Payroll for law firms, run right
Direct deposits, tax withholdings, partner draws, and year-end filings. Built for solo, small, and growing law firms.
What we handle for your firm
Payroll in a law firm has a few wrinkles a generic provider won’t think about: associate hours that vary week to week, partner draws that flow differently than W-2 pay, contractor payments that need clean 1099 trails. We handle all of it.
Payment processing. Direct deposit, paper checks if needed, salary, hourly, bonuses, commissions, and partner draws. Set up cleanly and processed on schedule, every cycle.
Tax management. Federal, state, and local withholdings calculated correctly. Quarterly filings, year-end W-2s and 1099s, and the documentation your CPA needs at tax time.
Benefits and deductions. Health insurance, retirement plans, HSA contributions, garnishments, and pre-tax versus post-tax handling. We coordinate with your benefits providers so everything reconciles cleanly.
Reporting. Standard payroll reports plus the specific
reports law firms tend to need: by-attorney compensation summaries, partner draw histories, contractor totals. Built for how legal payroll actually
gets used.
Why We're Different
Generic payroll providers handle the math, but they don’t understand how a law firm actually runs. Partner compensation isn’t an hourly employee. Associate bonuses tie to billable hours, not commissions. Contract attorneys need clean 1099 records that line up with how you booked their fees. We build payroll around how law firms actually pay people, so you’re not retrofitting a generic system to fit your structure.
How It Works
- Initial review. Free assessment of your current payroll setup, whether you’re running it yourself, using a generic provider, or starting from scratch.
- Setup or transition. If you’re switching providers, we handle the move. If you’re starting fresh, we get everything configured before your first run.
- Routine processing. Payroll runs on schedule every cycle. You approve, we process, employees get paid. No chasing down approvals at the last minute.
- Compliance and reporting. Regular compliance checks, on-time filings, and clear reports each cycle so you always know where things stand.
Client Success Stories
Frequently Asked Questions
What does payroll for a law firm include?
At minimum: direct deposits or checks, tax calculations and withholdings, quarterly tax filings, year-end W-2s and 1099s, and benefit deductions. We also handle partner draw setup, contract attorney payments, and the by-attorney reports law firms tend to need at year-end.
Do you handle multi-state payroll?
Yes. If you have attorneys or staff working from multiple states, we manage state tax registrations,
withholdings, and filings for each jurisdiction. State-by state requirements differ significantly, and getting them right is part of what we do.
Can you handle partner draws and K-1 income?
Yes. Partner draws aren’t W-2 income and have to be tracked separately for both payroll and tax purposes. We set up draws cleanly so they don’t get tangled with employee payroll, and we coordinate with your tax
CPA on K-1 reporting at year-end.
What about contract attorneys and 1099s?
We track all contractor payments throughout the year and issue 1099s at year-end. If your contractor agreements have specific payment terms (per matter, per hour, milestone-based), we set up the records to
match.
Can I keep my current payroll software?
Maybe. If your current setup is working and just needs better management, we can run it for you. If it’s clunky, error-prone, or not built for your size and structure, we’ll recommend a better fit and handle the transition.
How much does payroll cost?
Monthly payroll is priced based on number of employees, complexity (multi-state, partner structures, 1099 volume), and whether benefits administration is included. We’ll quote specifically after the discovery
call
Ready for Hassle-Free Payroll?
Schedule a free consultation today by clicking the button below.