I've never done freelancing before. I asked for a sample of their usual contract and they said they don't send out samples due to confidentiality reasons, but they would send me a contract (for me) later today. The first part seems weird. I attended a legal seminar once that refused to let me take a copy of the contract to review. I was once given a similar run around by a car dealer: no contract to take and read.

I've always heard that you should take a contract and let a lawyer read it over first. I'm too poor to have a lawyer though, but I'd like to read it.

I figure this is probably too complicated/nuanced for a question, but is it normal for people to hold contracts closely like that?