by Wilton H. Strickland

Today marks 25 years since I began practicing law. It’s hard to believe so much time has passed, or that I found a way to enjoy a profession that can be highly stressful. After practicing litigation for thirteen years, I realized that I was miserable and wanted out, but I wasn’t sure exactly where to go. Then I stumbled on an advertisement by a much younger attorney who had established her own business helping other attorneys with their projects. The idea immediately captivated me, as I had acquired a vast amount of knowledge and experience that I could put to use on my own terms instead of running myself ragged handling entire cases. That was twelve years ago, which means I’ve been doing this for almost as long as I engaged in full-scale practice. I move from one project to another and remain mostly anonymous to the people involved, much like the Lone Ranger moving from town to town in a quest to uphold law and order. And I am happier than ever.

One reason for my happiness is my quality of life, which is far better than it used to be. I can bill below 1,000 hours a year and still make a decent living because I have very few overhead expenses. This gives me an incredible amount of free time to travel, stay in shape, or just relax.

Another reason for my happiness goes deeper: I’ve always loved the intellectual aspect of the law. Oddly, almost nobody I ever met in law school or in the practice actually cared about the law. For them, the law is mere window dressing or the means to some other end. The ordinary practice of law also requires spending large amounts of time and energy on tasks that have nothing to do with the law itself. For me, the law is intriguing for its own sake, which is why I write articles and books about it. The fact that I can make a living focusing on what I love is something that is impossible to put a price tag on, and every new project great or small provides me with intellectual stimulation. I have amassed an incredible library of arguments and authorities on countless aspects of the law. I also have created, researched, and written arguments that have helped people in crisis while contributing to the law’s evolution around the entire country, since I can assist attorneys wherever they are licensed to practice.

It is also a pleasure working with other attorneys, not only because we understand each other so well, but also because I have peace of mind knowing that they are bound by ethical rules and standards. Although I occasionally help non-attorneys, there is a greater risk of running into crackpots and malcontents who can act with impunity, which has happened to me on a few occasions. But most of my work with non-attorneys has been rewarding. For example, I helped establish the Montana Down Syndrome Association (MDSA), and I fought the good fight to help an elderly woman in her quest to restore her family’s legacy. I also enjoy helping other clients who require occasional advice on running businesses or resolving disputes.

On the downside, there is a stigma associated with being a contract attorney because of a popular belief that we perform menial tasks that a paralegal or a recent law graduate could manage. Nothing could be further from the truth, as I often handle complex matters that give even the most experienced attorneys headaches and sleepless nights. Besides, I have a good life and feel no need to impress anyone. The occasional disparaging remark stinks of sour grapes.

Another potential downside is the advent of AI, which some attorneys have shown an unfortunate habit of relying on to generate ideas and arguments. This might diminish the demand for contract attorneys, even with regard to complex projects that should be handled by humans rather than unthinking and imitative machines. However, there is a growing apprehensiveness toward AI in the practice of law, and I already have seen public requests for legal work that demand it to be AI-free. There will likely be a resurgence of demand for legal work by human beings when the luster of AI is more widely understood as fool’s gold.

If you are feeling unhappy or burned out by the practice of law, doing what I do might be a solution. It was difficult at first because I had to find clients despite not being a natural salesman. Once I assembled a solid core of attorneys who trusted me, though, the projects continued coming in and relieved some of the pressure of finding new business. If you choose to go down this path, I recommend that you publish an article or two in a legal journal, which is its own form of advertising that demonstrates your skill. I also recommend making sure that you have a broad skillset and a fair amount of experience practicing law, which will inspire confidence and familiarity from other attorneys.

Life is too short to be miserable. You can make the practice of law work for you rather than you for it. If anyone ever wants to talk to me about how to do this, feel free to get in touch!