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RSB34
LIF Toddler
Member since 9/11 453 total posts
Name:
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for lawyers or ex-lawyers
Trying to find other jobs i can do.... I have been practicing law at a firm for about 5 years. They treat me well, it's flexible, salary is ok, but I am just sick of billing hours and feel like it's time for a change- esp with young children. What else can I do? I did med mal litigation so I am in court a lot and do plenty of deps and motions. Considering all jobs, even those out of the box. I'd preferably want something part time.
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Posted 12/3/12 10:37 PM  |
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Long Island Weddings
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Re: for lawyers or ex-lawyers
I hate billing too its one of the most undesirable aspects of practicing law. With that said, however, there are a number of legal and quasi-legal jobs that dont rely on the billable hour - such as working as a court attorney or for the state.
A number of my law school buddies who have left the law and work in different fields - one runs a per diem service (basically coordinates lawyers to appear for firms on a contract basis), another does doc review, another one works as a real estate closing attorney (flat fee arrangement).
One of my friends just had her 2nd child and works part time doing per diem appearances. She gets paid anywhere from $ 75-100 per court appearance - she is told the day before which courthouse to go to and the fee, she shows up, does what she is supposed to (could be covering a motion or a conference, to just getting an adjourned date) and then is done by 11:30 - 12 pm. She must work these hours because she picks up her kids from school at 3 pm.
There are a number of options, those are just the few I could think of...Hope this helps somewhat!
Message edited 12/4/2012 11:44:56 AM.
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| Posted 12/4/12 11:44 AM |
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Re: for lawyers or ex-lawyers
Posted by EclecticEsq10810
She gets paid anywhere from $ 75-100 per court appearance - she is told the day before which courthouse to go to and the fee, she shows up, does what she is supposed to (could be covering a motion or a conference, to just getting an adjourned date) and then is done by 11:30 - 12 pm. She must work these hours because she picks up her kids from school at 3 pm.
Is she being assigned the work through one of the services? Attorneys who get the work on their own can command a lot more. When I handled per diem cases in the NYS courts I was able to stack them up and handle several for multiple firms on the same days. In some cases I could call into the services and see if they had any to add on even if it was at a lower rate. I did well getting work from NYC firms that did not want to send people to LI for appearances. But since then the courts have streamlined some things and there are fewer appearances per case. With some of the firms I was able to follow the same case through with multiple appearances and the same defense counsel. That made it easier. Now I still handle per diem work but only for one firm and only at Social Security Disability hearings. Sometimes I can handle their hearings on days I have my own also or they book me for several a day. That's the only way I can do it. I always prefer the cases that my office has prepped but there is something to be said for per diem work.
Message edited 12/20/2012 1:07:57 AM.
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| Posted 12/20/12 1:07 AM |
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Re: for lawyers or ex-lawyers
Posted by Kerie-is-so-very
Posted by EclecticEsq10810
She gets paid anywhere from $ 75-100 per court appearance - she is told the day before which courthouse to go to and the fee, she shows up, does what she is supposed to (could be covering a motion or a conference, to just getting an adjourned date) and then is done by 11:30 - 12 pm. She must work these hours because she picks up her kids from school at 3 pm.
Is she being assigned the work through one of the services? Attorneys who get the work on their own can command a lot more. When I handled per diem cases in the NYS courts I was able to stack them up and handle several for multiple firms on the same days. In some cases I could call into the services and see if they had any to add on even if it was at a lower rate. I did well getting work from NYC firms that did not want to send people to LI for appearances. But since then the courts have streamlined some things and there are fewer appearances per case. With some of the firms I was able to follow the same case through with multiple appearances and the same defense counsel. That made it easier. Now I still handle per diem work but only for one firm and only at Social Security Disability hearings. Sometimes I can handle their hearings on days I have my own also or they book me for several a day. That's the only way I can do it. I always prefer the cases that my office has prepped but there is something to be said for per diem work.
