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Danamz
LIF Adult
Member since 6/06 1978 total posts
Name:
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QUESTION FOR ATTORNEYS
I was recently laid off as an associate at a general practice firm (mostly insurance and liability defense litigation).
I just thought, while I looked for a permanent job, I would try to get a sense of whether there is a need for per diem attorneys in LI and Queens.
Does anyone's firm need/use them regularly? How often? Is it usually for hearings, motions, conferences, depositions...?
Thanks!
Message edited 10/1/2009 1:37:42 PM.
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Posted 10/1/09 1:37 PM  |
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Kara
Now Zagat Rated!
Member since 3/07 13217 total posts
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They call me "Tater Salad"
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Re: QUESTION FOR ATTORNEYS
I'm so sorry you were laid off, and I wish you the best of luck finding a new job!
I think the best way to go about per diem work is to go through for a company that hires out contract attorneys. My firm (in Manhattan, though) does use contract attorneys for certain things -- and in this economic climate, a lot of larger firms in the city have been using them for large document review projects, etc. because it is a significant cost savings to the client over staffing them with junior associates.
We always go through a company that places them, though. I'm sure you can find some on LI and Queens if you do some Google searches for contract attorneys.
Good luck!
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| Posted 10/1/09 2:17 PM |
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EsquireFish
LIF Adult
Member since 3/09 1259 total posts
Name:
G
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Re: QUESTION FOR ATTORNEYS
DH used to do per diem work. It was never steady work and with one firm they were always behind in paying him (the other was a friend's firm and they were obviously very prompt). There is also paperwork to fill out after the appearance and sometimes you have to review a lot of documentation before the appearance.
I am a transactional lawyer so I have no idea what he did exactly when he went to court - the last time I was in a courthouse was to get sworn in!
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| Posted 10/1/09 2:18 PM |
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Kara
Now Zagat Rated!
Member since 3/07 13217 total posts
Name:
They call me "Tater Salad"
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Re: QUESTION FOR ATTORNEYS
Posted by Danamz
Does anyone's firm need/use them regularly? How often? Is it usually for hearings, motions, conferences, depositions...?
Thanks!
At my firm, it's never for hearings, motions, conferences, or depositions. It's always for document review-type projects. We try to do as much as we can in-house, but we sometimes use contract attorneys to assist with large-scale document reviews, depending on the client's budget and preferences.
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| Posted 10/1/09 2:19 PM |
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Danamz
LIF Adult
Member since 6/06 1978 total posts
Name:
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Re: QUESTION FOR ATTORNEYS
Posted by Kara
I'm so sorry you were laid off, and I wish you the best of luck finding a new job!
I think the best way to go about per diem work is to go through for a company that hires out contract attorneys. My firm (in Manhattan, though) does use contract attorneys for certain things -- and in this economic climate, a lot of larger firms in the city have been using them for large document review projects, etc. because it is a significant cost savings to the client over staffing them with junior associates.
We always go through a company that places them, though. I'm sure you can find some on LI and Queens if you do some Google searches for contract attorneys.
Good luck!
Thanks for the information!
I know you're in the city, but do you know the name of the company your firm uses? FM me if you prefer.
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| Posted 10/1/09 2:25 PM |
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EsquireFish
LIF Adult
Member since 3/09 1259 total posts
Name:
G
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Re: QUESTION FOR ATTORNEYS
Are we talking about contract attorney work or per-diem work? They are different. DH has done both. I was talking about per diem work, but from reading the other responses it sounds like you are actually interested in contract work, like doc reviews?
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| Posted 10/1/09 4:00 PM |
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lizzie0612
LIF Infant
Member since 2/09 154 total posts
Name:
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Re: QUESTION FOR ATTORNEYS
I'm an insurance defense attorney ( general negligence and medical malpractice) too who has done per diem work. It's best if you know someone (i.e. the managing attorney at a firm). The work is sporadic and the going rate is rather low. $150 per appearance (many will only pay $100 per). More for EBT's depending upon how many people are deposed, if you are leading, etc. Also, I don't know your situation but as a mother of two, as you usually only find out about your job the night before, it is very hard to arrange child care. If I can answer any more questions, please let me know.
Edited to add: for insurance defense work it is court appearances, motions, EBT's, whatever they need coverage for.
Message edited 10/1/2009 5:44:40 PM.
