Why Attorneys Hire Fractional Paralegals Instead of Employees (even though they charge more)

🏛️ JOIN THE PARALEGALS IN BUSINESS SOCIETY: https://www.jaclynfoster.com/ 💰 FREE PARALEGAL BUSINESS RATE & REVENUE ESTIMATOR TOOL: https://www.jaclynfoster.com/findmyrate 📕 Paralegals Should Be Millionaires: https://a.co/d/05BOiSNV CONNECT WITH ME: Linkedin:   / jaclyn-foster-60b457196   TikTok:   / jaclynfoster_herlaw   Instagram:   / jaclynfoster_herlaw   Facebook Page:   / jaclynfoster.herlaw   Facebook Group:   / 2830017053719286   LISTEN TO THE PODCAST INSTEAD: APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/5JAxrRo... In this episode, I’m lifting the curtain on what attorneys are really evaluating when they decide whether to hire a virtual paralegal, a fractional paralegal, a legal assistant, or a full-time W2 employee. This is based on real experience. I’ve consulted with 500+ attorneys in the legal staffing space, and I’ve seen firsthand how smart firms are thinking through hiring decisions, growth phases, team structure, and return on investment. Inside this episode, we talk about: why attorneys are increasingly hiring fractional support why a $70 to $75/hour rate is not as shocking to law firms as some paralegals think why comparing a W2 employee to a 1099 contractor is often the wrong comparison what happens when firms create the “hybrid mess” role how specialized support can actually create cleaner ROI for law firms why this shift is opening major opportunities for paralegals who want to build businesses If you’ve ever doubted whether attorneys would really pay for specialized virtual paralegal support, this episode will help you understand what’s actually happening on the law firm side of the table. And if you listen to this episode and think, I want to do this too—I want to build a paralegal business around real demand in the legal market—check out the Paralegals in Business Society. Inside PIBS, I help paralegals and legal assistants build clear, marketable, sustainable businesses with the support, training, and strategy to actually get moving. You’ll also find this month’s bonus waiting for you inside, but it rotates and expires, so be sure to check it out while it’s still available. 00:00 Why Underpaid Isn’t It 01:39 Fractional Work Explained 04:14 The Hybrid Role Trap 08:37 Smart Firms Go Fractional 11:37 ROI Without Markups 13:56 Salaries Are Rising 20:18 Specialized Service Niches 24:18 Beyond Freelancing 26:02 Jaclyn’s Business Story