Imagine this: You have a legal document that needs to be written urgently, but you don’t have the time or expertise to do it yourself. What do you do? Well, fear not, because there are websites out there that can connect you with talented freelancers who specialize in legal writing. In Africa, where legal matters are of utmost importance, having access to skilled legal writers is crucial.
On the other hand, if you are a skilled legal writer, an opportunity is begging; sign up on the freelance platforms and get hired.
In this article, we’ve compiled a list of the 7 best websites to hire freelancers for legal writing in Africa. Let’s dive in and explore these platforms that can help you with all your legal writing needs.
What Is Legal Writing All About?
Legal writing is any type of writing within the legal profession that seeks to confer legal information to others that is usually clear, concise, and above all, accurate. In many legal settings, specialized forms of written communication are required.
Legal writing in practice is used to solicit for or to express the resolution of a client’s legal matter. It places heavy reliance on authority. In most freelance legal writing, the writer must back up assertions and statements with citations to authority. This is accomplished by a unique and complicated citation system, unlike that used in any other genre of writing.
One form of legal writing involves drafting a balanced analysis of a legal problem or issue. Another form of legal writing is persuasive, and advocates in favor of a legal position. Legal writing is usually in the form of an essay.
Freelance legal writers are hired to express their analysis of an issue and seek to persuade others on their client’s behalf. Some of the most common forms of legal writing include briefs, memoranda, client letters, and even judicial opinions.
How Can I Become A Legal Writer?
To become a good legal writer, you will need specialized qualifications, unlike a general content writer. It is not enough to be an excellent writer. At the very least, you’ll need to have some knowledge of legal terms.
For the more technical jobs, you may even be required to have had law classes or a law degree. Paralegals are also in high demand for this type of writing gig. The standards are high, but there is a reason legal writers demand higher rates.
Here are steps to take to become a legal writer:
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1. Get a high school diploma or GED
Obtain a high school diploma or a GED, if applicable. Before hiring a legal writer, employers usually expect them to hold this accreditation. Obtaining a high school diploma or GED can assist you in acquiring the written and oral communication skills necessary to explain complicated legal concepts understandably.
2. Decide on your ideal type of legal writing
Decide on the kind of legal writing you want to do. The actions you must take depend on the type of legal writer you want to become. Think about if you would rather produce materials that aid non-legal professionals in understanding the law, or whether you would rather write more technical documents utilized by legal professionals, like briefs or news reviews.
You may also consider the kind of job you would like to obtain. Some legal writers find full-time employment with a particular law practice, magazine, or business, while others operate as independent contractors. It might be simpler for corporate and brief writers to get full-time employment. On the other hand, freelance or contract employment may be more available to legal writers with an emphasis on online content.
3. Consider a bachelor’s degree
As a prospective legal writer, you must consider getting a bachelor’s degree. While you are not mandated to, a bachelor’s degree in specific areas like communications, English, journalism, and law will give you an edge in the legal writing marketplace. This is because some employers might want reassurance that you know how to communicate complex legal developments, trends, or cases in clear and concise language.
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4. Get a law degree
Think about enrolling in law school or preparing for a legal career as a paralegal, for example. Legal writers must have an extensive understanding of legislation and the legal sector, even though they do not need to have a legal background. You can obtain a thorough understanding of current legislation, case precedents, legal trends, and other pertinent legal concepts by enrolling in law school or receiving training for entry-level legal employment.
Aspiring legal writers who wish to tackle more technical legal writing, including litigation documents or news assessments, may find that obtaining legal education or training is extremely beneficial.
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5. Build a portfolio
Lastly, you must create a portfolio of your legal writing. Whether you want to work as a freelance or full-time legal writer, many prospective employers might want to see examples of your legal writing. If you wrote any sample legal writing pieces while receiving your education or training, you can use those in your portfolio as long as you retain ownership of your work and the writing doesn’t contain any confidential information.
If you don’t yet have any legal writing pieces, consider writing a few blog articles about recent legal developments or other less technical documents.
