Telamanis vs. In-House Hiring
The true cost comparison most firms never see.
The Real Numbers, Side by Side
In-House Hiring
- Base Salary$45,000 – $55,000/yr
- Benefits25 – 35% of salary
- Payroll Taxes7.65%
- Training$5,000 – $10,000
- Management OverheadSignificant
- Turnover RiskAvg 2–3 years
- Technology CostsAdditional
Total Loaded Cost
$5,500 – $7,000+/mo
Telamanis
- Monthly Cost$3,500/mo all-in
- AI ToolsIncluded
- TrainingIncluded
- ManagementIncluded
- Benefits OverheadNone
- TurnoverNo risk
- ScalingFlexible
Total Cost
$3,500/mo
Zero hidden costs
Detailed Comparison
| Category | In-House Hiring | Telamanis |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Cost | $5,500 – $7,000+ | $3,500 flat |
| Benefits & Taxes | 30–40% additional | Included |
| Training | $5,000–$10,000 + 3–6 months | Included, pre-trained |
| Technology | Separate licenses required | TelaBrain AI included |
| Management | Your attorneys' time | Managed for you |
| Flexibility | Difficult to scale up or down | Scale on demand |
| Risk | Turnover every 2–3 years | Continuous coverage |
| Time to Productive | 3–6 months | Day 1 |
| AI Capabilities | None (separate purchase) | TelaBrain AI built in |
Hidden Costs of In-House Hiring
These are the expenses that never show up in the job posting but always show up on your bottom line.
Recruiting Fees
Hiring agencies typically charge 15–25% of annual salary. For a $50K paralegal, that is $7,500–$12,500 before they even start.
Training Time
New hires require 3–6 months to reach full productivity. During that time, your attorneys are pulled away from billable work to train and supervise.
Turnover Costs
The average paralegal stays 2–3 years. Each departure costs 50–200% of annual salary in lost productivity, recruiting, and retraining.
Technology Licenses
Case management software, document review tools, and AI platforms add $200–$500+/month per user on top of salary costs.
Management Time
Supervising staff takes 5–10 hours per week of attorney time. At $300/hour, that is $6,500–$13,000/month in opportunity cost.
Office Space
Each in-office employee requires approximately 150 sq ft of space. At $25–$50/sq ft annually, that is $3,750–$7,500/year per person.
Annual Savings: A Real Example
Here is what a 3-paralegal team looks like when you compare total costs over a full year.
In-House (3 Paralegals)
- Salaries$150,000
- Benefits (30%)$45,000
- Payroll Taxes$11,475
- Training$15,000
- Technology$10,800
- Office Space$16,875
Telamanis (3 Team Members)
- Monthly Fee (x3)$10,500/mo
- AI ToolsIncluded
- TrainingIncluded
- ManagementIncluded
- Office Space$0
- Hidden Costs$0
Annual Savings with Telamanis
$123,150
That is a 49% reduction in costs — with better AI tools, zero turnover risk, and Day 1 productivity.