If you’ve been out of work for a year or more, then you’ve probably considered taking contract work if you haven’t done so already. Understandably, some attorneys hesitate to take on low-level contract work for fear that it will not only offer low pay but may carry with it a stigma once they begin seeking full-time work again. To help attorneys avoid the pitfalls associated with contract work below are a few tips:

1. Don’t treat contract work as a long-term solution.  Taking a temporary job as a document reviewer for a few weeks or a month to fill in the financial gaps can be a smart move. However, six months of document review work could have a negative impact on an attorney’s resume and ability to compete in the job market.  If you take low-level contract work, make sure it’s brief.
2. Find contract work which advances you career or enhances your skills.  As mentioned in point #1, low-level work is okay for the short-term; but if you’re thinking of taking on more long-term contract work, try to find something that will advance your career or enhance your legal skills. You might even consider doing some consulting with smaller firms or individual clients depending on your specialty.
3. Don’t be a doormat.  One of the areas of controversy surrounding attorney contract work is whether the worker is exempt or nonexempt.  Although the contract attorney is working for an hourly wage, some firms may attempt to avoid paying overtime. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that lack of overtime pay does not benefit the attorney.  Before taking contract work, make sure that you will be paid overtime when appropriate and don’t allow employers to bully you into forgoing that pay.