Questions about Legal Staffing, Attorney Placement and Temporary Legal Positions.
Q - What type of temporary projects does Hire Counsel have?
A - While we staff a wide variety of projects (including substantive assignments for attorneys and permanent positions for paralegals) the most common type of project is document review.
Q - What are legal Document Review projects?
A - Legal Document Review projects arise when Hire Counsel's clients have too many documents to get through in a timely matter. They can arise in both litigation and transactional areas. In the transactional setting they are often referred to as due diligence or audit projects.
Q - Will accepting temporary legal work hurt my chances of getting a permanent legal job?
A - No. Most candidates underestimate the value of having a job to a potential employer. Legal Employers like to see that a candidate has the drive and energy to go out and find employment even if it is not their dream job.
Q - Can I continue to look for permanent legal work while I work on Temporary Projects?
A - Yes, within reason. While most clients understand that most candidates are primarily interested in seeking permanent employment, they still have deadlines to meet and need people who are committed to their projects. All interviewing should be done over lunch or before or after work to the extent possible. You should take pains to eliminate or minimize the impact your job search has on the project.
Q - What happens if I get a permanent legal job while I'm on a temporary staffing project?
A - You should provide sufficient notice to both your supervisor on the project and notify your recruiter at Hire Counsel as well. Sufficient notice will vary from project to project but you should be prepared to give the traditional two weeks.
Q - What if my new permanent employer will not wait for me to give notice?
A - You have to do what you have to do but you should seriously consider whether you want to work for a place that is not willing to wait for you so that you can conduct yourself in a professional manner. Also, please keep in mind that not all permanent jobs work out. To be eligible for re-hire with Hire Counsel you must conduct yourself with the highest professional standards.
Q - If I work on a legal document review project, is there a chance that I could get an associate job at the client?
A - While this does happen from time to time, it is extremely rare.
Q - Does legal document review experience make me more marketable for anything other than more document review?
A - While document review does not provide you with new skills for the traditional practice of law, the legal profession is currently undergoing substantial change. With the explosion of discovery, more and more firms and corporations are creating staff/discovery attorney positions, for which document review is very often a prerequisite skill set.
Q. - How does Hire Counsel work? Are you the legal version of Jerry Maguire?
A. - No. Our clients are the law firms and corporations with whom we work. That said, we couldn’t service these accounts without sound relations with the contract/temporary candidates whom we send out to the various projects we are staffing.
Q. - Is there room to negotiate pay rates on these projects?
A. - Typically the answer is no. The usual scenario is that the client is looking to bring on board a whole team of people. In situations like this, it would not be fair for different members of the team to be paid varying rates depending on their negotiating skills. However, when a special skill is required or there is some other unusual aspect to a project, there may indeed be some room for negotiation. Regardless of the project, Hire Counsel attempts to get the highest rates possible for each project - the more you make, the more we make.
Q. - What is the registration process?
A. - When you send your resume to Hire Counsel, one of our recruiters will review it for suitability with our current and anticipated project openings. If we have or believe we will have an appropriate position for you we will contact you to come in and register with us. Once registered, if you are interested in the project, your resume is forwarded to our client for review. The client will then determine either through a meeting with you, or based upon your resume, if they would like you on the project. If they answer to that is affirmative than a start date is established, and you have a job through Hire Counsel.
Q - When I do temporary legal work through Hire Counsel, who is my employer?
A. - You are an employee of Hire Counsel, not Hire Counsel's client.
Q - After I finish a temporary legal job, how should that be reflected on my resume?
A. - There are a variety of ways to handle this. The most common way is to list the name of the firm, the dates, and the job title Temporary Attorney/Paralegal through Hire Counsel followed by a description of what you did on the project.
Q – Whom do I contact if I have a question regarding medical benefits?
A – Scott Margolis at Custom Benefits Group, (516) 897-2486
Q- Can I enroll for medical benefits at any time?
A – You must enroll within the 1st 2 weeks of starting your project, otherwise you need to wait for open enrollment.
Q- When do I get paid?
A - If you have selected direct deposit, your pay will appear every Friday. If you did not select direct deposit, your check will be mailed to you every Friday.
Q- How do I get reimbursed for expenses?
A - You must fill out and submit an expense reimbursement form, attaching all receipts on a weekly basis.
Q- When do I get reimbursed for expenses?
A - The last Friday of every month.
Q- Whom do I notify if I am running late, need to take a day off or have a vacation planned?
A- You need to notify your Hire Counsel recruiter as well as the supervisor on your project.
Q- I am a foreign lawyer working in the United States. My work visa is expiring soon, but I want to remain in the United States and continue my work as a temporary lawyer. Will Hire Counsel sponsor a foreign lawyer?
A- Hire Counsel does not sponsor foreign lawyers under any circumstances.
If you have any further questions, please email the office locations nearest you.
