Ethics of Freelance Legal Services: Issues & Best Practices
This 60-minute presentation explains the attributes of the freelance legal service engagement from the perspective of both the hiring firm and attorney, as well as the freelance lawyer. We cover the duties to reveal conflicts by the limited revelation of certain client information and the duty to shield the freelance lawyer from unnecessary access to other firm files. Also discussed are the various financial relationships and how freelance service varies from “fee-splitting” with outside lawyers. Additionally, we discuss the duty to supervise and the need, in some jurisdictions, for special appearance pleadings if the freelance services are obtained for litigation. Finally, we cover the differences between freelance and “unbundled” legal services and the best practices for each party to observe.