Law firms have been laying off attorneys in record numbers leaving lawyers scrabbling to find work. Employed attorneys are currently on edge of losing their jobs. They have seen several of their colleagues lost their jobs in recent months and are unable to find another position. Some unemployed attorneys are considering branching out of the legal field while others are considering going into solo practice. Attorneys who are considering starting a solo practice are hesitant because of the over head costs of starting a law firm.
These attorneys may want to consider hiring a virtual paralegal. A Virtual Paralegal is a paralegal who is independently contracted by a lawyer or law firm to provide paralegal support services on an as needed basis with such services being supplied with the use of technology such as the internet, e-mail, fax and remote access systems (to name a few).
Solo practitioners, small law firms and in-house legal departments can benefit from outsourcing non-core activities that will give them more time to concentrate on their core business processes. Outsourcing can help solo practitioners, small law firms and in-house legal departments to cut their operational costs to more than half. If they want their law firms to stay ahead of competition, concentrate on core competencies and make use of the latest technologies, then outsourcing can help their law firm achieve all this and more.
Solo practitioners, small law firms and in-house legal departments can also maximized resources by utilizing the necessary support without incurring the salary, benefits and overhead expenses of hiring a permanent paralegal. In addition, they can increased productivity by delegating procedural and practical workload that is better assigned to a paralegal.
Using a Virtual Paralegal is a highly efficient, economical way for solo practitioners, small law firms and in-house legal departments to keep their legal budget under control, while maintaining the excellence demand of their legal practice.
Cordina A. Charvis is the founder and CEO of Virtual Outsource Paralegal, http://virtualoutsourceparalegal.com. She has more than 10 years working a Paralegal in large law firms and legal department. She can be contacted via email inbox@virtualoutsourceparalegal.com
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Great article. Having a vitural paralegal seems like a great idea for a solo practictioner and may not immediately come to mind.