How to Hire Your First Employee
| Publication year | 2020 |
| Author | By Alexander Zarin |
By Alexander Zarin
Alexander Zarin is the owner of The Zarin Law Firm, APC, a family law office. Mr. Zarin represents clients in divorce, parentage, support, and restraining orders. His ability to exercise compassion while vigorously pursuing his client's interests sets him apart in his field. He can be reached at alex@zarinlaw.com or by visiting his website www.zarinlaw.com.
You are a solo practitioner. You have started your law practice from the ground up, with endless amounts of blood, sweat, and tears. (Mostly tears). Along the way you have developed a healthy book of business that has allowed you to grow your operations.
But, as a famous artist once said, "mo money, mo problems."
Having a healthy book of business does not just indicate a steady stream of revenue. If only it were that easy. It also means opportunity for more work! And there's only one of you. So this may be the time where you should start thinking about hiring a Legal Assistant or Paralegal. Yes, it will cost you money. Yes, the interview process can be long and annoying. But in the long run, guess what hiring your first employee will allow you to do? Even more work! Ahh, the circle of life for an attorney that runs their own practice.
Finding a qualified candidate can be challenging. Your first step should be to analyze your needs. Do you need administrative help or legal help? In what areas do you need help in picking up the slack?
Your next consideration is your budget. How much can you afford to pay a potential employee? Remember, you are not just paying their salary. You are also paying taxes, payroll fees, and any benefits you provide, such as healthcare, parking, and performance-based bonuses. If a good chunk of your cases were to dry up suddenly, do you have enough in reserve to maintain your employee until your case load picks back up? Nailing down a realistic pay rate in advance will help you narrow down the field of applicants.
Bear in mind, the amount you are willing (or able) to pay in compensation will likely parallel the quality of the candidate. For example, you can expect to pay an entry-level legal assistant somewhere between $15.00 - $20.00 per hour, while a paralegal with a decade of related experience could demand a salary of up to $75,000-$100,000 per year.
Balancing pay with how much time you are willing to invest in training your employee can also be tricky. If you are looking to save money, you need to ask yourself...
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