Contract attorneys trade money for flexibility.

Plano attorney Judy Neal Schmitz has a broker of sorts.

She wanted to shift her focus from litigation toward a corporate practice so she could spend more time with her new baby. Co-Counsel of Dallas set her up as a contract attorney for GTE Directories Corp., negotiating and reviewing contracts.

"They are like a broker for my business," said Schmitz. "And I can turn things down and it doesn't hurt their feelings. They still call me back."

Houston-based Co-Counsel is part of the growing legal staffing services industry, which provides legal professionals to companies and law firms on a contract or permanent basis. Those within the industry estimate that five years ago there were three companies providing such services in Dallas. Now there are 10 to 20 companies in the business with increasing emphasis on providing contract attorneys.

The staffing can be a bargain alternative to firms or companies that need legal assistance but do not want to hire permanent employees. For the contract employees it's an opportunity to learn what different companies and firms are doing and check out …