How do Virtual Assistants Benefit Law Firms?

As technology continues to advance, virtual assistants are becoming more prevalent in all industries including law firms! Virtual assistants offer a number of benefits for law firms—especially smaller ones that might not have the resources to hire additional staff members. A virtual assistant can take on administrative tasks like scheduling appointments and finding documents. They can also complete research that is not confidential or sensitive in nature but rather tasks related to clients and general firm operations. In this blog post, we’ll go over how virtual assistants benefit law firms, as well as tips on how you can find a virtual assistant and get the most out of this relationship.

What Can a Virtual Assistant Do for Your Law Firm?

Virtual assistants can take on a number of tasks such as: 

• Scheduling appointments: Virtual assistants can create calendars and find open times for client meetings.
• Finding documents: Instead of hunting through shelves in search of old files and documents, virtual assistants can conduct comprehensive document hunts and share the findings with you.
• Research: Virtual assistants can conduct research on clients, the law, and general business operations. This can range from checking the latest court cases to finding sources to back up your claims in a legal brief.
• Creating reports: If your firm uses software to track metrics such as case progress or billable hours, a virtual assistant can create reports based on the data.
• Social media management: A virtual assistant can help you create content for social media channels like Facebook and Instagram, schedule posts, and respond to comments and questions as needed.
• Administrative tasks: Virtual assistants can help you with administrative tasks such as scanning and filing documents, organizing your inbox, and creating schedules for recurring tasks.

 

Determining the Role of a Virtual Assistant in Your Firm

As you begin to think about adding a VA to your team, it’s important to decide what type of work you want them to do. This will help you find the right candidate for the job and ensure you have a positive working relationship with your VA. 

 

Administrative Tasks

If you want a virtual assistant to handle administrative tasks such as filing and scanning, you might be able to find someone who already has experience in this area. However, if you want them to handle more sensitive tasks like client interviews or drafting legal documents, you may need to hire someone with a more specialized skill set. 

 

Research

Research is another aspect of virtual assisting. If you want your VA to conduct research on potential clients, the law, or other aspects of your business, be sure to clearly outline your needs and expectations. 

 

Scheduling

If you want your VA to handle appointments, you’ll want to decide whether you want them to book general appointments or schedule specific tasks for your lawyers. For example, if you want them to handle client appointments, you’ll want to make sure your clients understand that the VA is scheduling these meetings and not you.

 

Finding a Good Virtual Assistant

Given that Nancy is the owner/founder of Virtual Gal Friday — one of the first companies providing virtual assistants to outside organizations and specializing in both the medical and legal fields — finding a great virtual assistant is something we can help with! That said, we also want to share a few tips!

To find a great virtual assistant, start by setting clear expectations for the job, including the number of hours per week you’d like them to work and the type of work you expect them to complete.

• Be clear about your expectations: Be upfront and specific about the work you want your VA to complete. This will help to set realistic expectations for both you and your VA. 
• Do your research: As with any other hiring decision, make sure to do your research and vet potential candidates thoroughly. You may want to consider using a VA hiring service, as this will give you access to a large pool of qualified candidates.

How Virtual Assistants Benefit Law Firms

There are many benefits to hiring a virtual assistant, including: 

• Reduced overhead costs: Virtual assistants are typically paid a per-hour rate, so you only pay for the work that is completed. With the average annual salary for administrative assistants hovering around $35,000, virtual assistants can be a cost-effective solution even if you hire one part-time.
• Reduced need for additional office space: If you hire a full-time virtual assistant, they can often work remotely. This gives them the flexibility to set their own hours and work in a location that may be more convenient for them.
• Improved productivity: Virtual assistants are not bogged down by the same types of work that may hinder your in-house staff. This can make them more efficient and effective.
• Improved legal research: Virtual assistants can conduct extensive research and share the findings with you and your team members. This can help to ensure that your firm is working with accurate and up-to-date information.

 

Final Thoughts

Clearly, virtual assistants benefit law firms and can make a significant impact on yours. They can help to lighten the load for your in-house staff, allowing them to focus on more critical tasks. From conducting research to scheduling appointments, virtual assistants can help your firm be as efficient as possible. The only thing left to do is decide how you want to utilize the services of a virtual assistant.

 

So, when you’re ready to gain control of your work-life balance, finding and hiring the perfect virtual assistant for your needs is definitely something we can talk about. Book your complimentary discovery call today.