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| Posted 10/1/09 5:41 PM |
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Danamz
LIF Adult
Member since 6/06 1978 total posts
Name:
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Re: QUESTION FOR ATTORNEYS
Posted by EsquireFish
Are we talking about contract attorney work or per-diem work? They are different. DH has done both. I was talking about per diem work, but from reading the other responses it sounds like you are actually interested in contract work, like doc reviews?
I was initially just asking about per diem appearances, but since Kara mentioned using contract attys through a company, I figured I'd inquire about that too.
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| Posted 10/1/09 6:00 PM |
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Danamz
LIF Adult
Member since 6/06 1978 total posts
Name:
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Re: QUESTION FOR ATTORNEYS
Posted by lizzie0612
I'm an insurance defense attorney ( general negligence and medical malpractice) too who has done per diem work. It's best if you know someone (i.e. the managing attorney at a firm). The work is sporadic and the going rate is rather low. $150 per appearance (many will only pay $100 per). More for EBT's depending upon how many people are deposed, if you are leading, etc. Also, I don't know your situation but as a mother of two, as you usually only find out about your job the night before, it is very hard to arrange child care. If I can answer any more questions, please let me know.
Edited to add: for insurance defense work it is court appearances, motions, EBT's, whatever they need coverage for.
Thanks - that's what I figured. I know a couple of managing attys, but also in defense - who don't usually use per diems. I figure more Ptf firms would, just because they can't bill.
I was thinking it wouldn't be that hard to maybe get a few firms in the city that use people for Riverhead, Nassau or even Queens.
As far as getting assignments last minute, I'm very used to it as my firm never assigned anything until 5:00 or later (sometimes I'd get calls at 8:00 a.m.).
I also have two kids and would always be sent to Kings, Richmond, NY or the Bronx - took FOREVER.
I would not mind if it was between Suffolk and Queens.
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| Posted 10/1/09 6:05 PM |
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Re: QUESTION FOR ATTORNEYS
I did some per diem work when I was starting my practice. I was mostly doing appearance work for city firms that had some cases in Suffolk County. I sometimes got multiple appearances on the same case and it was nice to get to know the cases I was working on. The need for per diem attorneys in Suffolk was great because our courts are spread out over multiple locations. I have heard that more recently there has been less need for per diem attorneys out here because the systems have been streamlined so that each case does not require as many appearances. I have a friend in the city who does per diem work every morning. He can get 5-6 cases in the same place for the same day, so he makes a few hundred dollars just for the morning. He does some EBTs for other firms but usually he works on his own caseload in the afternoon.
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| Posted 10/1/09 8:53 PM |
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lizzie0612
LIF Infant
Member since 2/09 154 total posts
Name:
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Re: QUESTION FOR ATTORNEYS
Posted by Danamz
Posted by lizzie0612
I'm an insurance defense attorney ( general negligence and medical malpractice) too who has done per diem work. It's best if you know someone (i.e. the managing attorney at a firm). The work is sporadic and the going rate is rather low. $150 per appearance (many will only pay $100 per). More for EBT's depending upon how many people are deposed, if you are leading, etc. Also, I don't know your situation but as a mother of two, as you usually only find out about your job the night before, it is very hard to arrange child care. If I can answer any more questions, please let me know.
Edited to add: for insurance defense work it is court appearances, motions, EBT's, whatever they need coverage for.
Thanks - that's what I figured. I know a couple of managing attys, but also in defense - who don't usually use per diems. I figure more Ptf firms would, just because they can't bill.
I was thinking it wouldn't be that hard to maybe get a few firms in the city that use people for Riverhead, Nassau or even Queens.
As far as getting assignments last minute, I'm very used to it as my firm never assigned anything until 5:00 or later (sometimes I'd get calls at 8:00 a.m.).
I also have two kids and would always be sent to Kings, Richmond, NY or the Bronx - took FOREVER.
I would not mind if it was between Suffolk and Queens.
Yes, it is definitely plaintiff's firms that would provide you with the lion's share of your work. I also handle everything from Riverhead to the Bronx and sometimes even Westchester (I live in Western Suffolk).
Also, if you know any solo practitioners, they obviously can't be in two places at one time. Just get the word out, you would be surprised by how many plaintiff's attorneys who were your adversaries, respect your work and would use you if the need arises.
The hardest part of the whole thing for me was that for my whole career, I have been a defense attorney, so I had to actually consciously remind myself of that when deposing people and frame my questions accordingly!
Good luck!
Message edited 10/1/2009 9:09:17 PM.
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| Posted 10/1/09 9:03 PM |
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