How you hire a remote legal assistant decides who carries the risk: of a bad fit, of payroll and local law, and of the person leaving.
The four models
| Legal staffing platform | Employer-of-record agency | Generalist VA company | Direct hire | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Examples | HireParalegals, Virtual Legal Assistants | Get Staffed Up, VirtualStaffing.com | Virtual Latinos, Stealth Agents, Wishup | Freelance marketplaces, job boards |
| Pricing | Hourly, from $8 | Monthly, $2,227–$2,545 | about $1,600 to $1,999/month | You negotiate |
| Legal screening | Done for you | Done for you | You | You |
| Payroll and local law | Provider | Provider (employer of record) | Provider | You |
| Part-time | Yes | Rarely | Some (Wishup half-day) | Yes |
| Replacement | Platform terms | Agency terms | Often stated (Wishup free replacement) | Start again |
Choosing
- You want legal experience fast and flexible hours: a legal staffing platform.
- You want a fixed monthly price and zero HR admin: an employer-of-record agency.
- You have time to train and want the lowest price: a generalist VA company.
- You have recruiting capacity and local-law advice: direct hire.
Contract checklist
- What the rate includes (platform fee, payroll, equipment).
- Notice period and minimum term.
- Replacement: how fast, any cost, in writing.
- Who owns the work product and data.
- Confidentiality obligations on both the person and the provider.
- Non-solicitation or conversion fees if you later hire the person directly.
Our top picks
- HireParalegals — From $8/hour
- Virtual Legal Assistants — From $8/hour
- Virtual Latinos — From about $1,600/month
Frequently asked questions
What's an employer of record?
A company that legally employs your remote worker, handling payroll, tax and local employment obligations, while you direct their work. Get Staffed Up describes itself this way.