Why Should You Consider Locum Work?

The way people are working is changing. People are now looking for a better work/life balance, and locum work can help provide this. 

There have been assumptions in the past that locum work brings with it few benefits or that any disadvantage outweighs the benefits. However, new opportunities and benefits have emerged over the last few years to make locum work more attractive. So, should you consider locum working as an alternative to a permanent position? 

Now, locum work in the legal sector is nothing new. Local authorities have often needed locum contractors to fill gaps as and when required. However, these gaps have grown bigger and bigger, thanks in part to increased backlogs brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Demand has increased, and the locum market is still buoyant, despite the fact that we are a couple of years down the line now. This sector has plenty of opportunities as authorities seek to fill gaps following redundancy and early retirement. In many cases, people in permanent positions have moved to locum work, as the lure of higher pay outweighed the benefits of additional sick pay and pensions that come with permanent roles. The pandemic caused many people to reconsider their careers, and there was a renewed emphasis on achieving a better work-life balance across the economy. It was clear, and remains so, that people want more control over their work, and when they work, and locum work does provide a way for people to do that. Whether working around a family, caring responsibilities, or even just wanting control of your hours, locum work gives you an excellent opportunity to balance your hours better and control your work level . 

Other benefits can make locum work attractive to people looking to enter the sector. One common criticism of locum working is needing to hop from one short-term contract to another, but there are opportunities for legal locums to have long-lasting careers. Depending on the requirements of your role, you could end up being employed for several years, giving you that job security, even in a temporary position. With the competitive market, permanent vacancies are left unfilled for longer, requiring long-term locum cover. There are also plenty of opportunities to become more specialised in some legal regions and projects and build a more prominent personal brand for yourself. This could help you to gain even more work, mainly if you specialise in a particular field. You can also open yourself up to different work cultures and methods if you are a locum. If you move around, you can be exposed to many kinds of work. It will help you become more versatile, whether at the beginning of your career as a paralegal or even if you have more experience in a permanent position. Being involved in different types of work and different projects keeps the work interesting too, as you can be working on different things all the time. All of these things can help you build up an impressive CV that will open doors for you to further your career. 

Locum work is on the rise, and there are plenty of opportunities for people to move into this sector. People can take on many different roles, from contracts and childcare law to housing and litigation, property and planning, and more, at all levels of experience. It is well worth exploring this potential opportunity, and contrary to the traditional view of locum work, it might be well worth your time.