In this guide, I explain that hiring a legal writer is about managing risk, compliance, and liability, not just finding someone who writes well.
The first time I hired a legal writer, I assumed strong writing skills would be enough. I was wrong.
Legal writing is not just about talent or clarity. It is about compliance, citations, applicable law, accuracy checking, and understanding how language can affect liability. A small wording mistake in a privacy policy or contract clause can create bigger problems further down the line.
If you are hiring a legal writer, you need someone who understands both writing and legal standards. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the best platforms, how to evaluate legal writers, and what to expect from the hiring process.
11 best platforms to hire a legal writer shortlist
Upwork – Best for flexible hiring of freelance legal writers and lawyers.
LawTrades – Best for hiring vetted freelance lawyers for legal drafting.
Fiverr – Best for smaller legal content tasks and document edits.
Freelancer – Best for competitive bidding on legal writing projects.
WriterHire – Best for customized legal content services.
Kolabtree – Best for research-driven legal and regulatory writing.
PeoplePerHour – Best for project-based legal writing support.
LinkedIn – Best for finding experienced attorney writers.
Guru – Best for proposal-based legal writing contracts.
ClearVoice – Best for managed legal content strategy.
Why trust my recommendations?
I have hired writers across technical, business, and compliance-heavy industries. Legal writing sits at the intersection of research, precision, and risk management.
When evaluating platforms, I look at the vetting process, quality control, secure communication, and whether the platform supports serious professional experience. Legal content is not an area where you want shortcuts.
Top legal writer hiring platforms
Some platforms focus on freelance marketplaces with competitive pricing options. Others emphasize vetted attorney writers and qualified legal professionals.
Your choice depends on whether you need legal document drafting, SEO content writing services for law firms, or research-driven compliance materials.
Let’s break them down.
1. Upwork
Upwork has a wide range of legal content writers, freelance lawyers, and paralegal-level researchers. You can hire for drafting, legal research, compliance writing, or ongoing content production.
It works well if you want flexibility and control over budget, scope, and turnaround time.
Why I picked Upwork
I picked Upwork because it allows you to filter by relevant experience, portfolio, and even legal specialty. You can structure payments through milestone systems and communicate inside the platform.
It is especially useful when you want to run a paid trial before committing to a long-term retainer.
LawTrades connects businesses with vetted freelance lawyers. Unlike general marketplaces, this platform focuses specifically on legal professionals.
It is designed for companies that need legal drafting, compliance review, or part-time associates rather than general content writers.
Why I picked LawTrades
I chose LawTrades because of its quality vetting process. If your work requires licensed attorneys and deep legal terminology expertise, this platform reduces screening risk.
It is better suited for serious legal document drafting and advisory-level work.
Fiverr is best for smaller legal content tasks like editing, drafting simple agreements, or writing blog posts for law firms.
It offers per-word rate systems and predefined gig packages, which make pricing transparent.
Why I picked Fiverr
I picked Fiverr for quick turnaround needs and clearly defined deliverables. If you need help formatting a legal document or polishing a draft, it can be efficient.
Speed and simplicity are the key words here. For complex compliance or litigation pleadings, I would vet heavily or use a more specialized platform.
Freelancer uses a competitive bidding system that allows you to compare multiple legal writers at once.
It works best when you have a clearly defined project scope and want to evaluate cost ranges quickly.
Why I picked Freelancer
I picked Freelancer because it helps surface competitive pricing options fast. You can review profiles, writing samples, and proposals side by side.
It requires a strong screening process to ensure compliance and legal accuracy. Make sure you have someone who can perform this task well.
Key features
Competitive bidding
Milestone payments
Profile reviews
Pros
Budget flexibility
Fast proposal collection
Good for straightforward drafting
Cons
The screening burden is high
Quality varies
Learn more: Check out Freelancer on their website.
5. ProBlogger Job Board
ProBlogger is a great choice when you need legal content marketing rather than technical legal drafting.
Writers here tend to specialize in blogging, SEO, and legal marketing strategy for law firms.
Why I picked ProBlogger
I selected ProBlogger for law firms focused on SEO and legal content strategy. If your priority is content marketing rather than legal research or compliance documents, this platform fits well.
It attracts writers who understand both SEO and writing style for online audiences. They’ll market your services well.
WriterHire offers customized legal content services for businesses and agencies.
It positions itself as a more curated alternative to open freelance platforms. A built-in vetting system can shorten the amount of time needed for a successful hire.
Why I Picked WriterHire
I picked WriterHire for teams that want more oversight and less screening. If you prefer working with an agency-style model rather than managing freelancers directly, this structure can reduce friction.
It works well for ongoing content needs tied to legal marketing or compliance.
Key features
A curated writer pool
Customized content services
Structured ordering process
Pros
Reduced vetting time
More predictable quality
Agency-style support
Cons
Higher cost than open marketplaces
Less direct writer selection
Learn more: Check out WriterHire on their website.
7. Kolabtree
Kolabtree connects clients with researchers and subject matter experts, including legal and regulatory specialists.
It is especially useful for research-heavy legal writing that requires extensive knowledge, comprehensive research, and citation support. Possibly the most academic of the lot.
