Hire in the Philippines / legal assistant
Hire a legal assistant in the Philippines
A legal assistant handles a practice's admin: intake, scheduling, document formatting, files, and client follow-up. With Rekruuto, a full-time legal assistant in the Philippines is $1,800 a month and works your hours. A U.S. hire at the BLS median costs about $7,704 a month with employer costs. Start in 14 days, with a 1-week trial.
What does a legal assistant in the Philippines cost compared with a U.S. hire?
The U.S. figure is the national median wage for paralegals and legal assistants (SOC 23-2011), multiplied by what private employers spend on benefits and payroll taxes for every $1 of pay in professional and related occupations. Our figure is the flat monthly price you pay us.
| U.S. hire at the median | Rekruuto, full-time | |
|---|---|---|
| Base salary per year | $62,890 | Included in the monthly price |
| Employer cost multiplier | × 1.47 | None on your side |
| Per month | $7,704 | $1,800 |
| Per year | $92,448 | $21,600 |
| Difference per year | $70,848 ($5,904 a month) | |
The comparison covers compensation only. It leaves out recruiting fees, equipment, software, and the management time any new hire needs. U.S. pay also varies a lot by city and seniority.
What is the local market in the Philippines?
PSA does not publish legal assistants in this table. General office clerks are the closest published benchmark. The Philippine Statistics Authority's 2024 Occupational Wages Survey puts the average monthly wage rate for general office clerks (national benchmark occupation) at ₱19,721 (about $344). The Metro Manila minimum wage is ₱755 a day from September 26, 2026, about $286 a month. These are survey averages and a legal floor, not what a skilled full-time legal assistant on U.S. hours is paid. We do not publish what each hire earns. You pay one monthly price, and we handle paying your team member.
- U.S. hire, fully loaded$92,448$7,704 a month
- Full-time Rekruuto hire$21,600$1,800 a month
- Difference per year$70,848$5,904 a month
How many working hours overlap with a legal assistant in Manila?
All of them, because our hires work in your time zone. The Philippines is on UTC+8 and does not change its clocks, so a U.S. 9-to-5 lands in the Manila evening or night. The table shows where your day falls for them.
| Your time zone | Manila time, U.S. daylight saving (March–November) | Manila time, U.S. standard time |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern (ET) | 9 p.m. – 5 a.m. | 10 p.m. – 6 a.m. |
| Central (CT) | 10 p.m. – 6 a.m. | 11 p.m. – 7 a.m. |
| Mountain (MT) | 11 p.m. – 7 a.m. | 12 a.m. – 8 a.m. |
| Pacific (PT) | 12 a.m. – 8 a.m. | 1 a.m. – 9 a.m. |
For a legal assistant, keep these for the hours you are both online:
- Client intake calls and scheduling consultations
- Calendar changes around court dates and deadlines
These can run from a written queue, so they do not need you on a call:
- Formatting documents from templates the attorney approves
- Organizing case files in your practice management software
- Billing entries and invoice follow-up
- Transcribing and summarizing recorded calls
What skills should you screen a legal assistant for?
Each skill comes with a short test you can run in the interview or a paid trial task.
| Skill | How to test it |
|---|---|
| Practice management software | Ask them to open a matter, add a contact, and set a deadline in Clio, MyCase, or the system you use. |
| Document accuracy | Give a template and client details and ask for a completed draft. Check every name and date. |
| Confidentiality habits | Ask how they handle a document that arrives for the wrong client. |
| Calendaring deadlines | Give three deadlines and ask them to enter them with reminders. |
| Knowing the line | Ask what they would do if a client asks for legal advice. The answer should be: pass it to the attorney. |
Is there a case study for this role?
Not yet for a legal assistant. Our published case studies are admin, operations, and healthcare support seats. Ask on the call and we will walk you through how this role is scoped and screened.
How does hiring a legal assistant through Rekruuto work?
- Tell us your needs. Share your requirements, and we'll match you with pre-vetted professionals who fit your unique needs.
- Meet your matches. We'll introduce you to carefully selected candidates. Interview and choose the perfect fit for your team.
- Start your trial. Work with your new team member for a week. Love them, or we'll find a replacement or refund your money.
- Onboard and embed. Seamlessly integrate your new hire into your team and watch your business grow.
Hiring and onboarding take 14 days. The first week is a trial: if you are not satisfied, we find a replacement or refund your money.
Frequently asked questions
Can a legal assistant in the Philippines give legal advice?
No. A legal assistant supports the attorney with administration and documents. Advice and filings stay with a licensed attorney.
What tasks can a remote legal assistant take over?
Client intake, scheduling, document formatting from templates, file organization, billing entries, and follow-up emails.
How do I protect client confidentiality with an offshore legal assistant?
Use your practice management system's user permissions, keep files in your systems, and require an NDA. Our professionals sign NDAs. Check your own bar's rules on outsourcing.
How much does a full-time legal assistant from the Philippines cost with Rekruuto?
$1,800 a month. Hiring can start in 14 days, with a 1-week trial.
How much does a U.S. legal assistant cost compared with Rekruuto?
The BLS median for paralegals and legal assistants is $62,890 a year (May 2025). With employer costs (× 1.47, BLS June 2026) that is about $92,448 a year, or $7,704 a month. A full-time Rekruuto hire is $1,800 a month.
What time is it in the Philippines when a U.S. workday starts?
The Philippines is on UTC+8 all year. 9 a.m. Eastern is 9 p.m. in Manila during U.S. daylight saving time and 10 p.m. in winter. Your legal assistant works your hours, so the full workday overlaps.
Related pages
- Legal assistant role page
- Every role we place in the Philippines
- Executive, admin, and legal assistant guides
- Hire an executive assistant in the Philippines
- Hire a virtual assistant in the Philippines
- Hire a healthcare admin assistant in the Philippines
- Offshore Hiring Costs 2026 report
- Philippines vs Latin America for offshoring
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), national estimates, May 2025.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, June 2026 (USDL-26-1494), Table 5, June 2026, released September 9, 2026.
- Philippine Statistics Authority, 2024 Occupational Wages Survey, August 2024, released November 2025.
- National Wages and Productivity Commission (Philippines), NCR daily minimum wage rates, Wage Order No. NCR-28, Effective September 26, 2026.
- World Bank, Official exchange rate, local currency per US$, period average (PA.NUS.FCRF), 2024 and 2025 annual averages. Peso figures converted at the 2024 and 2025 averages.