what is contract attorney

by Salvador Leannon Jr. 9 min read

Contract Attorney

  • Provide legal consultation on a wide range of issues
  • Identify and develop client relationships
  • Perform legal research in support of client projects
  • Prepare legal documents, including contracts, affidavits, and others.

Full Answer

How to become a contract attorney?

Apr 09, 2022 · A contract attorney, also referred to as a "freelance attorney," is an attorney who does not work for a law firm or other company permanently. Instead, contract attorneys work on a contract basis for companies, individuals and governments. Contract attorneys may be hired for the duration of a specific project or case and dismissed once it has ended.

How much do contract attorneys make?

Apr 01, 2022 · A contract attorney, also referred to as a "freelance attorney," is an attorney who does not work for a law firm or other company permanently. Instead, contract attorneys work on a contract basis for companies, individuals and governments. Contract attorneys may be hired for the duration of a specific project or case and dismissed once it has ended.

What is the salary of a contract lawyer?

Nov 19, 2019 · What is a Contract Attorney? A contract attorney is what the phrase implies – a lawyer who works on a legal case on a contract basis. Law firms and lawyers may hire a contract attorney to do a specific job for them. Their job is normally temporary and involves specific assignments on a project-to-project basis.

What does a contract lawyer do?

Jun 23, 2020 · What Does a Contract Attorney Do? The main responsibilities of a contract lawyer include drawing up and revising legal contracts and documents. Contract attorneys perform many of the same duties as in-house counsel or associates at a law firm. They might also assist with: Regulatory and compliance requirements Preparing case strategies

What type of lawyer is best suited for a career as a contract attorney?

Contract attorneys are lawyers who come from a number of different backgrounds. Lawyers who work as contract attorneys include those who wish to br...

Do you have to have malpractice insurance as a contract attorney?

Some states require lawyers to hold malpractice insurance while others do not. Additionally, if you are working as an extension of an agency or law...

How long do contract attorneys typically work for one firm or organization?

Contract attorneys can work for a firm or organization for as long as the project they have been contracted for takes to complete. Additionally, th...

What is the work environment like for a contract attorney?

Most contract attorneys will work in an office environment similar to other lawyers. However, because contract attorneys do not work permanently fo...

What skills do you need to be a successful contract attorney?

Contract attorneys need several skills to be good at their jobs. The following are a few qualities needed to be a successful contract attorney: Str...

What type of lawyer is best suited for a career as a contract attorney?

Contract attorneys are lawyers who come from a number of different backgrounds. Lawyers who work as contract attorneys include those who wish to br...

Do you have to have malpractice insurance as a contract attorney?

Some states require lawyers to hold malpractice insurance while others do not. Additionally, if you are working as an extension of an agency or law...

How long do contract attorneys typically work for one firm or organization?

Contract attorneys can work for a firm or organization for as long as the project they have been contracted for takes to complete. Additionally, th...

What is the work environment like for a contract attorney?

Most contract attorneys will work in an office environment similar to other lawyers. However, because contract attorneys do not work permanently fo...

What skills do you need to be a successful contract attorney?

Contract attorneys need several skills to be good at their jobs. The following are a few qualities needed to be a successful contract attorney: Str...

What is the job of a contract lawyer?

The main responsibilities of a contract lawyer include drawing up and revising legal contracts and documents. Contract attorneys perform many of the same duties as in-house counsel or associates at a law firm. They might also assist with: Regulatory and compliance requirements. Preparing case strategies.

Why do law firms hire contract attorneys?

A law firm can hire a contract attorney on an as-needed basis to take on the work related to contracts while keeping the associates available for other tasks . The demand for contract attorneys began when contracts needed more support in the due diligence and litigation processes.

What is a contract between two parties?

A contract is a legally enforceable agreement between two or more parties. Most contracts that hold any legal weight are made in writing, although oral contracts may be legally enforceable as well. A contract is only legal when it is entered into voluntarily by both parties and free from any duress.

What are the duties of a legal assistant?

