revenue streams

•

The revenue streams

The marketing

The resources

• risk / reward

The benefits and costs

• risk / reward• tax benefits


• risk / reward• tax benefits• risks are spread


• risk / reward• tax benefits• risks are spread• self determination


• risk / reward• tax benefits• risks are spread• self determination• less lurching


• risk / reward• tax benefits• risks are spread• self determination• less lurching• less office politics


• risk / reward• tax benefits• risks are spread• self determination• less lurching• less office politics• control resources


• risk / reward• tax benefits• risks are spread• self determination• less lurching• less office politics• control resources• more engaged


• risk / reward• tax benefits• risks are spread• self determination• less lurching• less office politics• control resources• more engaged• more interested



• risk



• risk• disconnection



• risk• disconnection• disrespect



• risk• disconnection• disrespect• some tricky politics



• risk• disconnection• disrespect• some tricky politics• family and friends



• risk• disconnection• disrespect• some tricky politics• family and friends • holidays



• risk• disconnection• disrespect• some tricky politics• family and friends • holidays• working harder



• risk• disconnection• disrespect• some tricky politics• family and friends • holidays• working harder• always on the job



• risk• disconnection• disrespect• some tricky politics• family and friends • holidays• working harder• always on the job• ceiling


The other people doinginteresting things

The beginning

• a locum contract

The beginning

• a locum contract• work part-time

The beginning

• a locum contract• work part-time• hang a shingle

The beginning

• a locum contract• work part-time• hang a shingle• take control of your contacts (email, mobile)

The beginning

The beginning

The end

Working as a Freelance Lawyer alternative career options for in house lawyers

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