The advantages of utilising a locum solicitor are being more and more recognised in the Legal Market. Small to medium sized law firms have traditionally been the largest users of temporary and contract lawyers as they can be placed under a large amount of pressure when one partner in the law firm goes on holiday, maternity leave or a period of long term sickness. The market for locum solicitors is now evolving and their use is not restricted to these types of law vacancies as their value becomes increasingly recognised. By using locum solicitors, you can spot talented lawyers and offer them a permanent position, if their technical ability fits the law firm's requirement and if they fit with the firm's ethos. Locum solicitors can also provide excellent interim relief when dealing with large-scale projects that require an experienced solicitor to come in and hit the ground running.
Specialist consultant solicitors are a slightly different breed to locum solicitors. They are highly experienced lawyers who often specialise in niche areas such as tax and competition law, they come at a high hourly cost but this is often offset by the benefits of flexibility, willingness and experience that they can provide to an over stretched legal department. There has always been concern about quality, continuity and client care when it comes to using locum solicitors. But a well-defined legal recruitment process and proper day-to-day management can easily overcome these issues making them an invaluable resource.
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