If your corporate legal team is facing undue pressure as projects keep pouring in but cost controls limit sharing the workload with outside counsel, contract staffing may offer a viable alternative. Whether you've hit the wall in terms of headcount capacity or it's taking longer than you'd anticipated to hire permanent help, contract attorneys can fill in the gaps at a reasonable cost—before your team buckles under the strain.

What do contract attorneys, paralegals and other staff members bring? Knowledge, skills and, often, specialization at a rate far lower than outside counsel. Plus, contractors are there when you need them: If you've just got to get a project out the door, they can boost production to help you meet that on-time, on-budget commitment; or if it's taking an inordinately long time to fill a permanent spot, they can serve as a stopgap. Don't underestimate contract staffers either when it comes to identifying talent you may want to keep. Temp-to-perm assignments happen all the time, when someone comes in temporarily but then fits so well with the team that the corporation makes them an offer.