The Riverside County Bar Association features freelance legal practice in an article in the September issue of Riverside Lawyer: “Freelance Attorneys: Building Your Practice And Profits And Improving Client Service.” The article, authored by Montage Legal’s Amy Guldner, discusses the basic premise of utilizing freelance attorneys, and many benefits of the freelance attorney model, especially in a challenging economy. For example, experienced freelance attorneys can assist firms with overflow work during busy periods like trial prep, or when multiple matters heat up simultaneously. Because firms are ethically permitted to add a surcharge to a freelance attorney’s low hourly rate, law firms are able to profit from the freelance attorney’s rate while still offering a lower hourly rate to their clients. In other words, law firms can earn a profit while getting the extra help they need, and can pass significant savings to their clients.
While the freelance model is attractive, law firms must take care in outsourcing legal work. As discussed in the article about the recent malpractice case against McDermott, Will & Emery, law firms should consider the relevant ethical duties, should properly direct and supervise the outside attorneys, and should favor experienced freelance attorneys over the traditional “contract attorney.”
Riverside Lawyer also features a full profile on Amy Guldner on page 24. The RCBA is excited to have Amy’s exceptional experience and skill as a resource for the organization, and to assist Riverside County attorneys. Click here to read the entire article: Freelance Attorneys: Building Your Practice And Profits And Improving Client Service.
Amy, the lead attorney for Montage Legal Group, has been interviewed by MOMentum and has written several popular blog posts, including the following:
- Should Lawyers Work More Than 40 Hours A Week?
- Are Attorneys Satisfied With 2010 Bonuses?
- “It’s Time to be an Architect of Change”
Amy Leinen Guldner joined Montage Legal Group in January, 2010 after practicing for over thirteen years at Morgan Lewis and Bockius LLP and Snell and Wilmer LLP. Amy Guldner is Montage Legal’s lead attorney, and has become an integral part of expanding Montage Legal to law firms in the Inland Empire, including Corona, Riverside and Temecula. In addition to her legal work and caring for her two young children, Amy is a volunteer Court-Appointed Special Advocate with CASA of Orange County, mentoring and advocating in court on behalf of abused and neglected children. She is also involved with the Riverside County Bar Association and its publications committee. Amy lives with her husband, her five year old daughter and her seven year old son in Corona, CA.