The D.C. Contract Attorney Market: what’s happening? what’s the pay rate?

D.C. has regained the top spot in number of document review projects, number of contract employees employed.  We are going to update this report as more info comes in from Posse List members:

The big news is that the Microsoft/Yahoo document review is coming to town.  Well, being restarted since the review was started a few months ago and then went into “hold” while some issues were resolved.   Both reviews (Perkins Coie/Hudson on one side and Wilson Sonsini/Compliance on the other) are slated to restart between Oct. 12-19.   Based on the status of data collection to date, each will start with 75 to 150 contract attorneys, perhaps in phases.  Recruitment has begun (callbacks to the previous participants) and we expect others will get the call (and have got the call).   Allegedly the rate looks to be $32/33 and there are claims of lots of OT.

What else is out there?  A quick summary based on Posse List feedback (we get feedback on a regular basis from about 100 of you in our DC reporting group) of significant projects:

Ajilon

They seem to have 2 significant projects, one at $30 and one at $35 but latest feedback is one is at or near completion.

CPA Global

They have at least 5 projects but all through the direct hire crowd (see last entry below).  They usually manage projects and use agencies like Kelly Law registry to staff them.

Clutch

They have 1 significant case, at $33 with OT. 

Compliance

The 9^th floor is full, with at least 3 projects going and Posse List members are reporting pay ranges of $28 to $35, all with OT.  Oh, and then they have a small project referenced at the top of this post.  Plus, they posted a large project in the DC Asian Bar Association newsletter for a document review on a large matter that began September 22:  170 attorneys in DC and 30 in NYC.  

Firm Advice

A  project just finished that “went wacky” according to several Posse List members on the project.  There was OT in the beginning, then hours capped to 40, then not even 40 … yadda yadda yadda.   The law firm said (surprise!) not our fault” as so go figure.

HireCounsel

They appear to have 2 large projects paying $35.

Hudson

Well, they have the goliath we discussed above, plus another one of decent size coming before Microsoft/Yahoo (or so one their tech folks is telling people) plus several small ones.  Rates are low: $28 and 30.  Word is they will need to pump it up to staff Mister Softee.

Kelly Law Registry

They are busy.  They appear to have 5 going on, in the $32 to $35 range, but 2 of the projects are multiple litigations/same client, and one has lots of OT.    

Legal Assets

They have a large, ongoing, long-term project paying $35 with OT but capped at 50.

Legal Placements

At least 4 projects running, paying $32-35, with OT and going from a few weeks to a few months.

Lexolution

Feedback is they have 3 on the fire, running several weeks, and paying on average $32 and having OT.

Peak Counsel

They have 1 project, slated to go for several monts, and paying $23 — the lowest rate in DC right now.

Phase Legal

1 significant project reported in, running several weeks, priced at $31 but rate and OT higher if you are on the priv team.

Robert Half

1 project we know of, the Posse List member said it paid $28 (no OT) and it the lowest rate except for Peak Counsel.

Special Counsel

The champs.  Busy as hell.   We count 8 projects, running between 3 weeks to several months, paying in the range of $32-35, all paying OT with a wide range of OT caps: 50 hours to 70 hours.  They seem to be the busiest in DC right now with one major D.C. law firm client of theirs very busy.

Strategic Legal

1 short project, almost complete (ran a few weeks) which paid $30+ OT and OT averaged 10 hours.

Update Legal

Posse List members report at least 6 projects going, in the usual band of 2 weeks to several months, and rates of between $32-35, all paying OT.

The direct hire crowd: Cleary, Covington, Crowell                       

It’s tough to get a feel on these.  All are busy.  They get their folks primarily from various agencies (and in some cases they have professional managers like CPA Global who then staff them from various sources like Kelly) but based on feedback the 3 firms have 6 projects amongst them, most paying $38+ OT.

And there are also projects being staffed by RR Donelly, Palmer and Pat Taylor plus Digisource (who links up with Phase Legal) but we don’t have full details.

Surprisingly, 6 of the above projects are “financial crisis related” doc reviews.  According to Posse List members, at least 3 were slated for NYC but project managers told them the doc review facilities in D.C. were larger, better equipped.