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General Interest > Charging for freelance work - suggestions?

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Ohio paralegal *

07/21/2008 10:06 PM Quote Reply  

I've been unofficially doing freelance paralegal work for various attorneys for about a year since getting my degree.  I specialize in researching issues and writing reports for the attorneys, briefs to the courts, motions, etc.  I have generally "wowed" every attorney who has used me.

In my area, most lawyers and law firms hire a full-time secretary, but don't have the resources to also hire a full-time paralegal to do the things I do.  Whenever they need services like mine, they contract out.  So, with the encouragement of a local defense attorney and prosecutor, I am considering filing an LLC and advertising myself.

My problem is:  What should I charge?

I don't want to rip myself off, but I also don't want to seem audacious on accident.  I want to have a fair price that attorneys won't bristle at, but also make enough to live on.

So, paralegals:  What do you feel comfortable charging?
And, attorneys:  What do you feel comfortable being charged?

Any and all advice is appreciated.  Thank you!

Legalcutter... *

07/22/2008 11:15 AM Quote Reply  
How much have you been charging for your work? Are you planning to charge by the hour or by project? What's the going rate in Ohio for a paralegal with one year of experience?

Please provide us with more information!!

Here in West L.A. with 15 years experience and depending on the job I would charge $150-$200 an hour. (Specialty in video editing and trail presentation along with the standard paralegal work)
WendyNCUser is Offline
mODERATORS

Moderator

07/22/2008 11:49 AM Quote Reply  
In North Carolina, with all my certifications and 30 years experience, I can charge $55-$75 an hour, with most of my work in the $55-$65 range. One of my close colleagues, with comparable credentials who has been freelancing for 10 years and who also works in the Raleigh market, gets $80 an hour.


Wendy Kimbel, ACP, NCCP
Paralegal Assistance, Inc.
105 E. Center St., Ste. C
Mebane, NC 27302
Phone: 919-967-4495
Fax: 919-304-0743
lseidmanUser is Offline
New User



07/23/2008 03:50 PM Quote Reply  
$75-90 /hr. in New York, although I've been known to work for $25/hr if it is an unusual and really interesting case. Unfortunately at least one attorney has become aware that there are certain types of cases that I will beg to work on! :)

If you get up into the $150 range, they could just as easily get an associate attorney or struggling law school student to do the work.


L.
Legalcutter *

07/23/2008 04:44 PM Quote Reply  
Like I mentioned before I specialize...therefore I can chare more!!

General Interest > Charging for freelance work - suggestions?

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