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One of the greatest benefits of joining a virtual law firm and becoming a sole practitioner is the freedom to decide when, where, and how you work. This sounds excellent until you realise there is no one to cover your work when you want to take a holiday. However, it is essential that you take time off for your physical and mental wellbeing and to ensure you have the energy to be as productive as possible while you are working. In this article we look at how our lawyers go about taking their holidays.
At Scott-Moncrieff, we provide support for our lawyers, helping them to create a working life that works for them. To find out more about working as a freelance lawyer for a virtual law firm, read our Guide to Working for a Virtual Law Firm.
Planning
You are in charge of your working schedule, so organising your work around holidays is your responsibility. Consider when the busiest times in your practice year usually are and avoid taking time off during these periods. If you have regular clients, you should discuss their upcoming projects and need, allowing you to choose the best time to take your holiday.
Preparation
In the lead up to taking a holiday, you should be as prepared as possible to leave your work behind for a week or two. Check and double check that you have completed all work before any deadlines. You should also email your clients a few months in advance to let them know and add a reminder to your e-signature in the weeks leading up to your holiday. This will give clients plenty of time to raise any work, issues or concerns well in advance of you taking time off.
Document management
At Scott-Moncrieff, we know that managing a virtual law firm is different to a physical firm, so we are obsessive about document management. We ensure all of our virtual lawyers upload their documents, and we provide exceptional administrative support.
Remote working
Of course, we should all be able to take time off completely away from the office. However, many people feel more at ease knowing they can briefly ‘check-in’ with work while they are away. At Scott-Moncrieff, we have sophisticated case management systems in place to allow our lawyers to work from wherever they are. Working while on holiday should be no different to working at home, so you can be sure you are not missing anything important while you are away.
Supervision and support
One of the many benefits of working with Scott-Moncrieff is our many years of experience in helping freelance lawyers thrive. If you are concerned about taking a holiday, you can discuss this with our support team, as well as with your fellow freelance lawyers at one of our social meetups. Being a freelance lawyer with us does not mean you have to go it alone; we provide practical advice and support whenever you need it.
Work with Scott-Moncrieff as a Freelance Lawyer
At Scott-Moncrieff, we are committed to helping our freelance lawyers achieve a healthy and productive work-life balance.
If you are interested in learning more about a career as a freelance lawyer and have at least five years PQE with relevant experience in a particular area of law, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we will get back to you with more details.