They might also assist with: 1 Regulatory and compliance requirements 2 Preparing case strategies 3 Assisting in the eDiscovery and Discovery stages of a legal case 4 Real estate transactions 5 Reviewing and modifying employee manuals 6 Labor and employment issues 7 Providing support to the litigation team 8 Deals related to mergers and acquisitions 9 Performing legal research 10 Intellectual property issues 11 Conducting depositions 12 Drafting settlements and contracts 13 Preparing annual documents and reports

What is a business contract lawyer?

A business contract lawyer is a lawyer who specializes in providing assistance with business contracts. They may be specially educated or experienced in certain areas of law and business. They have knowledge of contracts, contract requirements, and laws governing contracts in their area.

Why do you need an attorney to draft a contract?

In order to ensure your sale or purchase, financial investment, and rights are protected, having an attorney draft this type of contract would be preferable. A contract will also provide sections outlining whether or not it may be cancelled and how to cancel it.

What are the requirements for a contract?

A valid contract must include: 1 An offer; 2 An acceptance of the offer; 3 A promise to perform; 4 A valuable consideration; 5 A date, a time window or an event when the performance must be completed; 6 Terms and conditions of the performance; and 7 Performance.

What is the legal form of a contract?

A contract may be in written or oral form . In most cases, in order to be legally binding, a contract must be in writing and signed by all parties involved. Courts generally require three things for a contract to be enforceable: Mutual assent, or agreement to the contract terms; A valid offer and acceptance; and.

Why is a contract not enforceable?

A contract may not be enforceable if there is not adequate consideration. A contract may not be enforceable if there was a mistake, fraud or one of the parties was under duress . Find the Right Contract Lawyer. Hire the right lawyer near your location.

What is mutual assent?

Mutual assent, or agreement to the contract terms; A valid offer and acceptance; and. Consideration. Contracts are considered the foundation of the business world. They may be simple or very complex. Examples of contracts include employment contracts, real estate purchase contracts, and insurance contracts.

What is the purpose of drafting a contract?

Drafting a contract refers to the act of writing the terms and details of a contract to determine and outline the legal obligations of all parties to the contract. This allows all parties to the contract to have a clear understanding of their duties and legal obligations to one another.

Where do contract lawyers work?

Contract lawyers may go directly to the law firm or in-house legal department for work while others are staffed by an agency. They may also go by a different name, including staff attorney, contract attorney, consultant, litigation support attorney, document review attorney, eDiscovery attorney, of counsel, or non-partner track attorney. ...

Why do law firms hire contract lawyers?

When a law firm suddenly finds themselves with an increased workload or a variety of other reasons, contract lawyers come in to help alleviate problems or weaknesses that a firm is experiencing. There are some law firms that use contract work as a way ...

What is contract law?

A contract is an agreement that a party can turn to a court to enforce. Contract law is the area of law that governs making contracts, carrying them out and fashioning a fair remedy when there’s a breach. Anyone who conducts business uses contract law. Both companies and consumers use contracts when they buy and sell goods, ...

What do lawyers do when a contract dispute arises?

Lawyers handle contract disputes. When a contract dispute arises, lawyers work to help their client resolve the matter and advocate for the best possible result. Sometimes that means writing demand letters and contacting the other party in order to work towards a resolution.

Why is contract law important?

Contract law allows people to conduct business. Contracts are an important, daily and common part of business and economic activity. Lawyers who draft and negotiate contracts help their clients conduct business on good terms.

How do courts interpret contracts?

How do the courts interpret a contract? To interpret a contract, a court looks at the clear language of the contract from the viewpoint of an objective and reasonable person. If the contract isn’t clear, the court may consider outside evidence including outside statements and the behavior of the parties.

What is considered consideration in a contract?

Consideration. A valid contract requires each party to give something up. That’s called consideration. For example, in the case of an employment contract, one party agrees to give up money, and the other party agrees to give up labor. A contract is a two-way street with each party giving up something to get something else that they want.

What is mutual intent?

