Verdict
Virtual Legal Assistants — From $8/hour. Best for: interviewing remote candidates before paying anything
Wrong choice if: You want a published rate card for senior paralegals, or a written replacement guarantee before you sign.
Our take for Remote Counsel Staffing Guide readers
Virtual Legal Assistants is a narrow legal-assistant hiring service. You interview the shortlist and pay only after choosing, with no deposit or placement fee.
Pricing as published
| Rate | Monthly at 20 hrs/wk | Monthly at 40 hrs/wk |
|---|---|---|
| From $8/hour | $693 | $1,387 |
Source: https://virtuallegalassistants.com/pricing/, checked 11 November 2026.
What it costs at different volumes
| Monthly hours | Virtual Legal Assistants | How it's priced | HireParalegals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 hrs/week | $347 | 10 hrs/wk × published rate | $347–$693 |
| 20 hrs/week | $693 | 20 hrs/wk × published rate | $693–$1,387 |
| 30 hrs/week | $1,040 | 30 hrs/wk × published rate | $1,040–$2,080 |
| 40 hrs/week | $1,387 | 40 hrs/wk × published rate | $1,387–$2,773 |
What Virtual Legal Assistants publishes
- Support starts from $8/hour; the exact rate is confirmed before interviews.
- No deposit and no placement fee; you pay only after choosing a candidate.
- Professionals are primarily based in Latin America and work US-aligned schedules.
- Bilingual ability can be made a requirement for the shortlist.
Terms at a glance
| Model | Hourly, dedicated |
|---|---|
| Minimum | Schedule agreed per hire |
| Contract | Monthly rolling engagement |
| Setup / fees | No deposit and no placement fee; you pay only after choosing a candidate |
| Team location | Latin America |
| Hours | US business hours |
| Spanish | Yes, as standard |
| Replacement | Not stated on the pricing page |
| Time to start | Matched shortlist typically within 24 hours |
| Roles | Legal assistant, Intake specialist, Receptionist |
How we scored it
| Criterion | Score | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Legal specialisation | 9/10 | Works only with law firms or recruits for legal roles |
| Cost at our reference scenario | 10/10 | $1,387/month at our reference scenario: a full-time remote legal assistant (40 hrs/wk) |
| US-hours coverage | 9/10 | Works US business hours |
| Flexibility of commitment | 8/10 | Monthly rolling, no deposit or placement fee |
| Replacement terms | 4/10 | Replacement terms not published |
| Spanish / bilingual | 9/10 | Spanish-speaking staff available without a stated surcharge |
| Total | 49/60 | Scoring method |
Our assessment, criterion by criterion
Legal specialisation: 9/10
Works only with law firms or recruits for legal roles. Legal-only providers already know conflict checks, limitation dates and the line between taking facts and giving advice, so your script and training can be shorter.
What we measure: Whether the provider works only with law firms, or recruits specifically for legal roles. Highest on this criterion here: HireParalegals (9), Virtual Legal Assistants (9), VirtualStaffing.com (9).
Cost at our reference scenario: 10/10
$1,387/month at our reference scenario: a full-time remote legal assistant (40 hrs/wk). Among the cheapest options at our reference scenario.
What we measure: What the provider would cost at the site's reference scenario, using only published prices. Highest on this criterion here: HireParalegals (10), Virtual Legal Assistants (10), Virtual Latinos (9).
US-hours coverage: 9/10
Works US business hours. Works your business day, so calls, emails and hand-offs happen in real time.
What we measure: Whether staff work US business hours (9) or only partly overlap (5). Highest on this criterion here: HireParalegals (9), Virtual Legal Assistants (9), Virtual Latinos (9).
Flexibility of commitment: 8/10
Monthly rolling, no deposit or placement fee. Easy to start small and leave if it doesn't work, which keeps a trial cheap.
What we measure: How easy it is to start small and leave: part-time hours, no setup fees and no long contracts score highest. Highest on this criterion here: HireParalegals (9), Virtual Legal Assistants (8), Zirtual Paralegals (8).
