The Intersection of Law Firm Management and Temporary Lawyering
This article discusses the ethical obligations and associated risks that flow from engaging the services of a temporary attorney, including areas such as billing for services and adequate disclosure to clients.
July 08, 2024 at 10:23 AM
6 minute read
It is not uncommon for practitioners and law firms to employ the services of temporary (or contract) attorneys as the need may arise in contemporary practice. Employers often turn to temporary lawyers to address a variety of needs including workload variations, special projects, matters requiring a unique or particular skillset, and general assistance with such tasks as document review and the drafting of legal memoranda, among other things. As one federal court explained, "economics is the principal reason for emergence of lawyer temping because it permits a firm to service client needs during particularly busy periods by engaging an experienced attorney, without incurring the expense of hiring a permanent employee." See Carlson v. Xerox, 596 F. Supp. 2d 400, 409 (D. Conn. 2009)(internal citations omitted). This article discusses the ethical obligations and associated risks that flow from engaging the services of a temporary attorney, including areas such as billing for services and adequate disclosure to clients.
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