Law firm Rajah & Tann Singapore yesterday launched a service matching experienced lawyers with firms needing in-house freelancers. The firm calls it a "flexible insourcing service" helping firms that need in-house counsel on short-term contracts and project-specific work.

R&T Asia Resources, a unit of Rajah & Tann Singapore, will get professionals with relevant legal qualifications and experience on board.

These lawyers, including Rajah & Tann alumni, are those who "can work during high demand periods or on projects where specialist skills are needed". They will work in clients' offices for a set period.

R&T Asia Resources wants to bank on a growing trend among Singaporeans working part-time.

Its director Ryan Loh noted an increasing trend of lawyers who want to work fewer than five days a week, specified hours during the workday, or at home.

The Manpower Ministry labour force report last year showed 10.5 per cent of the resident workforce, or 220,200 people, were part-time workers. This was well up from 2008 when 6.8 per cent, or 126,800, were part-timers.

Mr Loh said some lawyers prefer to work full-time for fixed periods, and pursue non-work interests in between those stints.

R&T Asia Resources will help manage these assignments and be the direct contact point for the clients. The clients' lawyers can also tap a full suite of legal services of legal alliance Rajah & Tann Asia's offices across South-east Asia.

Rajah & Tann Singapore managing partner Lee Eng Beng added: "This service will help our clients contain legal costs and control headcount when they need additional in-house legal support during peak periods or when there is an ongoing complex project."