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Run the Payroll Fee Auditor →Blog · Payroll Management · Law Firm
Law Firms: Hourly vs. Salaried Employee Payroll (2026)
Payroll compliance for law firms is not a set-it-and-forget-it problem. State bar payroll requirements, attorney overtime exemptions under FLSA, IOLTA trust accounting separation. Each of these areas carries real penalty risk when mishandled.
This guide covers the primary compliance requirements law firms face in payroll and how to stay current without a dedicated in-house compliance specialist.
Key Payroll Compliance Requirements for Law Firms
Federal requirements. All law firms must withhold federal income tax, FICA (Social Security and Medicare), and pay the employer's share of FICA. Federal tax deposits must be made on time -- failure to deposit triggers a penalty of 2-15% of the unpaid amount depending on how many days late.
State requirements. State bar payroll requirements, attorney overtime exemptions under FLSA, IOLTA trust accounting separation. State requirements vary and change frequently. Multi-location law firms face multiple sets of state rules simultaneously.
Industry-specific requirements. law firms face additional payroll requirements beyond standard federal and state rules, including billable hours tracking, partner draw vs. salary, attorney bonus structures, IOLTA compliance.
Common Compliance Mistakes in Law Firms Payroll
- Misclassifying employees -- especially relevant for law firms where attorneys and paralegals may be paid differently depending on role structure
- Missing tax deposit deadlines -- the IRS charges 2-15% penalty for late deposits, and deposits can be required semi-weekly for many businesses
- Incorrect state filings -- law firms with employees in multiple states must file in each state and maintain separate records
- Failing to update payroll for rate changes -- minimum wage, SUTA rates, and state withholding tables change annually in most states
- Year-end W-2 errors -- incorrect box entries on W-2s require corrected W-2Cs filed with both the employee and the IRS
How Managed Payroll Handles Law Firms Compliance
A managed payroll provider handles compliance as part of the base service. Tax table updates, filing deadline tracking, state-specific rule monitoring, and year-end W-2 production are all managed without additional charges per action.
For law firms, the most valuable compliance coverage is billable hours tracking and partner draw vs. salary, which require specialist knowledge that most in-house generalists do not have depth on.
Managed Payroll, Handled.
BEG manages payroll at $25-$45 per employee per month, all-inclusive. Get an instant cost comparison for your business.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you handle attorney bonus payroll?
Yes. Attorney bonuses are processed as supplemental pay runs with the correct federal and state supplemental withholding rates applied.
How do you handle partner draws vs. salary?
Partners taking guaranteed payments or draws are set up with the correct pay type. For W-2 partners, salary runs normally. For guaranteed payments outside W-2, we coordinate with your accounting team.
How do you handle attorney overtime exemptions?
Attorneys meeting the FLSA learned professional exemption are classified as exempt and not subject to overtime. We ensure exemption criteria are documented in the payroll system.
Can you process payroll across multiple office locations?
Yes. Law firms with multiple offices run on a single payroll system with state withholding and unemployment handled for each state.
What does BEG charge for law firm payroll?
Law firm payroll runs at $25-$45 per employee per month, all-inclusive. For a 20-attorney firm with 30 total staff, that is approximately $750-$1,350 per month.
Related Resources
Anthony leads payroll solutions at Business Executive Group, a national managed payroll firm serving businesses across industries including Law Firms. BEG manages payroll at $25-$45 PEPM, all-inclusive, with deep expertise in compliance, multi-state filing, and industry-specific payroll requirements. Get instant pricing at beghr.com.
Authoritative source: U.S. Department of Labor: Overtime Pay Under the FLSA
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