Is €600 the new €800? Freelance rates under pressure in legal and HR

The freelance market in legal and HR has not come to a standstill, but it has changed. Where clients used to look mainly for quick reinforcement, they are now asking more critical questions: is the budget available? Can this be handled internally? And is this profile still worth the requested daily rate?
Many freelancers are feeling that shift first-hand.
Processes are taking longer, external support is being questioned more often and budgets are being scrutinised more closely. Companies still need expertise, but they are becoming more selective. Where speed and availability used to be key, today the focus is much more on added value.