Tuesdays’ Tip: Try a Virtual Assistant

Short-staffed and short on time? You might hire a virtual assistant.

Virtual assistants are paralegals or other administrative specialists who work offsite and online. For example, virtual assistants can perform legal research or transcribe voice files from anywhere on the globe. If you are facing a tight deadline or are overwhelmed with work, you can hire a virtual assistant for a basic retainer fee. When your workload recedes, you can terminate the virtual assistant relationship.

Virtual assistants eliminate the need to hire and pay for permanent, full-time staff during peak periods. On the downside, the virtual assistants may not be as familiar with your firm or as attuned to the particular needs of the firm as a traditional, in-house assistant. Nevertheless, as virtual assistants become more commonplace, lawyers will eventually establish ongoing relationships with providers of virtual assistance, creating a more collaborative experience.

Before you hire a virtual assistant, carefully screen each candidate and ask for references. Make sure the virtual assistant has the appropriate education, experience and technical tools (such as VoIP and web video streaming) to handle your work duties.