Post: Charging for freelance work - suggestions?

Posted by Ohio paralegal on 7/21/08

I've been unofficially doing freelance paralegal work for
various attorneys for about a year since getting my
degree. I specialize in researching issues and writing
reports for the attorneys, briefs to the courts, motions,
etc. I have generally "wowed" every attorney who has used
me.

In my area, most lawyers and law firms hire a full-time
secretary, but don't have the resources to also hire a
full-time paralegal to do the things I do. Whenever they
need services like mine, they contract out. So, with the
encouragement of a local defense attorney and prosecutor,
I am considering filing an LLC and advertising myself.

My problem is: What should I charge?

I don't want to rip myself off, but I also don't want to
seem audacious on accident. I want to have a fair price
that attorneys won't bristle at, but also make enough to
live on.

So, paralegals: What do you feel comfortable charging?
And, attorneys: What do you feel comfortable being
charged?

Any and all advice is appreciated. Thank you!

Posts on this thread, including this one

Charging for freelance work - suggestions?, 7/21/08, by Ohio paralegal.