Freelance and Virtual Paralegal Services In the U.S. – Industry Overview
- Heather Pickett
- Apr 4
- 11 min read
Paralegal Workforce and Freelance Segment in the U.S.
The United States has a substantial paralegal workforce, numbering hundreds of thousands. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there were approximately 336,669 paralegal and legal assistant jobs in 2020. This number has grown modestly in recent years – by 2023, the BLS reported about 366,200 paralegal jobs nationwide ( Paralegals and Legal Assistants: Occupational Outlook Handbook: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The field is projected to grow slowly (roughly 1% from 2023 to 2033) with around 359,000–370,000 jobs by 2025–2033 ( Paralegals and Legal Assistants Occupational Outlook Handbook: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The vast majority of paralegals (around 75–77%) are employed in law firms or “legal services” industry roles ( Paralegals and Legal Assistants Occupational Outlook Handbook: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics), with smaller fractions working for government or corporate legal departments.
One notable segment of this workforce is independent or freelance paralegals – those working solo or operating their own small businesses to provide services remotely (often termed virtual paralegals). This segment, while still relatively small, has been growing. In 2020, only about 3% of paralegals were self-employed or business owners. By 2022, that share had increased to roughly 5%, indicating a rising number of solo freelance paralegals. In absolute terms, this suggests that 15,000–20,000 paralegals nationwide now work as solo freelancers, out of a total professional pool of ~350k+ paralegals. Professional surveys by the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) confirm this trend – NALA’s 2022 Utilization & Compensation survey found a growing proportion of respondents identifying as self-employed compared to two years prior. The table below summarizes the paralegal workforce size and the freelance segment’s growth:
Metric (U.S. Paralegal Employment) | Value | Source |
Total paralegal jobs (2020) | 336,669 | BLS (NALA report) |
Total paralegal jobs (2023) | 366,200 | |
Projected paralegal jobs (2025) | ~359,000 | BLS projection |
Share of paralegals self-employed (2020) | 3% | NALA Survey 2020 |
Share of paralegals self-employed (2022) | 5% | NALA Survey 2022 |
Number of virtual paralegal businesses: Given the thousands of individuals working independently, the number of freelance/virtual paralegal service providers is also sizeable. Most providers are solo practitioners or small firms (e.g., a handful of paralegals teaming up). In addition, a few larger companies specialize in virtual paralegal services nationally. Industry classifications lump these providers under “All Other Legal Services” – a category which includes specialized legal support services (paralegal services, notaries, etc.). According to
(NAICS Code Description). This figure suggests that several thousand businesses offer freelance or virtual paralegal services nationwide, ranging from solo operations to larger vendors. Most are small businesses (often a single paralegal or a small team). Still, the sector also includes some established larger companies that manage teams of remote paralegals.
Evolution of Virtual Paralegal Services
Virtual paralegal services have been around for a few decades, defined as paralegal support provided remotely (often on a contract or on-demand basis). Still, their prevalence has grown significantly with technology and changing legal industry norms. Freelance or independent paralegals began appearing as early as the 1990s, although the term “virtual paralegal” was not yet in use. For example, one veteran paralegal notes, “I started freelancing as a paralegal in 1995 before anyone had ever put the words virtual and paralegal together.” (Are Virtual Paralegals Misunderstood? | Atlanta Paralegal Services). Throughout the 2000s, as internet usage became ubiquitous, the concept of remote paralegal support gained traction. By the mid-2000s, a few pioneering firms were branding themselves explicitly as virtual paralegal providers. One of the first dedicated virtual paralegal companies, Virtual Paralegal Services (VPS), launched in 2006 to offer on-demand remote paralegal support to law firms (About Virtual Paralegal Services | Virtual Paralegal Services). This era marked the beginning of formal “virtual paralegal” businesses providing an alternative to in-house staff or temp agency hires.
