Legal Freelancing??

What the heck..Is it possible?? How do you do it? Well it is a tough question to answer, specially when you are in India and your clients are in US or Europe. There are tools and technologies to help you out, but the field is too traditional to handle. The current scenario is that legal outsourcing firms are spreading their businesses and getting more and more clients. But then, you are a freelancer, working alone, with limited resources and handful of knowledge. Can you go ahead with it or it is just too cumbersome to find a client?

Right now the scenario is that the outsourced legal jobs are mainly in IPR, contract drafting, document reviews or legal research. Well, the clients are abroad and you are going to approach them...how?

Get in touch with freelance website: These websites have a handful of projects listed (Elance being the best provider). But, the problem is that there are big players waiting for it, and you have tough time convincing the buyers. The lawyers from US have a benefit of being easily accessible to the client, being able to understand them and having years of experience. What to do now..Again the cost is the key...how much you bid and what portfolio you show. Be patient, it will take some time for you to get your first project and hopefully by then, impatient will not wait (reducing competition)!

Get in touch with law firms: These law firms (in India and abroad) often look for freelancers to carry out there jobs cheaply. The Indian law firms are in the phase of transition from serving traditional Indian clients to handling foreign clients. So they so called half established business, which are either looking for a VC to invest or striving to be self sustainable in due time.

The path to freelance in legal area is foggy though I believe its worth pursuing.

Change your life with Freelancing

A little effort in your life can change the way you spend your spare time, and that too giving you extra earning. Yes, freelancing is one such way which I have practiced for quite some time now. And now I can confidently say that it pays to be in this field.
As a student, it was quite difficult for me think the ways I can earn some pocket money. Should I work in Call Centers, or work part time somewhere? I had no idea how I can make money online and spend my time in something constructive. Now, when I am in a job and have access to some professional people, I can understand what quality and deadlines mean. And these term have a lot of significance while you freelance. However it is a matter of commitment and how the lady luck favors you, when you enter the freelancing for the first time. The things that are critical are:

• Present yourself properly. Your presentation reflects your ability. For a person dealing with you for the first time goes entirely with what your specialties are, what have you done, what are your achievements (and of course how much you quote). Online profiles are the most deceptive ones and anybody who is not personally familiar to you will find it hard to initiate working with you. I personally found this problem and struggled for a long time before getting the first break. So better prepared with some sample work and a good quotation before you bid for the job.
  

• Be professional. Come on, this world demands professionals, who can deliver quality and on time. Promise legibly and practically, and over deliver. By over promising, you might be able get work for first time, but under delivery will ruin everything. A poor review or grade by the service buyer might get you no work in future.
  

• Beat the competition. Many buyers put their projects open to freelancers because they can't afford big payments. Thus, to get a break, beat the competitors by quoting less (be aware not to quote too less to make buyers skeptic). Once established, raise the rates.

• Choose a field you are familiar with. To be professional, choose a field which you have some experience. Do not jump into developing software if you have not worked in a software industry for some time. It is then only you can deliver quality and satisfy the buyer.