Working Overtime Is How Contract Attorneys Make The Big Bucks
Notwithstanding any perceived stigma or downside from performing temporary attorney work, there is a general perception that contract attorneys have the potential to make a lot of money within a relatively short period of time because they can work overtime hours. Yes, I think for the most part that’s true.
In a healthy job market when projects are plentiful, making a six figure income or more a year is not only possible, I would go as far as to say it is a likely occurrence. Of course, it would depend on your ability to successfully roll from one project to another. Even after factoring some downtime and gaps in between, a lucrative temp income is not out of the question.
The current recessive job market we are experiencing makes it more difficult to roll, but hitting six figures is still a very reasonable target. It simply may require more agency networking and persistence. Because the market’s a bit tight right now, you can’t passively wait for project announcements to be posted on the listservs. You need to take active initiative to bug the agencies and remind them of your availability on a routine basis.
Concept of Contract Attorney Pay As Fast Money
Interestingly, I have heard some refer to contract attorney pay as “stripper money” - categorized as the type of significant money that can be earned within a very short period of time through tasks that supposedly don’t lead to any future professional enhancement. I might disagree a bit about the latter part of that statement, but the first part is frequently true. Because most contract attorneys are paid overtime wages of time and a half for hours worked beyond 40, we are capable of earning a significant amount within a short period of time. It all depends on how many hours you are willing to put in.
I’ve worked a wide range of hours and personally have no problem with the varying project hour availabilities, but I know many contract attorneys who absolutely embrace and demand long hours. Long billable hours means more overtime and massive overtime can lead to big bucks. Many temps are frequently disappointed if not very upset when hours are cut back as such rollbacks greatly affect their bottom line.
Working 100+ Hours
I’ve had my share of long hours before and let me tell you, working that long is not easy. But at the end of each week, the resulting jackpot paycheck that greeted me was always worth it. Just don’t expect to accomplish much at home during those extreme hour weeks - this includes laundry, family time, sleep, and even personal grooming and hygiene for some people. 
At the start of this year, I worked on a project that offered virtually unlimited office hours. Dinner was reimbursed up to $25 and transportation costs were covered. Working conditions were decent, associate supervision was reasonable, and internet access was not restricted. A few contract attorneys and I were separated from the main pack due to room overflow issues, so we essentially ended up with our own private room.
The members of my little posse all worked very long hours, and we took turns encouraging each other when energy and morale was low. Because our food expenses were covered and the office hours were so long, I essentially lived there for several weeks straight. I worked 5 weeks continuously, 7 days a week and racked up nearly 100+ billable hours each week. Needless to say, that one month span was my most successful contract attorney experience to date in terms of financial payoff.
I’m sure I contributed many productive hours for the client. It wouldn’t have been possible if the working conditions were oppressive. It was only possible because the agency and law firm created a commendable working environment that was ideal and conducive for extended hour work.
Extreme Hour Projects Are Rare So Take Full Advantage
There were times I wanted to just go home, but I knew such ideal overtime-heavy projects were not easy to come by so I made the effort to stick it out for the long haul. When you are on one of those kind of projects, you really need to maximize the opportunity. You have the potential to earn more than 2-3 months worth of income within a single month’s time. Contract attorney work can be occasionally unpredictable so when you have the chance to work and earn a lot of overtime in such a short burst of time, it is in your long term interest to stay the course.
I’m sure everyone has similar war stories of working those long hour projects. I hope they were good experiences.
November 3rd, 2007 at 2:44 am
As an Associate, I have to spend 70+ hrs in the office weekly to make my billables. Further, I don’t get free benefits, Free CLEs, Free Meals, or Free Transportation. I am making less as an Associate than as a Temp/Contract Attorney. “At Will” employment doesn’t give me any job security. I honestly think that we, attorneys, need to evaluate the Contract Attorney field again before making harsh judgments.