In the 2010s, technological advancements (secure cloud document systems, broadband internet, e-filing, etc.) and increasing comfort with remote work led to steady growth in virtual paralegal services. Attorneys – especially in solo and small firm settings – began to realize they could outsource paralegal tasks to freelancers as a cost-effective solution to handle overflow work. Professional associations like NALA and the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) started recognizing independent paralegals as a profession segment, and more resources became available for those pursuing freelance careers. Before 2020, many law offices remained accustomed to traditional on-site staffing, and virtual paralegals were a relatively niche solution.
The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 was a significant inflection point in the adoption of virtual legal services. The pandemic abruptly forced law firms to operate remotely, “shifting workers to remote working arrangements across the legal profession” (The Landscape of Remote Paralegals and Legal Assistants). Both lawyers and paralegals who had traditionally worked in-office had to adapt to working from home, accelerating the acceptance of remote workflows. This experience proved that remote legal work is feasible at scale, which “profoundly impacted the legal profession” (The Landscape of Remote Paralegals and Legal Assistants). After 2020, hybrid and virtual work setups became far more common. Surveys show that by 2024, a large majority of paralegals were working remotely to some degree. In one study, 82% of paralegal respondents worked remotely at least part-time (and 32% were fully remote) (The Landscape of Remote Paralegals and Legal Assistants). Law firms also grew more comfortable hiring talent regardless of location. NFPA and ABA reports indicate that flexible work arrangements are now considered necessary for law firm success (71% of lawyers in one survey said flexibility/remote options are important) (Paralegal Services Trends That Will Dominate 2024). In fact, by 2023, about 85% of law firms had implemented remote work policies, with many paralegals regularly working from home (Paralegal Services Trends That Will Dominate 2024).
Overall, the industry evolution has moved from a handful of early freelance paralegals in the 1990s, to the formation of specialized virtual paralegal firms in the 2000s, to a mainstream component of legal staffing by the 2020s. Today, virtual paralegal services are widely used and still growing. The share of freelance paralegals in the workforce (3% → 5% in recent surveys) reflects this growth () (). More law firms now integrate remote/freelance paralegals into their business model as a strategic option for scaling workload.
Utilization of Virtual Paralegals by Law Firms and Attorneys
How widely are virtual paralegals used? Industry data suggests that a significant percentage of U.S. law firms utilize outsourced paralegal services or other remote support. While precise numbers vary by survey, the trend is clear: outsourcing legal support tasks has become common, especially among small and mid-sized practices seeking efficiency. For example, a survey reported in Law Technology Today found that about 70% of law firms outsource specific tasks, such as legal research, document preparation, or administrative support, to specialized service providers (Paralegal Services Trends That Will Dominate 2024). These types of tasks can be handled by virtual paralegals (rather than by the firm’s own staff), indicating a broad adoption of the virtual/freelance paralegal model. Another industry report noted that 74% of law firms outsource at least one “back-office” function (which can include paralegal or legal assistant tasks) as of the early 2020s ([PDF] Overseas Legal Outsourcing and the American Legal Profession). In short, most law firms (well over half) now engage outside help for legal support in some capacity.
Adoption is especially high among solo practitioners and small firms. Smaller law offices often do not have the workload or budget to justify a full-time paralegal on payroll, so they turn to contract and virtual paralegals on an as-needed basis. These attorneys might keep a roster of freelance paralegals they can call upon during busy periods or for specific expertise. Even midsize firms increasingly use virtual paralegal services to handle overflow work or special projects without the overhead of hiring more staff. Larger law firms (with big in-house support teams) have been less reliant on freelance paralegals, but many large firms outsource specific large-scale tasks (e.g., massive document reviews or e-discovery projects) to contract-based teams, which can include virtual paralegal vendors. The cost savings and scalability are key drivers: firms report that outsourcing can cut costs by 30% or more, and allows them to scale up support “without the need for additional in-house hires” (Paralegal Services Trends That Will Dominate 2024) (Law Firm Efficiency: How Outsourcing Paralegals Reshapes).
To illustrate the prevalence and attitudes, the table below highlights a few statistics on law firms’ use of virtual paralegals and remote work in the legal industry.
