Whether you’re still in law school, a registered lawyer, or someone with experience and interest in legal matters, you can make the most out of what you know and earn extra dollars while working from home. With the majority of individuals and businesses depending on online resources, now more than ever, journalists, reporters, and even legal writers have been in demand. And with the technicalities and research involved in this type of gig, they are now one of the highest-paid writers. [Read more…]
Read This First If You Want to Be a Legal Writer or Researcher!
Legal research and writing is a rewarding and interesting pursuit. Those who are interested in becoming legal researchers and writers should take care to avoid engaging in activities that constitute the practice of law. Such acts include preparing and drafting a wide range of legal documents. Non-lawyers should avoid giving legal advice or providing legal representation.
It is not a problem to do legal research and writing on your own behalf if you are representing yourself in court. [Read more…]
7 Places to Find Legal Writing Jobs
We’ve talked about different types of freelance writing jobs in the past, and we’ve pretty much established that having a specialization is the way to go if you want to increase your earnings. While you can still earn a lot as a generalist, specializing in a niche will lessen the need to hustle for clients day and night. Instead, you can generate more income with fewer, high-paying clients.
That being said, legal writing is one of the more profitable niches. Most freelance writing job boards offer legal writing jobs, but there are certain places that will make it easier for you.
7 Places to Find Legal Writing Jobs Click To Tweet5 Helpful Tips When Transitioning to Legal Writing
Legal writing is one of the more lucrative specializations in the freelance writing sector. The requirements for legal writers are generally more stringent thus giving the writers the opportunity to command higher rates.
This is not to say that you can simply declare yourself a legal writer. As with any specialization, you’ll need to undergo some training, learn, and gain some experience. There will also be that transition period as you work your way to becoming a fully fledged legal writer.
So, how do you transition to legal writing? Here are some tips that will make it easier for you.
Let’s Talk About Legal Writing (and How to Become a Legal Writer)
Ads for legal writers may have caught your eye over the years, but you may not have bothered taking a look because you don’t know really know anything about legal writing. Nothing to be ashamed of – you’re part of the majority. Since legal writing is a very specific niche, there are fewer freelance writers who specialize in it.
Did you hear that? The sweet tinkle of the bell of opportunity.
Specific niche = less competition = higher rates
First, though, you actually need to answer the question: “What is legal writing”?” [Read more…]
Your College Major Can Earn You More Money as a Niche Freelance Writer
Many people believe that if you want to be a freelance writer you should get a degree in communications, journalism, or creative writing, but this is an overly narrow assessment of the field. Restricting writers to these majors would eliminate some very talented professionals.
Freelance writers can actually come from a range of fields, a certain niche might demand skills that those rooted in communications or journalism may not have, such as engineering knowledge or statistics. Rather than pigeonhole writers into these few majors, we would all do well to consider the many paths to a writing career.
The most important thing you can do is demonstrate your expertise, clarity, and dedication.
Legal Writing Done Better: Tips For Effective Legal Writing
As a freelance writer, you may often find yourself in situations where you have limited knowledge of the topic. Maybe you’re writing about home construction or a medical procedure you hadn’t heard of until today. These topics can be a challenge to get a handle on and even more difficult to make interesting. But perhaps topping the charts when it comes to complicated and dull topics is legal writing.
Related: What Type of Freelance Writing Gig Suits You Best?
Legal writing has the potential to be interesting, but the difficulty of the material – if you aren’t a lawyer or paralegal – can stymie even the most talented writer. That’s why it’s especially important for you to bring all of your talents and tricks to the table when tackling these projects. By focusing on clear, concrete writing, you can improve your legal writing immensely.
If you want to expand your skills and enter this market, here are tips to follow for effective legal writing.
