How working as a part-time lawyer can help you find balance

While some would have laughed at the idea even a few years ago, working as a part-time lawyer has become more feasible in the age of remote work.

Seeking balance

Many independent lawyers left big law in part because of 80-hour workweeks and firm cultures that didn’t support having a life outside of work. Forget sleeping and eating well, let alone pursuing relationships or hobbies with that kind of schedule. In those cultures, lawyers face enormous pressure to perform, hit billable hours targets and bring in new clients.

In independent law, however, lawyers can seek balance. They can set their own hours and create a firm culture that supports the whole person. Yes, they still have to focus on business development and attracting new clients, but they can shed the external expectation that long hours mean success.

Setting a part-time schedule

After leaving big law, a 40-hour week might feel like part-time work for some. However, many lawyers would love to work 30 hours or less while continuing to build business and generate income.

Independent lawyers can create a schedule that works best for their individual lifestyles. Working parents, in particular, might have to think creatively and work nontraditional hours. This writer offers two examples of how some make that work:

“One lawyer I know works from six in the morning to noon and then takes over the childcare shift in the afternoon, for example,” she writes and adds that another lawyer in her network accomplishes “more with less through her part-time law practice. She works two long days from the office and is on homeschooling duty for the remaining days.”

Not every lawyer needs to work a traditional 8 to 5 schedule. In fact, working morning or evening hours could serve as a benefit to some clients. Opting to lease a coworking desk or work in a shared office space allows lawyers to set flexible, part-time hours while creating a separation between work and home.

Finding work as a part-time lawyer

The way lawyers go after business has evolved quite a bit over the past several years. Rather than contracting with a large firm, many clients opt to contract with small law firms or independent lawyers.

In turn, these smaller firms rely on contract lawyers and partnerships with other independent lawyers when they land big cases.

For a part-time lawyer, the latter scenario offers an ideal source of new work. Working on one aspect of a case or client project allows a part-time lawyer to set boundaries around hours and schedules.

In addition, many larger firms will hire contract lawyers for short-term cases, and on-call contract lawyer services can help independent lawyers connect with clients.

Setting up for success

To make a part-time schedule work, independent lawyers should have a few structures in place:

  • A set schedule that clearly outlines work time and personal time
  • Strong communication with clients regarding working hours
  • A separation between work and home, ideally with an off-site coworking office space
  • Great relationships with lawyers at big and small law firms to support referrals and contract work
  • A niche practice area to help connect with the right clients and projects
  • Automated processes and technology that support streamlined work
  • As business grows, support staff options for managing administrative work
  • A clear vision that informs decision-making in work and life
  • Confidence
  • An ability to focus and produce in a shorter timeframe

When looking at the big picture, part-time lawyers need to have a clear idea of what they want to accomplish. That vision should include both business and personal goals, and those personal goals will help a part-time lawyer set strong boundaries.

To learn more about growing a part-time law practice in Denver or Las Vegas, reach out to us. We offer a variety of flexible office solutions and coworking options for lawyers.