A per diem attorney is a licensed attorney who appears in court on behalf of another attorney or law firm. The term "per diem" comes from the Latin phrase meaning "per day" — these attorneys are typically retained for a single day or appearance rather than on an ongoing basis.
What Does a Per Diem Attorney Do?
Per diem attorneys handle a wide range of court appearances and legal proceedings on behalf of the retaining attorney. Common assignments include:
- Calendar calls and conferences — compliance conferences, preliminary conferences, status conferences, and pre-trial conferences
- Motion arguments — presenting oral arguments on motions already briefed by the retaining attorney
- Depositions — defending or conducting depositions based on the retaining attorney's instructions
- Landlord-tenant proceedings — Housing Court appearances including nonpayment, holdover, and HP proceedings
- Administrative hearings — appearances before administrative agencies and tribunals
When Should You Use a Per Diem Attorney?
Law firms use per diem attorneys in several common situations:
- Scheduling conflicts — when you have appearances in two or more courts on the same day
- Geographic coverage — when a case is in a court far from your office
- Volume management — when your caseload exceeds your capacity to appear personally
- Unexpected absences — when illness, emergencies, or other conflicts arise on short notice
How Instant Per Diem Works
When you book through Instant Per Diem Attorney Service, we assign a licensed attorney who is familiar with the specific courthouse and court procedures. You provide your instructions, and the per diem attorney handles the appearance on your behalf. After every appearance, you receive a same-day written report covering outcomes, new dates, stipulations, and next steps.
Typical confirmation is within 15–30 minutes during court hours. We cover courts across New York and New Jersey. Learn more about our court appearance services or book services now.