Why I picked Kolabtree
I picked Kolabtree because some legal writing projects require a research-driven approach rather than a marketing tone. If you need white papers, regulatory analysis, or complex documentation, this platform supports that depth.
It is an excellent choice for businesses working at the intersection of law and technical fields.
PeoplePerHour blends hourly contracts with project-based pricing.
It allows you to evaluate legal writers through profile review, writing samples, and competitive proposals.
Why I picked PeoplePerHour
I chose PeoplePerHour because it offers flexibility similar to Upwork but often with less competition noise. You don’t have to plow through tons of candidates. It can be useful for mid-sized legal drafting tasks or ongoing content needs.
It works best when you define scope and turnaround time clearly upfront.
Key features
Hourly and project contracts
Profile reviews
Secure messaging
Pros
Flexible pricing
Clear proposal structure
Good for mid-size projects
Cons
Screening still required
Quality varies
Learn more: Check out PeoplePerHour on their website.
9. LinkedIn
LinkedIn is powerful for finding attorney writers and professionals with specific practice area experience. Its extensive pool of talent cannot be beaten.
You can validate educational background, relevant experience, and legal publications directly through profiles.
Why I picked LinkedIn
I picked LinkedIn because it provides context beyond a simple writing sample. You can review professional history, certifications, and endorsements.
It is a good choice when compliance and credibility matter more than speed.
Guru supports proposal-based hiring with milestone payment systems. This makes it somewhat similar to Upwork.
It works well when you want legal writers to outline their process before starting.
Why I picked Guru
I picked Guru because legal writing benefits from clarity in the process. Comparing how writers approach legal research and drafting helps you choose the right fit.
ClearVoice focuses on managed content strategy and offers you access to curated freelancer networks.
It is often used by companies that want structured content production rather than one-off hires.
Why I picked ClearVoice
I picked ClearVoice for organizations that want legal content integrated into a broader content strategy. It works best when I’m dealing with a long-term project spanning months or even years.
If you are producing consistent thought leadership, compliance explainers, or legal marketing assets, this model works well. It reduces coordination burden across multiple writers.
Key features
Curated writer network
Managed content workflows
Team collaboration tools
Pros
Strong content oversight
Useful for recurring projects
Strategy alignment support
Cons
Higher pricing
Less flexibility for small tasks
Learn more: Check out ClearVoice on their website.
Types of legal writing services offered
Legal writing services vary widely depending on need.
Common services include legal document drafting and review, contract creation, litigation pleadings, criminal motions, employment law services, and intellectual property services.
You may also need privacy policy and terms and conditions drafting, immigration law documents, family law consulting, or probate and administration documents. Always clarify the target and scope before hiring.
Criteria for selecting legal writers
When I evaluate legal writers, I focus on attention to detail and research depth.
Look for thorough writing samples that demonstrate citations, legal terminology accuracy, and compliance awareness. Ask about their writing process and how they handle applicable law updates.
Accuracy checking is not optional in legal writing. It is essential.
Profiles and qualifications of legal writers
Strong legal writers typically have legal education, paralegal training, or significant experience working with law firms.
I look for qualified legal professionals with relevant experience in specific practice areas. Portfolio quality, client testimonials, and evidence of comprehensive research matter more than flashy bios.
If compliance is critical, confirm their up-to-date understanding of relevant regulations and standards.
Client experiences and testimonials
Client testimonials matter a lot in legal writing.
I pay attention to comments about detail and thoroughness, turnaround time, and whether the writer met client expectations. High project completion rates and repeat clients are strong signals.
Personal experience stories from past clients often reveal more about reliability than star ratings alone.
How the hiring process works
Most platforms follow a similar structure.
You review profiles, check writing samples, and request proposals. After agreeing on scope and compensation, you work through milestone payments or a retainer.
Communication often happens inside the platform through secure messaging or encrypted communication portals. For larger projects, you may move to structured contracts and longer-term collaboration.
Final thoughts
Hiring a legal writer is about reducing risk, not just producing content.
Whether you are drafting litigation pleadings, compliance documents, or legal marketing content, precision and credibility matter. Choose platforms with strong vetting, verify qualifications carefully, and define scope in writing before work begins.
The right legal writer protects both your brand and your liability exposure.
FAQs
Here, I answer the most frequently asked questions about hiring a legal writer.
How much does it cost to hire a legal writer?
Costs vary depending on project complexity and expertise level. Some writers charge hourly rates, while others work on per-word rate systems or retainers.
Specialized legal drafting typically costs more than general legal blog writing.
Should I hire an attorney writer or a legal content writer?
If the project requires formal legal advice or licensed representation, you need an attorney. For SEO content writing services and legal marketing, an experienced legal content writer may be sufficient.
Always match credentials to project risk.
How do I verify qualifications?
Review resume details, writing samples, and client testimonials. Confirm relevant experience in the specific practice area.
For high-stakes projects, ask about professional licenses or educational background.
How long does legal writing take?
Turnaround time depends on the scope and research requirements. Simple blog posts may take a few days, while complex legal documents can require weeks of drafting and review.
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I’m the founder of Technical Writer HQ and Squibler, an AI writing platform. I began my technical writing career in 2014 at a video-editing software company, went on to write documentation for Facebook’s first live-streaming feature, and later had my work recognized by LinkedIn’s engineering team.