A complete guide to being a legal locum

If you’re a legal candidate who is considering a locum job, you may be unsure of what's involved. Many candidates have a misconception that becoming a legal locum is complex. However, our expert teams support legal locum candidates daily, providing advice and answering questions on assignment length, pay, sectors, and how to make a smooth transition. 

This guide brings together the full picture, covering both general locum work and what to expect if you're working in the public sector. You can also take a look at our legal recruitment page to find out more. 

Who typically becomes a legal locum?

Generally, legal professionals opt for locum jobs to accommodate other interests. Legal locums could be: 

• Retired or semi-retired Lawyers.  

• Lawyers returning to work and gaining experience.  

• Candidates seeking project work. 

• Lawyers transitioning to a different area of law. 

• Newly qualified (NQ) Solicitors exploring new disciplines.

• Candidates wanting flexibility.  

• Candidates not looking to work all year round.  

Beginning your journey as a legal locum

We encourage legal candidates to contact us if they decide to pursue a locum role, to discuss the best approach.  

We understand that many candidates moving into locum work have mortgages to pay and families to support , therefore one of the most important things that prospective locums must factor in is the impact of not having a permanent salary. We advocate - and support you with - meticulous planning to ensure a smooth transition and often have new locum assignments lined up for candidates as they approach the end of their current contract. 

Take a look at our blog on continuity and flexibility in the locum market. 

What are the benefits of being a legal locum?

Attractive pay

Provided professionals are equipped with the necessary skills, legal locums have the potential to earn more than permanent candidates. Here are the three main reasons why legal locum jobs have higher hourly rates:  

• Invariably, roles come up at short notice, and candidates’ services are urgently needed, meaning they can charge a premium.   

• Legal locums are expected to display greater flexibility than their permanent counterparts. For instance, as a locum, you may be tasked with project work or asked to support with ad-hoc responsibilities. A significant portion of our roles result from increased workloads, and as a locum, it’s your job to alleviate that.   

• Roles regularly involve working independently and covering for permanent staff. Therefore, locums are expected to take on responsibilities and have an immediate impact without too much supervision.  

Flexibility and work-life balance

Legal locums can achieve a desirable work-life balance, which is one of the main reasons candidates make the move. Examples of flexibility in legal locum jobs include:  

• Part-time hours.  

• Flexible working hours. 

• Remote working.  

These offerings are particularly useful for those with young children, elderly parents or other caring responsibilities. Locum work also enables candidates to travel or spend more time with their loved ones.  

This benefit is illustrated by candidates who seize this opportunity to work for a prolonged period to take months off, whether that’s to travel or have the summer holidays off with children. Those who do this often see that their take-home pay hasn’t been impacted because they are earning more in a shorter space of time.  

Legal locums can quickly develop their skills

Variety is synonymous with locum work. Each organisation you work for will be different, enabling you to gain experience that many other legal professionals don’t have access to.  

Locum jobs also present an opportunity to explore new areas of law that might not have been considered. This has been demonstrated by a number of our candidates who have learnt new skills in IT or case management.  

Ample job opportunities

Candidates who commit to developing their skills, especially within a niche sector, could receive near-limitless job opportunities. How you leverage locum work is up to you. We’ve seen candidates use it as a temporary measure while they find a permanent position, while others decide locum work is the best career choice for them; we refer to the latter as ‘career locums’.  

As a legal locum, while searching for a long-term position, you get exposure to new organisations and locations, giving your CV and experience points a significant boost. We have a strong record of supporting candidates moving from locum roles to permanent employment, and vice versa.  

Many candidates wrongly believe that locum work stalls career progression. Instead, there are opportunities to accept more responsibility, delve into other areas of law to broaden your experience and climb to a more senior role. Take a look at our blog which delves into progression as a legal locum. 

How will I be paid as a legal locum?

Being paid through an Umbrella company

There are several ways legal locums can be paid, the most popular form being through an umbrella company. At Sellick Partnership, we work with several umbrella companies that have been carefully vetted to ensure they meet HMRC requirements, and we are happy to discuss the process and answer any questions you may have.  

For more information view our blog on choosing an umbrella company.

How does it work? Each week, you submit a timesheet outlining the hours you’ve worked. Following your line manager’s approval, we pay the umbrella company, and then they pay you. The umbrella company deals with your tax and national insurance deductions, so the figure that goes into your bank account each week is yours.  

Being paid PAYE

You may prefer to be paid on a PAYE basis through our payroll. This means you’ll be paid through Sellick Partnership instead of the company you work for, or an umbrella company. If you choose this option, your holiday pay goes into a separate pot for when you wish to take time off.  Your holiday pot will remain there for you to use as you wish and does not expire; </...