Law Firm Adoption of Virtual/Outsourced Paralegal Services | Statistic | Source |
Law firms are outsourcing some legal tasks (research, drafting, etc.) | ~70% of firms | Law Technology Today survey (Paralegal Services Trends That Will Dominate 2024) |
Freelance paralegals who work fully remotely (no on-site work) | 42% of freelancers (2023) | Upwork Global Survey (Paralegal Services Trends That Will Dominate 2024) |
Lawyers who say flexible/remote work is essential for firm success | 71% of lawyers (2022) | ABA survey (Paralegal Services Trends That Will Dominate 2024) |
As shown above, a large share of firms outsource work, and a large share of freelance paralegals operate virtually full-time. The legal industry’s embrace of remote work post-2020 has made it normal for attorneys to collaborate with off-site paralegals. Surveys also indicate that lawyers are increasingly positive about these arrangements, viewing flexibility as an asset to their practice (Paralegal Services Trends That Will Dominate 2024).
It’s worth noting that virtual paralegal usage varies by firm size and need. Solo attorneys and small firms lead the way in using virtual paralegals for day-to-day support. Many solos consider virtual paralegals a “lifeline” that lets them take on more cases without hiring employees. Meanwhile, some larger law firms use virtual paralegal companies for specific functions – for example, outsourcing litigation support tasks to a firm like Virtual Paralegal Services (which has a team since 2006) (About Virtual Paralegal Services | Virtual Paralegal Services) or sending routine corporate filings to a virtual assistant service. Even corporate in-house legal departments are exploring outsourced paralegal support to handle overflow work efficiently. Overall, outsourced paralegal services have become an integral part of legal operations for most firms, and the trend is expected to continue as economic pressures encourage firms to outsource work.
Everyday Tasks Outsourced to Virtual Paralegals
Law firms typically delegate a wide range of tasks to freelance or virtual paralegals. Generally, these tasks do not require a lawyer’s specific judgment (to avoid unauthorized practice of law issues), but they still need legal knowledge and skills. According to professional definitions and industry practice, virtual paralegals “provide legal research, document preparation, case management, e-discovery, and administrative tasks from virtually anywhere in the world” (The Landscape of Remote Paralegals and Legal Assistants). In practice, the most commonly outsourced paralegal tasks include:
Legal research and writing: Investigating case law, statutes, and regulations, and drafting research memos or briefs (The Landscape of Remote Paralegals and Legal Assistants) (Law Firm Efficiency: How Outsourcing Paralegals Reshapes). Many attorneys rely on virtual paralegals to perform in-depth legal research and draft and file motions or pleadings.
Document preparation: Drafting legal documents and forms (e.g., pleadings, contracts, wills, corporate formation documents, discovery requests). Virtual paralegals frequently prepare standard documents and correspondence for attorneys (The Landscape of Remote Paralegals and Legal Assistants).
E-discovery and document review: In litigation, contract paralegals are used to review documents for relevance/privilege, manage e-discovery platforms, and organize large sets of records (Law Firm Efficiency: How Outsourcing Paralegals Reshapes). This task can be scaled up with teams of remote paralegals during large cases.
Case management and litigation support: This includes maintaining case files, managing case deadlines and calendars, coordinating filings with courts (often electronically), and assisting with trial preparation (exhibit organization, witness prep materials) (The Landscape of Remote Paralegals and Legal Assistants) (Law Firm Efficiency: How Outsourcing Paralegals Reshapes). Virtual paralegals often serve as extra hands for busy litigation teams, handling many behind-the-scenes case administration details.
Contract and corporate transaction support: For transactional practices, outsourced paralegals may handle contract drafting/review, due diligence document review, closing checklists, and filings with government agencies (Law Firm Efficiency: How Outsourcing Paralegals Reshapes). Corporate attorneys use virtual paralegals to help with things like UCC filings, corporation/LLC formations, and maintaining corporate minute books.
Administrative and clerical support: General administrative duties such as data entry, scheduling, transcription, billing support, and client intakes can be offloaded to virtual assistants or paralegals. While not all virtual paralegals focus on clerical work, many offer a mix of administrative support in addition to substantive legal work (The Landscape of Remote Paralegals and Legal Assistants). This helps attorneys free up time from routine paperwork.
