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I’m a mid-level attorney in Los Angeles. After working as an associate at a large firm for several years, I quit, traveled, and then began working as a contract attorney a few years ago. While it was never my intention to continue working as a contract attorney for too long, I’ve had several good temp opportunities in various practice areas at both small and large firms. Most of my positions have been substantive and long-term assignments where I worked on large cases and gained great litigation experience. For the most part, I did the work of an associate, but did not receive benefits. However, I find that many firms won’t even consider you for a permanent associate position if you’ve done contract work (they unfairly assume that you’re a flight risk or that you haven’t done substantive work). Unfortunately, in this economy, more and more firms are hiring temps because it’s a win-win situation for them, and perm positions for mid-levels are getting harder to find. Any advice?