Hiring full-time help often feels like the next logical step when your legal practice gains momentum. It’s seen as a sign of growth—proof that your hard work is paying off. But behind that traditional milestone lies a tough reality: full-time hiring can quietly chip away at your profit, flexibility, and personal time. The cost of salary, benefits, and management responsibilities adds up fast, especially when your workload doesn’t always justify 40 hours of support every week.
What’s meant to bring relief can quickly become a burden that drains your time, energy, and revenue—leaving you busier than ever, without the freedom you were hoping to gain.
Full-Time Hiring: What It Actually Costs
Hiring full-time means you’re not just covering a salary. You’re also taking on several hidden costs that quickly add up, especially if you’re not using the full 40 hours of that person’s time every week:
Health insurance
Depending on how your practice is structured, you might be required to offer health insurance or contribute to premiums. These costs can quickly add thousands to your yearly expenses, and they don’t adjust based on how busy—or slow—your month is.
Payroll taxes
Beyond the base salary, you’re responsible for federal payroll taxes, including Social Security and Medicare contributions, as well as state unemployment insurance. Even if your new hire isn’t generating income yet, these taxes still need to be paid consistently.
Paid time off
You’re still paying when your employee takes vacation, sick leave, or holidays. That means you’re losing money during every hour they’re not working, while still covering the full cost of their position.
Office equipment or software
A full-time hire typically requires a computer, a phone line, access to legal practice management software, email accounts, document storage, and often a physical workspace. These tools aren’t just a one-time setup—they come with recurring costs and maintenance responsibilities.
Onboarding and training
The time it takes to train someone—even if they have prior legal experience—takes away from hours you could spend on client work or billable tasks. And if you don’t have systems already in place, the training process can stretch out longer than expected, delaying the benefits of your hire.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average cost of employee compensation in the private sector was $43.26 per hour as of late 2023. Benefits alone made up nearly 30% of that cost. Source
Why Full-Time Hiring Hurts Your Growth and Your Time
Full-time hiring can strain your resources and limit your flexibility. Here are the biggest ways it undermines your ability to grow or reclaim your time:
- Fixed monthly costs: Whether you have a busy month or a slow one, payroll doesn’t pause. You’re locked into paying the same amount every cycle.
- Added HR responsibility: You’re now managing sick days, late arrivals, performance issues, and payroll paperwork.
- Increased risk: If your new hire doesn’t work out, the time and money spent recruiting and onboarding them is lost.
- Downtime waste: If your support person runs out of tasks, you’re still paying for idle time.
If you’re still juggling the work yourself or cutting into time with your family, full-time hiring might be making things worse, not better.
Here’s a Smarter Option: Virtual Legal Support
Virtual legal support gives you what you need—skilled help—without all the baggage that comes with hiring full-time. For attorneys exploring more flexible law firm staffing options, it’s a cost-effective way to stay productive without overcommitting your budget.
- Drafting legal documents: From pleadings to contracts, they handle essential writing with accuracy and speed.
- Managing client intake: Virtual staff can follow up with new leads, screen cases, and keep your pipeline organized.
- Tracking deadlines and hearings: They keep your calendar sharp so nothing falls through the cracks.
- Organizing case files: Remote paralegals can streamline your document management systems and ensure compliance.
- Following up with leads: They ensure your potential clients don’t fall off your radar.
And because it’s virtual, there’s no office space, equipment, or benefits to worry about. You only pay for what you actually need.
Why Virtual Support Saves Money and Time
Attorneys often ask: “Can I really afford to hire someone?” The truth is—you probably can’t afford not to. But the better question is: How do I get help without draining my revenue?
Virtual support is the answer. Here’s how it works in your favor:
- No health insurance, paid leave, or office costs
- You pay by the hour or in fixed packages
- You can increase or decrease hours based on your caseload
- No long-term commitment or hiring risk
Let’s say you need 15 hours of help each week. Paying a full-time employee means paying for 40 hours—whether you use them or not. A virtual paralegal gives you 15 focused hours with none of the extra cost.
You’re paying for results, not for someone to sit at a desk. That’s the core benefit of choosing legal virtual assistant services instead of jumping into full-time hiring when you’re not fully ready.
Why Virtual Legal Support Might Be the Smartest Move for Your Practice
If you’re constantly overwhelmed but hesitant to commit to full-time hiring, virtual legal support could be exactly what you need.
Delegating admin tasks to a skilled virtual paralegal frees up your time, energy, and focus—so you can stop juggling everything and finally breathe.
Instead of staying late to organize files, follow up with clients, or fix scheduling errors, you can shift your focus back to what matters most: your clients, your billable work, and your life.
You’ll have more time for prep and hearings, more energy to take on new cases, and more flexibility to be present with your family. Your clients benefit too—with faster responses, better communication, and stronger results.
If you’re spending more time on admin than actual legal tasks, missing personal time, or unsure how to find help you can trust, virtual legal support offers a low-risk, high-reward solution.
It’s not just about getting more done—it’s about building a profitable, sustainable practice without the stress and expense of full-time hiring.
How Wyzer Staffing Solves the Full-Time Hiring Problem
Full-time hiring drains time, money, and flexibility—especially for attorneys handling everything alone. Wyzer Staffing offers a simpler solution: experienced virtual paralegals who support your practice without the cost of a full-time employee.
- Real legal experience: Our U.S.-based paralegals know how to work with attorneys.
- Reliable, ongoing support: One dedicated person who learns your workflow.
- Flexible hours: Get the help you need—only when you need it.
- No overhead: No payroll, benefits, or office setup required.
Skip the stress of hiring full-time. Get support from Wyzer Staffing today and take back your time.
Conclusion
If you’re weighing the pros and cons of hiring someone full-time versus remote help, it’s worth comparing Virtual vs. In-House Staffing to see which fits your workflow and budget better.
You deserve help that fits your needs, respects your time, and protects your budget. Virtual legal support gives you that. And with Wyzer Staffing, you get more than a helper—you get a long-term partner.
Ready to stop doing it all yourself? Reach out to Wyzer Staffing today and let’s get you the support you deserve—so you can grow your practice without sacrificing your profit or your evenings.
