When you are feeling overwhelmed, when your client is demanding a project with a quick turnaround and you just don’t have the time, or when you have a case that has heated up and you need one more attorney just for that case, then the time has come for you to consider using an independent contract attorney.
I’ve written on how to hire a contract attorney, but what exactly can one do for you? Based on my work this past year, here are some specific tasks that an independent contract attorney can help you with:
1. Draft a response to a motion for protective order. Draft a response to a summary judgment motion. Draft a motion to exclude an expert. You get the idea. But make sure the contract attorney has the research databases to do the research.
2. Spend an hour researching an evidentiary issue before you go to mediation.
3. For that case that has heated up, draft the motion for summary judgment and motion to exclude an expert, and work on the outline for oral argument when those motions are heard.
4. For clients that have repeat litigation, use an independent contract attorney to draft similar motions or responses. The contract attorney will become familiar with the client’s position and can benefit from the library of research as the attorney drafts more briefs.
5. Work directly with your client’s in-house legal department for a document-review project. Especially when you don’t have an attorney you can spare for a full week or more.
6. Research state law on a particular issue for a nationwide survey on state law.
7. Review client documents to determine responsive documents and prepare a privilege log. Draft the written discovery responses.
If I can help with a project, whether it is one hour or several projects on one case, let’s talk.
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