Lawclerk, an online marketplace where lawyers and law firms can hire lawyers and virtual associates, is expanding its hiring options today with the launch of its Hourly Associate program, which allows law firms to Rather than hiring freelancers on a more flexible hourly basis. A discrete project or long-term subscription.
“Our hourly employee solution bridges the gap between projects and co-workers,” said Gregory Garman, CEO of LAWCLERK. “This allows you to do more work and clock in more hours on a monthly basis when it’s difficult or impossible to know the extent of help you need.”
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Since the company’s launch in 2018, LAWCLERK has offered the possibility of hiring freelance lawyers on an individual project basis for a fixed fee, such as writing an appellate report or drafting a contract.
In January 2021, it added another option, remote co-worker subscription, which allows companies to hire fractional co-workers for a specified number of hours per month, starting at a minimum of 30 hours per month. It is intended for law firms that require assistance with a consistent and predictable level of overflow work.
The new Hourly Associate option is designed to fit between projects and subscriptions. The company says an hourly employee can bridge the gap between the one-time nature of a single project and the permanent nature of a collaborative partner.
“Hourly associates give law firms of all sizes a flexible option for overflow work when it is difficult or impossible to predict the amount of time or even the amount of work required,” the firm said in a statement.
how it works
To hire a freelancer through the new Hourly Associate option, the hiring attorney logs into their LAWCLERK account and posts an opportunity. The opportunity is then posted to LAWCLERK’s network of thousands of freelance lawyers for anyone interested to apply. Then the employment lawyer can review the applicants and choose the best option.
The Hourly Associate program is a one-on-one working relationship between the hiring attorney and the selected freelancer. After connecting the two lawyers, the hiring lawyer can send assignments to the freelancer if needed.
This program is considered as a payment system in order to provide flexibility. LAWCLERK provides guidance on hourly rates based on the type of work. The hiring attorney pays LAWCLERK a billable retainer, who then pays the freelancer weekly for billable hours. The hiring attorney has full access to the freelancer’s billing records.
An hourly associate can do any type of written work and help with research and discovery. However, LAWCLERK’s Terms of Service do not allow Hourly Associates to perform client-related tasks such as collection or court appearances. If a firm needs a freelance attorney to handle client communications, depositions, or court appearances, they should use a subscription plan, which enables full attorney services.
The uses for a law firm are endless, Garman said. An example, he said, would be a company starting a new litigation matter. In the beginning, he may need the help of a freelance lawyer for 20 hours a month. But as discovery begins or the trial date approaches, the company may require 60 or 80 hours from the freelancer.
“It’s a tool, a flexible tool that helps you and your firm become better lawyers and run a better business,” he said.