working as (or hiring) a freelance attorney

Freelance attorneys

work on projects

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Why do attorneys choose to freelance?



Ask questions before hiring



Confirm insurance coverage



Preserve attorney-client privilege



Treat freelance attorneys as

independent contractors



Tell your client and get consent



Is it fee-splitting?

It may be fee splitting

if client pays freelance attorney directly

Images ©Karin Ciano

It may be fee-splitting

if payment depends on case outcome


It may be fee splitting

if payment depends on

whether client pays


If freelancer is paid like a vendor,

it’s not fee-splitting


Freelance attorney costs can be

passed along to your client

Freelance attorney costs

can be billed as fees or expenses


Bill as attorney fees with markup

for supervision


Bill as expenses with no markup


Put it in writing



Other resources

ABA Formal Opinions 88-356, 00-420, 08-451

ABA Commission on Ethics 20/20

The Freelance Lawyering ManualThe Independence Track

Minnesota Freelance Attorney Network

Freelance-attorneys.com

working as (or hiring) a freelance attorney

Law

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markup images karin

expenses images karin

supervision images karin

copyrighted property

licensed partners

freelance attorney costs

freelance attorneys