Thus, the fact that an attorney works in an alternative schedule does not necessarily make the attorney less available than an associate with a full-time schedule. Technological advancements have made it easier for attorneys to work in alternative schedules. It is no longer safe to assume that because the reduced-hour attorney is not in the office after five o clock, the attorney is not working. I found that many attorneys make their reduced-hour schedule work by telecommuting. Reduced-hour attorneys often put in additional hours at home each night after the kids fall asleep.
Contract attorneys continue to be viewed as attorneys of lower quality.
I found, however, that many recent graduates from top law schools have opted out of full-time firm jobs for contract work. In many cases, contract attorneys hourly rates are higher that their full-time counterparts. They set their own schedule and choose their own work. The perception of contract attorneys is going to improve as contracting becomes more common. Evidence suggests that contract attorneys, if used effectively, can cut client costs significantly and reduce firm overhead.