The Ultimate Guide to Becoming a Successful Freelance Paralegal

Freelance paralegals are self-employed professionals who offer legal services to law firms and attorneys on an as-needed basis. They are often known as an independent paralegal, contract paralegal, or independent contractor. These professionals may specialize in a specific area of law and work remotely or on-site. Freelance paralegals usually enjoy a flexible schedule and can work and collaborate with multiple law firms or attorneys simultaneously.

However, while the tasks the freelance paralegal can perform will depend on the job they take, in general, the duties these paralegals are often responsible for include document preparation, legal support, case management, legal research, litigation support, contract services, and family law assistance.

Traditional paralegals usually work in a fast-paced, constantly changing environment. They spend most of their days scheduling interviews, researching, writing, and completing other tasks that are assigned to them. However, the specifics of these tasks will change depending on the area of law they are in or the law firm they work for.

Freelance paralegals, on the other hand, may have some differences in this structure, as their days can vary dramatically from that of a traditional paralegal. Since they are self-employed, they have more flexibility with their work schedules. However, once they start working, their days tend to focus on more substantive legal work rather than clerical work. They might be required to draft discovery responses, collect documents, or prepare record summaries. 

As a result, time management as a freelance paralegal is critical, and these paralegals have to learn how to manage multiple clients and handle stringent deadlines.

The educational requirements for paralegals can vary from employer to employer. However, most employers require some educational experience or certification. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), most paralegals hold an associate degree or certificate in paralegal studies, although some may have a bachelor's degree.

Furthermore, freelance paralegals should consider gaining experience in one or more legal specialties before starting a freelance career. Although the type and duration of experience will vary depending on the individual, it is generally recommended that those interested in pursuing a freelance role should have at least three to five years of work experience.

This experience can help build a network of connections and advance a person’s career, but it also allows clients to better assess a person’s skills and dependability as a paralegal, making it easier to secure contracts.

As a freelance paralegal, you have the advantage of controlling your workload and schedule. However, it also means that you are responsible for finding clients and marketing your skills, which will heavily influence your income. If you prefer the stability and security of a consistent paycheck, freelancing as a paralegal may not be your best option. On the other hand, freelancing can be a fantastic opportunity if you have an entrepreneurial spirit. Working outside of a law firm can provide you with a better chance to balance your work and personal life, work on projects that interest you, specialize in niche areas of law, and earn a significant income.

When considering working as a freelance paralegal, weighing the advantages and disadvantages before making any decision is important. If you are highly organized and self-motivated and do not mind working without the security of a regular paycheck, then freelancing might be an excellent option. However, if you prefer a steady income and benefits, you may want to consider a more traditional paralegal career path. 

Ultimately, it is up to you to decide whether or not being a freelance paralegal is the right choice.

Although becoming a freelance paralegal may sound like an amazing opportunity, being a freelance paralegal takes determination, business sense, and persistence. That is why, before jumping head-on into this career path, there are several factors that you should consider and questions that you need to answer to determine whether this is the correct route for you.

• Why do I want to go out on my own? This question will help you determine what you want to do as a freelance paralegal that you cannot do in a more traditional role.

• What can you bring that distinguishes you from other paralegals? You will be competing with traditional and other freelance paralegals to obtain work, so you will want to know what helps you stand apart from the competition to help market yourself.

• Can you work independently? You should make sure you can handle this type of work before pursuing this career full-time.

• How will you get your freelance paralegal role off the ground? You will want to ensure you are prepared to take on this role and can handle any challenges that may come up during the process.

As you answer the questions and plan your next steps, you may consider starting to work part-time until you build a client base before transitioning to full-time freelance paralegal work. While looking for clients, it is important to market yourself and demonstrate the skills that can make you a successful freelance paralegal, such as effective business management, self-motivation, and strong communication skills.

Interested in pursuing a career as a freelance paralegal but do not know where to begin? We’ve compiled several resources to provide additional guidance and help get you started. These resources include a list of paralegal associations, books, tools, and software that can assist you in managing your business.

Paralegal Associations

• NFPA: The National Federation of Paralegal Associations, Inc. 

• NALA, The Paralegal Association

• American Alliance of Paralegals, Inc.

Tools and Software to Manage a Freelance Paralegal Business

• Clio

• PracticePanther

• Legal Software

• MyCase

• Smokeball

Books

• The Redbook: A Manual on Legal Style by Bryan A. Garner

• Black’s Law Dictionary

• Paralegal Today: The Essentials by Roger LeRoy Miller

There are several reasons why paralegals may choose to freelance, such as their work environment, available opportunities, career growth, independence, benefits, flexibility, and income. However, to gain a better understanding of whether this career path is suitable for you, we recommended that you take the next steps by exploring the resources mentioned above, connecting with other paralegals who are in a similar position, and evaluating the questions and factors to determine if freelancing is the right choice.