If the idea of starting your own business seems daunting, don’t worry, you’re not alone. It’s by no means an easy thing to do but it can be extremely rewarding. You’ll need to make sure you have a good business plan and enough funds to keep you going until you can establish a regular client base, which could be several months or more.
You’ll also want put together an effective marketing plan, which includes everything from traditional print ads and brochures that can be passed around to all of the local law firms in your area to advertising on the web. An effective website is a must as is a healthy presence on social media as well as contributions to blogs and other law related sites where you can establish your expertise in the field.
Of course, in order to find the paralegal jobs you’re looking for, you also need to decide which area of the law to focus on, as that can help to narrow your options and refine your skills in that type of law. This can also be a big factor in determining the amount of money you make, as various specialties will allow for larger salaries than others.
Once you’ve made the decision to go out on your own you need to remain committed to that choice and be ready to put in a lot of hours of hard work. While rolling out of bed and working in your pajamas sounds tempting, starting your own business actually requires an extraordinary level of dedication and focus. That’s the part that most people tend to overlook when thinking about doing freelance work.
Remember that as a freelancer you have the advantage because you offer a service that businesses need and your goal is to make them realize just how important your contributions are. For busy law firms, they just may not have the time or the money to have someone on staff do the minute little paralegal jobs that regularly crop up. This is where you come in, offering your services at a competitive rate to allow them to better serve their clients with professional paralegal work.
If you’ve thought about becoming a paralegal and aren’t sure which direction to go, why not consider starting your own business and become a contract or freelance paralegal? It will be hard work, but in the end the benefits you reap will far outweigh any of the struggles. There’s a world of paralegal work out there, so step up and claim your own corner of it!
The author of this blog is not an attorney and the information contained in these blogs should not be considered legal advice. The information provided here is based on the experience of the author and some of her clients whose actual names are not mentioned. Do not hesitate to seek the advice of an attorney if you have any legal questions.