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7 Best Websites to Hire Freelancers for Legal Writing in Africa
Here’s a list of the best websites to hire freelancers for legal writing in Africa:
1. WritersGig
WritersGig has meticulously curated a network of legal professionals with extensive experience in various types of legal writing. Whether you need contracts, briefs, legal articles, or research papers, rest assured that every word is crafted by a seasoned legal expert.
With WritersGig, you’ll experience seamless collaboration through our user-friendly platform. From initial briefings to revisions, our unique interface makes every process easy, allowing you to focus on what truly matters – achieving your legal objectives.
Why settle for average when you can have extraordinary? Here’s why WritersGig is your ultimate choice freelance website to hire legal writers.
2. Truelancer
Truelancer is a curated freelance marketplace with thousands of top-rated informative writers freelancers in Nigeria. On Truelancer you will find & hire freelance professionals offering their expertise in various freelance informative writing Services to businesses.
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3. Guru
Guru gives you access to over 1100 qualified legal writers. Here, you can hire skilled freelance legal content writers who will get the job done is a flexible platform.
4. Freelancer.com
Freelancer.com is another one of the top freelancing sites in Nigeria that connects employers with legal writers. It provides a platform for both freelancers and employers to find each other and get what they need from each other.
Freelancer is not just focused on connecting people who need help with people who are willing to help; they also offer tools for employers like job boards, project management software, payment processing services, and more
5. Fiverr
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly freelance legal writer, Fiverr is the ideal place. The marketplace for freelancers on Fiverr is huge, so you can easily find experts in document drafting, legal advice and consultation, and legal research.
On Fiverr, you can easily pick the best freelance lawyer for your needs. You can use advanced filters to search by traits like field of law, seller level, budget, and delivery time. Once you find a good fit, you can check out the qualifications and customer reviews on their profile.
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6. Flexjobs
Flexjobs is an online platform that allows you to hire freelancers for legal writing jobs. It is a job-matching service that helps employers and employees find suitable jobs.
Flexjobs also has a freelancer section where legal writers can post their skill sets and get matched with the right employer at the right time.
7. PeoplePerHour
On PeoplePerHour you will find quality freelance legal writers who know the job. On the platform, freelancers complete work quickly and at a set price by buying a pre-packaged offer from one of our talented freelancers.
How Much Does A Legal Writer Earn In Africa?
According to a recent report on ZipRecruiter, the average hourly pay for a Legal Writer is $38.94 an hour. While the hourly wages can be as high as $66.11 and as low as $13.70, the majority of Legal Writer wages currently range between $28.85 (25th percentile) to $47.12 (75th percentile) across the United States.
The average pay range for a Legal Writer varies greatly based on factors like skill level, location, and years of experience.
FAQs On Freelance Legal Writing
Freelance legal writing involves providing written content on legal topics for clients on a contract basis. This can include drafting legal documents, researching legal issues, writing articles or blog posts on legal topics, and more.
You can find freelance legal writing opportunities as an African through online platforms such as WritersGig, Freelancer, Fiverr, Guru, etc. Networking with legal professionals and joining legal writing communities or forums will also be an advantage. Additionally, reaching out directly to law firms, legal publishers, or websites that publish legal content can be effective.
Accuracy is important in legal writing. To ensure accuracy, you must carry out thorough research using reliable sources such as legal databases, statutes, case law, and scholarly articles. Double-check all facts, citations, and legal interpretations before submitting your work.
Conclusion
Now you know the platforms where you can get hired for legal writing services, the next step is to look for jobs and just go for them. The worst that can happen is that you don’t get hired. If you do get hired, don’t worry, you’ll get better with time. Becoming a legal writer entails pretty much the same thing as becoming a writer in any niche — learning, practicing, and hustling.
WritersGig is a good place to start for small jobs (though you’ll find big ones, too).
References
- websiteplanet.com – 8 Best Websites to Hire Lawyers & Legal Experts [2024]
