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KateDevine
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Member since 6/06 24950 total posts
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Questions for Lawyers or Paralegals
I was a paralegal for 5 years and was let go from my last job when I was 39 weeks pregnant. I currently receive unemployment, but I just got a call from an attorney who used to work at my old firm that he has med mal cases and would like me to work for him on a "per diem" basis.
How would I go about charging him? I would be doing all of the document production (basically my old job but only one or two cases at a time) and occasionally filing things for him in Suffolk. Should I make up a list and charge based on how hard the document is/how much work it is? Or charge per page? Or ask for a percentage at the end of the case?
This is new to both of us, so we don't know how to set it up.
Has anyone done this before?
TIA!
Message edited 8/21/2007 2:33:10 PM.
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Posted 8/21/07 2:32 PM  |
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MST9106
My life:)
Member since 6/06 9589 total posts
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Re: Questions for Lawyers or Paralegals
I would do it on a per hour case...when you're traveling etc., how else would you bill for it? Of course this is in addition to any filing fees, printing materials etc...I work for an in-house legal department now, but I can contact some friends and find out what the standard hourly charge for a paralegal is these days.
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| Posted 8/21/07 2:43 PM |
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soontobemommy
LIF Adolescent
Member since 1/07 540 total posts
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Re: Questions for Lawyers or Paralegals
I agree that you should charge hourly plus any additional expenses for suuplied, travel etc. Can you take your old salary and try to estimate what an hourly rate would have been?
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| Posted 8/21/07 3:01 PM |
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MrsT
Enjoying wedded bliss.....
Member since 4/06 1323 total posts
Name:
Katrina
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Re: Questions for Lawyers or Paralegals
Contact a local temp agency and ask them what you could earn as a temp paralegal. I think the going rate for contract attorneys in NYC is $35/hour for straight doc review and substantive work gets $50/hour +.
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| Posted 8/21/07 3:58 PM |
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TJLealand3
LIF Adolescent
Member since 6/07 839 total posts
Name:
Thomas
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Re: Questions for Lawyers or Paralegals
You have to realize that you are not receiving you old benefit package and will have to pay all of your own taxes on these monies (ER FICA). I suggest you take you old hourly rate and multiply it by 1.5 and set up a weekly expense reimbursement schedule.
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| Posted 8/21/07 4:20 PM |
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KateDevine
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Member since 6/06 24950 total posts
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Re: Questions for Lawyers or Paralegals
Posted by TJLealand3
You have to realize that you are not receiving you old benefit package and will have to pay all of your own taxes on these monies (ER FICA). I suggest you take you old hourly rate and multiply it by 1.5 and set up a weekly expense reimbursement schedule.
I wasn't paid hourly at my old job and I didn't have any benefits except health insurance (which I have now through DH).
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| Posted 8/21/07 4:24 PM |
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Re: Questions for Lawyers or Paralegals
Posted by KateDevine
Or ask for a percentage at the end of the case?
I believe that it is an ethical violation for an attorney to pay a non-attorney in this manner.
ETA: Just looked it up--it's fee splitting and I do not think any attorney would agree to it.
Message edited 8/21/2007 11:17:18 PM.
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| Posted 8/21/07 11:10 PM |
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