Lawyer Working Remote

As-needed, part-time hiring of legal technologists may become the new norm as law firms balance tighter budgets and let go of full-time staff.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, law firms are slashing and furloughing their staff employees and freezing lawyers' salaries as economic uncertainty grips the global economy due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Information technology staff, e-discovery experts, litigation support staff and other legal technologist roles aren't necessarily at the top of the chopping block, said TRU Staffing Partners CEO and founder Jared Coseglia.

IT cuts aren't "as voluminous as project-oriented professionals," Coseglia said. "Most IT professionals are institutional positions. … I think they're probably getting rid of under-performers and asking the over-performers to perform more."

Despite the COVID-19-induced curveball thrown into the legal market, staffers working on client matters that require specialized litigation support will keep their jobs—for now.

"E-discovery litigation project managers and forensics, I'm not seeing a lot of layoffs of those people yet because a lot of them are involved in litigation matters and they kind of have to finish up the projects they're working on," noted David Netzer, founder and president of recruitment consultancy Legal Tech Talent Network.

But when the legal matter ends, those specialists could be cut. 

"As they finish up their projects, if the economy isn't doing well they definitely will let some of these people go. [But] with respect to the ongoing projects, the law firms have to keep some of these specialized support staff because no one knows how to do what they are doing," Netzer said.

Still, legal technologists who are let go can still likely will find part-time work, Netzer and Coseglia agreed.

"In terms of increased hiring, I would predict there will be part-time gig type of work for people that if the economy stays like this are eventually laid off," Netzer said. "If law firms were to take on a matter that requires an expert, I think these people will be hired for contract work."

The uptick in contract staffing could start in June and continue through October if law firms struggle with cash flow, Coseglia explained. "I would suspect this summer will be the summer of contract work."

Though COVID-19 is stoking job insecurity, Netzer noted the shift toward more legal professionals working remotely may have bolstered some law firms' confidence in remote employees even without a pandemic.

"With this forced shift of law firms, corporations and consulting firms having to allow their employees to work remotely, we will probably see a bit of a comfort level with these law firms to take on more gig and contract workers," he noted.

And such contract work be easy to come by. COVID-19 legislation, downsizing and potential litigation related to the novel virus likely means a boon for some practice groups, Netzer argued. Those practices include bankruptcy, probate, medical malpractice, employment law and bad faith lawsuits, which could lead to firms needing at least short-term support staff.