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Are more lawyers opting for ‘slashie’ careers?
Worldwide, more and more professionals are balancing multiple vocational hats. For lawyers, running a business alongside one’s full-time job opens up new challenges and opportunities, writes Paul Garth.
Paul Garth
Working a full-time job and juggling another business has become increasingly popular. Recent Australian Bureau of Statistics data have shown that 6.5 per cent of working Australians now hold a second job.
These workers tend to be dubbed as “slashies”: i.e., individuals who make their income from different jobs.
The “slashie” role was once mostly designating celebrities whose multi-hyphenate careers were a result of working and networking in the media. Think of Rihanna, for example, who was originally known for being a hugely successful singer, is now an actress, fashion designer, and businesswoman too.
The slashie career is ideal for an individual who wants more fulfilment from their working life — this can be built by having more control and choice over the variety and frequency of projects and challenges they take on.
The aforementioned statistics show that professionals in other industries have a desire to adopt a portfolio career too, including lawyers. The last few years have created a more flexible legal industry and profession.
Many lawyers work in a hybrid manner, and sentiment has changed about what it means to be productive and present. The growing market in flexible legal services reflects that lawyers desire new working styles to practise law. We’ve found many of them want more variety out of their careers.
For lawyers wanting to pursue entrepreneurial projects outside of work, freelancing can give them the time (not having to fit it around the nine to five) and the security of a primary income when pursuing riskier ventures. Positions as a freelance lawyer range from three to six months, which can be a good fit for lawyers who run seasonal businesses too.
Many of our freelance lawyers are slashies. We’ve seen an increase in the number of lawyers joining our ranks who run side businesses, for example, a director of a legal services business, an illustrator, a DJ and record company manager, a wine company owner, and a founder of a sailing adventure business. A very eclectic mix!
Freelance lawyering is ideal for lawyers who are resilient and able to embrace change and new challenges.
Not only does working as a freelance lawyer give opportunities to work on a variety of projects that wouldn’t necessarily be available in private practice, but it also gives the ability to decide their working week and offers a good opportunity to practise and still progress in the law whilst also pursuing a business venture outside of it.
Paul Garth is an account director at Pinsent Masons Vario.
