faqs:
Q: What is a
"virtual" legal assistant?
A: A "virtual" legal assistant is an office assistant, secretary,
office manager, paralegal and/or administrative assistant who has an
extensive background in the legal field and has chosen to provide
legal office support via the Internet, e-mail, facsimile or
telephone - all from a "virtual" office.
Q: Why should I use a legal assistant that is located off-site?
A: A virtual legal assistant works with
your on-site staff on a daily basis, or as needed. (If your firm does not have
on-site staff, a virtual legal assistant can certainly function as
your primary support staff.) Advancements in technology have made it
possible for professional relationships to be formed between virtual
legal assistants and on-site legal assistants, paralegals, attorneys
and judges, as well as other legal professionals. Off-site
and on-site collaboration is powerful and it is very exciting to
realize it's unlimited potential.
Q: What about confidentiality?
A: Being concerned about confidentiality is
understandable. When working with any professional that is not located within your office, whether it is an
engineer, consultant, lawyer, doctor, accountant, expert witness, or
virtual assistant, any professional knows that
confidentiality is their top priority. Whether you work
on-site or off-site, in a law office or a medical office, it is imperative that the rules of
confidentiality are followed at all times.
Q: What are the actual savings when using a virtual legal
assistant?
A: The savings will vary for each law firm or solo practitioner.
Using a virtual legal assistant will save you the costs associated
with employee benefits, payroll taxes, 401(k) accounts, sick
leave/vacation leave, training, office furniture and computer
equipment ... just to name a few! You are only billed for time on
task. (Please see "Salary Comparison".)
Q: How does your call-in dictation line work?
A: Call my toll free number (877-229-8570), listen for a beep,
begin dictating and when you are finished, just hang up the phone.
You do not need a code to dictate and there is not a rewind or fast
forward. Your work product will be emailed to you.
Q:
Do you provide legal advice?
A:
Absolutely not. Please make direct contact with an attorney.
ON-SITE
EMPLOYEE vs. VIRTUAL LEGAL ASSISTANT
Annual Salary for New Employee
$15.00/hour, 40 hours/week:
$31,200.00
Benefits, Employer/Payroll Taxes Etc. @ 28%
$8,736.00
Cost for New Employee: $39,936.00
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Annual Expense for Legal Virtual
Assistant
$25.00/hour,
10 hours/week
$13,000.00
Associated Expenses: NONE
Cost for Legal Virtual Assistant: $13,000.00
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Annual Savings
with Virtual Legal Assistant: $26,936.00
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