Mutual intent to enter into an agreement. To have a valid contract, both parties must intend to be bound by the contract. If a document says that it’s only a statement of intent, the parties may not have a mutual agreement to enter into a contract. Informal agreements between friends often fall into this category.

What is choice of law?

Choice of law means the state law that the court uses to interpret the contract. Because most contract law is state law, choosing to litigate a contract dispute with the laws ...

What are the different types of contracts?

A unilateral contract has to do with a promise in exchange for a specific performance. A bilateral contract is a promise in exchange for a promise. The following include some other common types of contracts: 1 Express contracts usually specify orally or in writing the exact terms of the contract; 2 Conditional contracts are based upon a completion of a condition; 3 Joint and several contracts has multiple parties involved; 4 Implied contracts where courts finds that a contract exists based on the situation; 5 Unconscionable contracts put one party at a greater advantage than another one and are considered unjust; 6 Adhesion contracts are considered to give one party more bargaining power than another and therefore result in a “take it or leave it” situation; 7 Option contracts allow you to enter to another contract with another party at a later time; and 8 Fixed prices contracts involve a buyer and a seller that agree to pay a fixed price for a project.

What is conditional contract?

Conditional contracts are based upon a completion of a condition; Joint and several contracts has multiple parties involved; Implied contracts where courts finds that a contract exists based on the situation; Unconscionable contracts put one party at a greater advantage than another one and are considered unjust;

What are the elements of a contract?

There are five elements that are required for any contract. First, the contract must have a legal purpose and cannot be used for illegal purposes. For example, contracting to commit a crime (like hiring a hitman). Second, there must be a mutual agreement between the parties. This is also known as “the meeting of the minds,” one party must have ...

What is the meeting of the minds?

This is also known as “the meeting of the minds,” one party must have offered an offer to another party for acceptance. For example, a signing of a contract shows that there is a mutual agreement among the parties and everyone is on the same page.

Can you sue for damages?

There are several options available to compensate for those losses. You can either sue for damages, demand specific performance or terminate the contract. In the end, the court will decide the outcome and the amount of compensation.

What is fixed price contract?

Fixed prices contracts involve a buyer and a seller that agree to pay a fixed price for a project. Keep in mind that contracts can come in all forms and are something we deal with every day. If you are unsure of what sort of contract you are in, then you need to reach out to a local lawyer to find out more.

What is considered consideration?

Consideration is when both parties agree to provide something of value in exchange for a benefit. Consideration can be something like a car, money, or even manual labor. It has to be something of actual value. There is also a distinct difference between gifts and promises. For example, if someone gifted you a handbag it is not considered ...

How much should you negotiate?

See how your offer stacks up to other pay packages and negotiate confidently.

Recent Salary Reports

Below are the most recent contract attorney salary reports. Employer name has been removed to protect anonymity.

Why do lawyers have written agreements?

The simple reason to have a written agreement with your attorney is to make sure that both parties to the contract know what is going on. Most disputes that arise between lawyers and their clients are about money, whether it is how much the attorney is owed, or how much the client is owed as a refund. In order to resolve these disputes quickly and ...

Why is it important to have a written contract?

In order to resolve these disputes quickly and without the need for court intervention, it is best to have a written contract in place that can clear up these issues. It is highly effective to be able point to a specific part of a written contract in order to prove your point.

What is representation agreement?

Representation Agreement: Your Attorney and You. No matter which state you live in, or how well you know your attorney, you should always enter into a written representation agreement (sometimes called a fee agreement) with your lawyer. These contracts normally set out the terms of the attorney-client relationship as well as ...

What is client file?

Client files. The contract should specify how and at what cost the client can obtain a complete copy of their client file held by the attorney. The contract should specify who will do the work, meaning who will do the research for the case, and who will argue it in court if litigation is necessary.

How much does an attorney charge per hour?

Rates typically vary from as little as $75 per hour to more than $500 per hour.

Is litigation expensive?

It should be no shock that litigation can be quite expensive, even excluding the costs that an attorney charges. These fees must come from somewhere, and your representation agreement should specify from where. If you are expected to pay for all filing fees, then that should be in the contract you have with your lawyer.