Your Options
Short-term contracts are an attractive alternative to permanent roles offering extensive flexibility in your life and work at the same time. Working on an interim basis allows you to explore new work environments, test the water of a firm before committing to them on a permanent basis, or are ideal for those juggling young families and school holidays. It's also particularly suitable for those returning to the job market, perhaps after travelling, or maternity leave or a career break.
Who takes on contract lawyers?
The opportunities for contract lawyers are endless. Within private practice, the magic circle, US firms, medium-sized to niche practices, all recruit contract lawyers. There is also an extensive need for in-house contract lawyers, and experienced individuals within the public sector.
The main requirements are up-to-date legal skills, good academics, the ability to adapt to a new team environment and start at short notice. Contracts are not for the faint hearted, they can be demanding roles involving exciting projects and large scale transactions. Ideally more experienced lawyers, who can work on an unsupervised basis, are preferred on short-term contracts.
How will it affect my CV?
The rule of thumb is generally the same as that applied to permanent positions. If you have not been able to secure a permanent position then obtaining a short term contract will not only enhance your CV by showing that you are being proactive in looking for employment, but it will also give you the additional benefit of having gained some good experience while you continue your permanent search. A high proportion of contracts do become permanent and therefore often give you the chance to test the water before committing to a long term position.
What about salaries?
As for the money, you can usually expect to be paid market rate salaries pro rated for the duration of your contract. Although you probably will not receive the usual additional benefits, if you are paid on an hourly rate, you will receive holiday pay in advance, and be paid for every hour that you work a sizeable advantage to you, if you are working long hours or weekends the average contract lasts 3 to 6 months, but vary depending on the reason as to why they are recruiting.
Overall, taking a temporary can provide you with a flexible opportunity to meet your individual demands and circumstances. The market is usually highly responsive to quality candidates, and can move very quickly in terms of moving from initial interviewing to actually starting work.
