San Francisco Contract Attorneys & Lawyers

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Brig R.

Brig Ricks

146 reviews
I am a senior executive and strategic legal adviser with 19 years of experience providing legal services in international environments. I am a general counsel who can advis... read more
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Rhea D.

Rhea De Aenlle

61 reviews
Rhea de Aenlle is a business-savvy attorney with extensive experience in Privacy & Data Security (CIPP/US, CIPP/E), GDPR, CCPA, HIPAA, FERPA, Intellectual Property, and... read more
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Michael M.

Michael Mowery

15 reviews
I have lived and understand your opportunities and challenges. As a global corporate legal executive and social sector entrepreneur, I’ve partnered with a broad range of bu... read more
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Monica W.

Monica Winghart

6 reviews
Monica is the founder of Voltage Law and specializes in working with tech, SaaS, consumer products and healthcare industries. Throughout her career, Monica has held leaders... read more
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Nicholas W.

Nicholas Webb

2 reviews
Thanks for checking out my profile. I am a licensed Calfiornia attorney who focuses on civil and healthcare law. I have handled cases ranging from civil litigation, profess... read more
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Sophia M.

Sophia Mellein

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Liz O.

Liz Oliner

1176 reviews
If you want someone who has gone through the trademark process over and over again, look no further than Liz Oliner. She has filed over 300 trademarks in the last year alone and has practically got the process down to a science. Small businesses and entrepreneurs frequently come to Ms. Oliner for their trademark and brand protection needs.
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Joshua G.

Joshua Garber

285 reviews
Representing notable clients like Tesla and the City of Los Angeles, Josh Garber excels at helping clients with employment and labor laws. Many of his past clients have had great success using Josh for employment agreements and Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE) hearings. With his practical advice, he has even helped clients avoid going to court.
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Jesko O.

Jesko Onken

50 reviews
Licensed in California and Germany, Jesko Onken offers cost-effective legal advice to small and midsize companies. A speaker of German, French, and Italian, Mr. Onken provides services in business law and international legal management. He specializes in entity formation, business contracts, corporate compliance, immigration, licensing, and securities.
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Lon L.

Lon Lazar

16 reviews
Independent attorney specializing in Wills,Trusts, Estate Planning, and General Business Law. Wills, trusts, and estate planning; California business law; civil litigat... read more
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San Francisco Contract Lawyers

5.0 
Based on 2318 reviews
Clear Communication - 5.0
Response Time - 5.0
Knowledgeable - 5.0
Meets Deadlines - 5.0
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Why Hire a Contract Lawyer?

When you have a short-term need for legal assistance, hiring a contract lawyer is the perfect solution. Studies show more than half of all law firms use contract attorneys to meet demand during peak periods. They're not the only ones. Contract lawyers are also used in the following businesses:

  • Startup firms
  • Small to medium businesses
  • Government departments
  • Finance companies

In fact, any business needing legal assistance may hire a contract lawyer.

For legal practices, the benefits of contract lawyers are obvious. A practice can bring in a contract lawyer who specializes in a particular area to satisfy a new client, essentially making itself a full-service firm. There are contract lawyers who specialize in a number of legal areas, including:

  • Family law
  • Bankruptcy
  • Environmental protection
  • Asylum seekers and refugees
  • Contracts law

Since contract lawyers are hired for short-term projects, they're often more affordable than keeping an attorney on retainroughlyer. Studies show contract attorneys cost businesses a third of the amount that a permanent hire would cost to do the same work.

Some of the duties a contract lawyer in San Francisco may perform include:

  • Researching legal cases
  • Preparing and reviewing legal documents
  • Advising clients on legal matters

Contract lawyers can also help employees enjoy a better work-life balance. With an extra pair of hands in the office, other workers could cut back on overtime and reduce their stress levels. This is great for business, as it prevents burnout and helps workers stay productive.

Top contract attorneys are also good at what they do. Don't make the mistake of thinking they take contract work because they can't land a full-time legal role. Contractors typically enjoy the flexibility and diversity their jobs provide. Remember, they have earned the same degrees, passed the same bar exams, and obtained the same licensing as any other attorney in San Francisco.

How to Find the Best Contract Lawyer in San Francisco

Make sure the contract lawyer you intend to hire has passed the State Bar of California exam. This is a requirement for licensure in all California cities, including San Francisco. After passing the exam, lawyers have five years to apply for admission to the State Bar of California.

Ensure that the lawyer's licensure is current. All attorneys in California must complete 25 hours of legal education every three years to maintain their license for practicing law.

If you're looking for a contract lawyer who specializes in a particular area of law, look for an attorney with certification in that area through the State Bar of California. The Bar offers certification in:

  • Admiralty and maritime law
  • Appellate law
  • Bankruptcy law
  • Criminal law
  • Estate planning, trust, and probate law
  • Family law
  • Franchise and distribution law
  • Immigration and nationality law
  • Legal malpractice law
  • Taxation law
  • Workers' compensation law

In addition, the State Bar of California recognizes national certification obtained through the following bodies:

  • The American Board of Certification
  • The National Board of Legal Specialty Certification
  • The American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys
  • National Elder Law Foundation
  • National Association of Counsel for Children

While certification isn't required to specialize, it does show the attorney has a real commitment to the chosen area.

If you know other business people who've used contract lawyers, ask them about their experiences. You can also learn what other people think of specific contract lawyers working in San Francisco through online testimonials.

While it's important to know which contract lawyers are performing well, it's also vital to know which contract lawyers may not get results for you. One good way is consulting the State Bar Court of California website. It has a searchable database of all attorneys working in the state, including any public records of discipline. You can order these records, which explain the reasons for any disciplinary action, from the State Bar Court.

Questions for a Contract Lawyer

  • Do you exclusively take contract work?
  • How long have you been taking contract work?
  • What kind of work have you been doing lately?
  • How much experience do you have with the type of work we'll be doing?
  • How would you approach our project?
  • Are there any areas of the project that are outside your comfort zone?
  • How do you normally work? Are you happy to work in our office, at least part time?
  • Do you ever subcontract your work to other lawyers?
  • Can you extend your contract if the project takes longer than we expect?
  • Are you open to working overtime if we need you?
  • Would you be open to taking future assignments with us if this contract goes well?
  • Do you have malpractice insurance?
  • What is your fee structure?

A contract attorney may work for your company for just a few days or a few months. The choice is yours! When you have a short-term need for legal expertise, trust one of San Francisco's best contract lawyers to fill it.

Why use UpCounsel to hire a San Francisco Contract Attorney?

14 years

Average experience

You always get experienced professionals and high caliber work.

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Your work gets done quickly because professionals are always available.

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Legal Services Offered by Our On-Demand San Francisco Contract Attorneys

The San Francisco contract attorneys & lawyers on UpCounsel are dedicated to helping businesses save time, money, and peace of mind with contract drafting and review, negotiations, litigation support, discovery, commercial business transactions, and more.

Our independent contract attorneys are available on-demand to provide contract legal services for businesses or to support your in-house general counsel to help lighten the load for transactional matters or litigation support.

Although the work of the San Francisco contract attorneys found on UpCounsel often varies. They are highly experienced in legal contract activities such as commercial contract negotiations, document review in response to document subpoenas, request for production of documents, legal research, draft legal briefs, along with providing a full range of other contract legal services to businesses of any size.

If You Need Ongoing Legal Counsel or Ad-hoc Legal Work - We Can Help!

Improve Your Legal ROI with Affordable Contract Attorneys that service San Francisco, CA.

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