Adapting to New Employment Models: Gig Economy and Freelance Lawyers

The gig economy has permeated our country's employment models. Some companies, such as Deliveroo, have declared that they have no dedicated employees but instead connect businesses and customers via their app, which allows a pool of riders on zero-hours freelance contracts to access the work available on a first-come-first-served basis. This new way of working has given rise to two new opportunities for British lawyers.

Employment law

It has long been believed that zero-hours contracts do not adequately protect workers, and in February 2021, the UK Supreme Court made a landmark ruling that British Uber drivers were, in fact, not freelancers but genuinely employed by the company.?

This determination was made on the basis that the information held by the company and supplied to its workers in allowing them to undertake their duties was correlative to an employer and worker relationship rather than that of a self-employed individual making their own decisions about their workload.?

This legal ruling ensures that those working for the company benefit from sick pay, protection against dismissal and various other occupational health and safety provisions.?

Employment lawyers have an important role to play in determining whether employment models are fair and ethical when protecting their clients' rights. They must consider a range of factors and determine whether their client is working on a purely self-employed basis or whether the work that they are expected to do falls under the category of employment.

Freelance lawyers

Platform law firms are a reasonably modern creation wherein self-employed lawyers work from a remote location delivering the services that are required of the firm and using its shared services, which may include accounting, IT, marketing and compliance tools and technologies.?

These lawyers are able to set their own hours, keep a higher percentage of their fees and determine what proportion of their time they allocate to fee-earning activities rather than marketing. The firms that supply the workload to this cadre of self-employed legal professionals benefit from lower overhead costs and the ability to flexibly allocate cases based on the availability and specialisms of the lawyers to whom they have access.

Platform law firms also benefit from the ability to expand into niche markets and under-served geographical locations as the lawyers delivering the services are working from remote locations and are not required to provide a physical presence at any particular location.

Freelance lawyers do not benefit from the rights and job security offered by employment, but for those entrepreneurial professionals wishing to practice law their way and enjoy an improved work-life balance, this way of working can support them in achieving their career ambitions without compromising their personal lives.

In conclusion

Employment law is a complex area and determining the rights of individuals and the responsibilities of the businesses that provide them with work can require dedicated legal support to establish the true nature of the relationship between the two. This offers specialist legal professionals an excellent opportunity to hone their skills in this area.

Conversely, lawyers who wish to side-step the strictures of corporate law firms and pursue their career on a self-employed basis now have greater opportunities than ever before, by supplying their services under the umbrella of a platform law firm.

To find out more about the options that are available to you, please contact Interlink Talent Solutions: [email protected]

We can help you to fully consider the different employment models that are available to you, based on your preferences, geographical location, experience and qualifications and support you in achieving the next step on your career path.?

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