The difference between being a self employed locum and a staff lawyer

Being self-employed means you get to keep more of your earned income than you would if you were on the payroll and for that reason, you will need to fit the criteria. Some years ago, some of the agencies I then used told me that HMRC was clamping down on workers who claimed self-employed tax status, but who retained all or most of the characteristics of an employee, for example, they were in receipt of paid holiday and sick leave and were members of the Firms pension scheme, to name just a few of the criteria, so if you’re in any doubt I would suggest you speak to an accountant.

But it’s not just the tax status that differentiates a self-employed locum from a staff lawyer. As an employee, the emphasis is very much on billing, whereas the role of a locum is much more varied, depending upon how long you’re there, and for what reason. So for example, if you’re going to be at the Firm for a while for what I’d call a medium-term to lengthy booking of say 6 months or more, the Firm will be keen for you to keep the billing figures up, as well as taking on new clients and building up, or at the very least maintaining the size of the caseload in readiness for when the permanent fee earner returns, in contrast with a short term booking, like a holiday or minor illness booking lasting a few weeks, where the remit will be on keeping an eye on the caseload while the fee earner is away and dealing with anything unexpected.

Locums by nature are outsiders, only with a firm for a limited period of time, so you may at first find the work environment a bit difficult to become a part of. At some of the firms I’ve worked at, many of the staff have been there for years, the record in my experience being a staggering 53 years, but with very few exceptions I’ve been made to feel welcome, been invited to the Christmas party, sometimes before I’ve actually started, included in the staff social events and on one occasion even given a Christmas bonus. It speeds things up if you’re a gregarious person, and remember that you’re the temp, and the onus is on you to fit in with them, and not the other way around.