Independent or Freelance Paralegal in Texas

1
Independent or Freelance Paralegal in Texas

• Legal or Not?

2
What is an independent or freelance paralegal?

• A freelance paralegal is one that is essentially
  self-employed. They are available to take on
  short-term or long-term projects ranging from
  assisting with litigation preparation to covering
  employee absences to coming into an attorney's
  office on a daily basis to pick up overflow work
  that one may need assistance with.
• A freelance paralegal, also known as a contract
  paralegal, is no different than a traditional
  paralegal except to the extent that s/he is not
  employed by an attorney in a traditional setting
  such as a law firm, governmental entity or
  corporation. Rather, a freelance paralegal is
  retained on an as-needed basis by many
  supervising attorneys in these settings. 

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• In Texas, paralegals are fortunate to be very
  well supported by our State Bar and even have
  their own division the Paralegal Division of
  the State Bar of Texas. Paralegals in Texas have
  been recognized by the state bar as a separate
  field since 1981. The State Bar issued guidelines
  for paralegals in 2005, and includes
  recommendations for attorneys hiring paralegals
  with respect to education, experience, and
  certifications.

4

• A paralegal is prohibited from engaging in the
  practice of law, providing legal advice, signing
  pleadings, negotiating settlement agreements,
  soliciting legal business on behalf of an
  attorney, setting a legal fee, accepting a case,
  or advertising or contracting with members of the
  general public for the performance of legal
  functions.

5

• After doing research at the State Bar of Texas
  Paralegal Division there is nothing keeping a
  paralegal from working as an independent or
  freelance paralegal. The only requirement that is
  placed upon them is not to engage in Unauthorized
  Practice of Law. Paralegals can set hourly rates
  to charge for their clients and charge to perform
  the earlier mentioned jobs.
• A freelance or contract paralegal can help by
  offering flexibility and experience!
  Specifically, they are available to help with
  preparation of pleadings and correspondence,
  transcription, file organization, litigation
  preparation, legal research, and even provide
  coverage for that person who is on vacation or
  maternity leave.

6
How many attorneys are hiring freelance
paralegals?

• Research shows about 30 of attorneys hire
  freelance paralegals.
• Most of the attorneys that seem to be hiring
  freelance paralegals are in the civil litigation
  field.
• Attorneys will hire temp paralegals if they are
  really in a need to basis. Big case small staff.

7
How would I market myself to an attorney?

• Avoid expensive and unnecessary employment or
  recruiting agency fees
• Reduce payroll taxes and workers compensation
  insurance, They are a 1099 independent contractor
• Reduce employee benefits such as sick, holiday or
  vacation pay or overtime pay, 401K
• You are not paying for downtime, you only pay
  for the work performed.