She only covers appearances in Staten Island and lower Manhattan since she lives in SI and doesn't drive. She covers appearances for a solo. She tried getting assignments from the services (I know which ones you prob mean) but they never gave her jobs (prob due to her geographical restrictions). Her DH is also an attorney working for an insurance defense firm in Brooklyn so I don't think she's really that eager to work in general (she prefers to be a SAHM).
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| Posted 12/20/12 9:27 PM |
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toniV
LIF Adolescent
Member since 10/11 586 total posts
Name:
T
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Re: for lawyers or ex-lawyers
Posted by EclecticEsq10810
I hate billing too its one of the most undesirable aspects of practicing law. With that said, however, there are a number of legal and quasi-legal jobs that dont rely on the billable hour - such as working as a court attorney or for the state.
A number of my law school buddies who have left the law and work in different fields - one runs a per diem service (basically coordinates lawyers to appear for firms on a contract basis), another does doc review, another one works as a real estate closing attorney (flat fee arrangement).
One of my friends just had her 2nd child and works part time doing per diem appearances. She gets paid anywhere from $ 75-100 per court appearance - she is told the day before which courthouse to go to and the fee, she shows up, does what she is supposed to (could be covering a motion or a conference, to just getting an adjourned date) and then is done by 11:30 - 12 pm. She must work these hours because she picks up her kids from school at 3 pm.
There are a number of options, those are just the few I could think of...Hope this helps somewhat!
Hi! May I ask... your friend that does doc review, is that through an agency?
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| Posted 1/3/13 10:21 AM |
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JenniferEver
The Disney Lady
Member since 5/05 18163 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: for lawyers or ex-lawyers
How about teaching LSAT?
I;ve worked with a bunch of former attorneys who needed to get out of it for one reason or another. You can make decent money teaching and better money tutoring if you had (or can achieve ) high LSAT scores
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| Posted 1/4/13 3:46 PM |
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Budjeg11
LIF Adult
Member since 4/11 2644 total posts
Name:
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for lawyers or ex-lawyers
I posted a similar thread re: alternate careers for attorneys but I am intrigured by the per diem arrangement.
Does anyone have recommendations for services looking for per diem attorneys to do court appearances?
Thanks!
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| Posted 1/8/13 2:57 PM |
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Re: for lawyers or ex-lawyers
Can you apply your experience to anything human services related?
I am sure it's a pay-cut, but a lot of agencies look for people that have diverse professional backgrounds, especially with all the budget cuts these days and cases becoming even more complex for social workers and other helping professionals to figure out.
Obviously it would be different kind of work too, but you would also be able to have better hours and maybe even less (but different!) responsibility.
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| Posted 1/8/13 8:04 PM |
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Re: for lawyers or ex-lawyers
Posted by toniV
Posted by EclecticEsq10810
I hate billing too its one of the most undesirable aspects of practicing law. With that said, however, there are a number of legal and quasi-legal jobs that dont rely on the billable hour - such as working as a court attorney or for the state.
A number of my law school buddies who have left the law and work in different fields - one runs a per diem service (basically coordinates lawyers to appear for firms on a contract basis), another does doc review, another one works as a real estate closing attorney (flat fee arrangement).
One of my friends just had her 2nd child and works part time doing per diem appearances. She gets paid anywhere from $ 75-100 per court appearance - she is told the day before which courthouse to go to and the fee, she shows up, does what she is supposed to (could be covering a motion or a conference, to just getting an adjourned date) and then is done by 11:30 - 12 pm. She must work these hours because she picks up her kids from school at 3 pm.
There are a number of options, those are just the few I could think of...Hope this helps somewhat!
Hi! May I ask... your friend that does doc review, is that through an agency?
Yes she is signed up with different agencies. She actually is on a gig now through HIRE Counsel. She plans to start a nursing program in a few weeks though.
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| Posted 1/8/13 9:22 PM |
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