Replacement terms: 4/10
Replacement terms not published. Replacement isn't promised in writing. Ask for it in the contract before you sign.
What we measure: Whether the provider publishes a replacement or satisfaction guarantee (8) or says nothing about it (4). Highest on this criterion here: HireParalegals (8), Virtual Latinos (8), Legal Soft (8).
Spanish / bilingual: 9/10
Spanish-speaking staff available without a stated surcharge. Spanish-speaking callers can be screened and followed up in Spanish without an extra fee.
What we measure: Whether Spanish-speaking staff are standard (9), available at a surcharge (7) or not offered (3). Highest on this criterion here: HireParalegals (9), Virtual Legal Assistants (9), Virtual Latinos (9).
What Virtual Legal Assistants costs over a year
Twelve months at each volume, plus any published one-time setup fee.
| Volume | Monthly | One-time setup | First 12 months |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 hrs/week | $347 | — | $4,164 |
| 20 hrs/week | $693 | — | $8,316 |
| 30 hrs/week | $1,040 | — | $12,480 |
| 40 hrs/week | $1,387 | — | $16,644 |
Where it gets cheaper or dearer than a dedicated hire
| Hours | Virtual Legal Assistants | HireParalegals (entry rate) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 hrs/week | $347 | $347 | −$0 |
| 20 hrs/week | $693 | $693 | −$0 |
| 30 hrs/week | $1,040 | $1,040 | −$0 |
| 40 hrs/week | $1,387 | $1,387 | −$0 |
Pros
- Narrow focus on legal assistants rather than every kind of VA
- No deposit or placement fee before you choose someone
- Interview the shortlisted candidates before committing
- Spanish-speaking candidates available on request
Cons
- Publishes a starting rate only, not a full rate card by experience
- Replacement terms are not stated on the pricing page
- Assistant roles rather than senior paralegal or case-manager work
How Virtual Legal Assistants compares on price
Every provider on Remote Counsel Staffing Guide at our reference scenario (a full-time remote legal assistant (40 hrs/wk)), cheapest first. "On request" providers don't publish a price.
| # | Provider | Monthly | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | HireParalegals | $1,387–$2,773 | 40 hrs/wk × published rate |
| 2 | Virtual Legal Assistants | $1,387 | 40 hrs/wk × published rate |
| 3 | Virtual Latinos | $1,600 | full-time monthly price |
| 4 | Stealth Agents | $1,600 | full-time monthly price |
| 5 | Legal Soft | $1,733 | 40 hrs/wk × published rate |
| 6 | Wishup | $1,999 | full-time monthly price |
| 7 | VirtualStaffing.com | $2,227 | full-time monthly price |
| 8 | Get Staffed Up | $2,545 | full-time monthly price |
| 9 | Back Office Betties | $6,717 | pro-rated above the 60-hour bundle |
| 10 | Zirtual Paralegals | $8,664 | pro-rated above the 80-hour bundle |
| 11 | Wyzer Staffing | On request | no public price for this role |
Questions to ask Virtual Legal Assistants before you sign
- What US law-firm experience does the candidate have, and in which practice areas?
- Which case-management and phone systems has the candidate used (Clio, MyCase, Filevine, Lawmatics, RingCentral)?
- Is the quoted rate all-in, or are there platform, payroll or equipment fees on top?
- What hours will the person work, and who covers sickness and holidays?
- What happens if the hire doesn't work out: is replacement written into the agreement?
- How is client data protected: company devices, VPN, virtual machines, confidentiality agreements?
- Who is the legal employer, and who handles payroll and local labour obligations?
- What is the notice period to end the engagement?
Alternatives to consider
- HireParalegals — From $8/hour; Dedicated, mostly bilingual legal staff from Latin America on US hours, billed hourly.
- Virtual Latinos — From about $1,600/month; Latin American virtual assistants across many roles, no setup or recruitment fees.
- VirtualStaffing.com — From $2,227/month; Full-time English/Spanish legal staff with a published monthly price per role.