I would like to hear your take on the job market instability right now. Is it due to market saturation, jobs going overseas, or changes in litigation?
November 4th, 2007 at 1:55 am
I think that most of the changes in the job market can be linked to the credit crunch and housing bust. Stanley O’Neal is out of a job at Merrill for billions of dollars worth of write downs. I think that most corporations are waiting for events to unfold, as far as the credit market is concerned, before they pursue mergers and acquisitions, which make up the lion’s share of work that is to be done at llarge aw firms.
But, of course, market saturation of lawyers and offshoring are huge factors as well. I see firms turning more and more towards contract attorneys to do more and more substantive work. At the same time, I see contract attorneys being in a position to demand more in terms of on-the-job training, health insurance, work-life balance, and a host of other things. There will undoubtedly be the typical cadre of thunderstruck lawyers out there who speak incessantly about pedigree, etc. But traditional notions of pedigree, etc. will take a back seat to skills, which is why staffing agencies need to do more and contract attorneys need to do more to get serious about professional development.
November 5th, 2007 at 2:40 pm
I was on the same project at the beginning of the year, and that has been by far, the best project I’ve been on. It was relatively easy to put in over 90+ hours on that project since the working environment was pleasant as you mentioned. The people on the project were great and having $25 to spend of food was a nice incentive (though I gained a healthy 5 pounds from eating too much). I made enough money working on that project for about a month and a half to cover my living expenses for the next 3 months. I agree with you that the money is considered “fast money”, but I wouldn’t go as far to refer/compare it to “stripper money.”
To attempt to answer your question M, I think contract work revolves around basic supply and demand issues. The market might be a bit tighter right now, as it normally is during the end of the year with all the holidays approaching. I believe outsourcing work to countries outside the US, changes in litigation (shorter time periods for these projects), and market saturation (more admittees and recent graduates have probably entered the contract world since this summer) are all factors that contribute to the tightened contract market right now. But I don’t think it’s a permanent thing - contract world has its peak and off-peak seasons.
M, I agree with your comment that attorneys should reevaluate the Contract Attorney field again before making harsh judgments. People do contract work for various personal reasons. Some do it because of the lack of stress it involves, some do it for the pay, the flexibility it has to offer, and some do it to supplement their income while pursuing others interests (such operating a business, having a solo practice, traveling, philanthropy, taking care of young children or aging parents, etc.)
Joe, I had a question for you. You mentioned that contract attorneys need to do more to get serious about professional development. Do you have any specific suggestions or ideas?
November 5th, 2007 at 2:52 pm
Dear Lawyer Girl,
I actually run a blog called (jdwired.com) and social network (jdwired.ning.com) that focus on professional development for contract attorneys.
On the blog, I discuss different strategies that contract attorneys can use to continue to look for full-time work, and keep their skills sharp, while they are doing contract work. The tabs at the top of the blog contain links to a number of professional development resources.
The social network is a gathering place for contract attorneys to start groups and discuss issues. Eventually, I expect that the group will get large enough to start having monthly receptions, etc. I do hope you join.
I also program an internet radio station for contract attorneys to listen to at work (last.fm/listen/user/JDWired/playlist). But that is a nod to my former days as a radio nerd.
I think you will like it, though–if I do say so myself!
Stay in touch.
Thanks Temp Partner.
Best,
Joe
November 17th, 2007 at 12:07 pm
This is my first year of being a contract attorney. I’ve only had projects for 8 of the 12 months. I find the only way to really make it through the downtimes is to put in the long hours when you have projects, even if they don’t pay time and a half. Unfortunately I’ve only had one project that paid time and a half, and it was only 3 weeks long, but in those three weeks I worked 95+ hours a week and made some really nice coin. The other contract attorneys thought I was nuts, but my thought was, once you get into the bonus, you keep driving to the hole. I’ve averaged over 60 hours a week for the 8 months I’ve worked, and I’ve managed to surpass the coveted 2000 hours mark this year.