These tasks align with what in-house paralegals do – the key difference being that virtual paralegals perform them remotely on a contract basis. Law firms typically maintain oversight (an attorney supervises the work) to ensure quality and compliance with ethical rules. Notably, virtual paralegals interface with the attorney’s clients but do not give legal advice (to avoid any perception of practicing law) (Are Virtual Paralegals Misunderstood? | Atlanta Paralegal Services). Their role is to extend the attorney’s capabilities behind the scenes. Surveys of lawyers have found that the top reasons for outsourcing these tasks are cost savings, efficiency, and the ability to handle variable workloads without hiring permanent staff (Law Firm Efficiency: How Outsourcing Paralegals Reshapes) (Law Firm Efficiency: How Outsourcing Paralegals Reshapes). For example, rather than paying a full-time salary (plus benefits) for an in-house paralegal, a firm can hire a virtual paralegal on an hourly or project basis – often at a lower rate – and “avoid the expenses that come with full-time employees and office space” (The Landscape of Remote Paralegals and Legal Assistants).
Virtual paralegals commonly take on research, drafting, case/file management, discovery, and administrative tasks. These are the backbone support functions of legal matters, and by outsourcing them, attorneys can focus on higher-level legal strategy and client counsel. This arrangement has proven a win-win: attorneys get needed support at a lower cost, and freelance paralegals gain business opportunities and flexibility. It’s reflected in the data that tasks like “legal research, document preparation, and administrative support” are among the first that 70% of firms choose to outsource (Paralegal Services Trends That Will Dominate 2024).
Industry Outlook
The freelance and virtual paralegal sector is expected to continue evolving and growing. Professional associations (NALA, NFPA, and others) provide more support for independent paralegals, recognizing them as an important part of the profession. As of the mid-2020s, over three-quarters of law firms report plans to maintain or increase their use of outsourced paralegal services, according to legal industry surveys. The ongoing drive for efficiency in legal practice and the widespread acceptance of remote work technology mean that virtual paralegals will likely become even more integrated in law firm operations.
In addition, client expectations and market pressures play a role. Law firm clients demand cost-effectiveness, encouraging firms to outsource work to lower-cost providers (including freelance paralegals) when appropriate. We also see increased specialization – many virtual paralegals now niche down to specific practice areas (e.g., intellectual property, immigration, personal injury) and offer expert-level support to attorneys in those fields. This specialization trend is evidenced by data such as 78% of law firms planning to hire specialized paralegals in the next three years to meet complex client needs (Paralegal Services Trends That Will Dominate 2024). Virtual paralegal services adapt to these trends by assembling teams with diverse expertise and using advanced tools (e.g., legal tech software, secure cloud platforms) to deliver high-quality work remotely.
In conclusion, freelance and virtual paralegal services have become integral to the U.S. legal landscape. The industry has expanded to thousands of professionals from a few innovators a couple of decades ago. Roughly 5% of American paralegals now work independently, serving attorneys nationwide. Most law firms – potentially 2 out of 3 or more – have utilized virtual paralegal support in some form (Paralegal Services Trends That Will Dominate 2024). This figure underscores how mainstream this practice has become. The types of work being outsourced range from routine to highly specialized, but all indications are that outsourcing to virtual paralegals will remain a growing strategy for law offices looking to improve efficiency and reduce overhead. The combination of economic advantages and proven remote-work capabilities means the virtual paralegal model is well-positioned to thrive in the coming years, further blurring the line between in-house legal staff and the “virtual” law office of the future.
Sources: National Association of Legal Assistants – 2020 & 2022 Utilization and Compensation Surveys () (); U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data () ( Paralegals and Legal Assistants: Occupational Outlook Handbook: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics); American Bar Association reports (The Landscape of Remote Paralegals and Legal Assistants) (Paralegal Services Trends That Will Dominate 2024); Law Technology Today and industry surveys on legal outsourcing (Paralegal Services Trends That Will Dominate 2024); and various legal industry publications. These sources include data from NALA and NFPA surveys, ABA publications, and legal market research that together provide a detailed statistical picture of the virtual paralegal trend in the United States.
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