The Paralegal View™

Why Your Small Law Firm Needs Best Virtual Paralegal in 2026

Sat, 17 Jan 2026 21:29:02 GMT

Scale your practice and slash overhead by 50%. Discover how Best Virtual Paralegal empowers small law firms with specialized expertise and flexible support. Optimize your firm for 2026 today!

Why should your small law firm hire a virtual paralegal?

Small law firms collaborate with Best Virtual Paralegal to reduce overhead costs by up to 50%, access specialized legal expertise without geographical limits, and scale their support staff based on fluctuating caseloads. By delegating time-consuming tasks like deposition summaries and document drafting to our professionals, attorneys can focus on high-value billable work and client advocacy.

Managing a small law firm in 2026 requires more than just legal expertise; it requires strategic operations. As the legal industry continues its shift toward digital-first models, the traditional "big firm" overhead of expensive office space and full-time administrative salaries has become a liability. Best Virtual Paralegal offers a streamlined, modern solution for solo practitioners and small teams looking to stay competitive and agile.

1. Drastic Cost Savings and Reduced Overhead

Traditional hiring involves much more than just a salary. When you bring on a full-time, in-house paralegal, you are responsible for health insurance, 401(k) contributions, office equipment, and physical workspace.

By choosing Best Virtual Paralegal, you eliminate the need for extra desks, computers, or expensive software licenses. Most importantly, you only pay for the high-quality work produced. This model converts a fixed monthly expense into a flexible, variable cost that protects your firm’s cash flow during slower months.

2. Immediate Access to Specialized Expertise

Small firms often handle a variety of cases but cannot afford a full-time specialist for every niche. The team at Best Virtual Paralegal brings years of experience in specific areas, such as:

• Personal Injury: Expertly managing medical records and insurance claims.

• Family Law: Drafting complex parenting plans and financial affidavits.

• Litigation Support: Preparing trial binders, exhibit lists, and discovery responses.

Instead of training a generalist assistant on the nuances of a new practice area, you gain a professional who already understands the local court rules and the specific filing requirements of 2026.

3. Flexible Scaling for Evolving Caseloads

Legal workloads are rarely static. Best Virtual Paralegal offers the dynamic flexibility your firm needs to stay agile. You can expand your support team during intensive discovery phases and quickly contract your resources once a case reaches a settlement. This on-demand model prevents staff burnout and eliminates the difficult cycle of hiring and layoffs as your docket fluctuates.

4. Reclaiming Billable Hours

Every hour an attorney spends on administrative tasks—like formatting a deposition transcript or organizing an inbox—is an hour not billed at an attorney rate. By delegating these tasks to Best Virtual Paralegal, you maximize your firm’s revenue potential.

We handle the time-consuming elements of the practice, allowing you to focus on:

• Developing winning case strategies.

• Attending hearings and trials.

• Building deeper, more meaningful relationships with your clients.

5. Enhanced Accuracy with Professional Deposition Summaries

In litigation, the details matter. Having a 200-page transcript is one thing; having a concise, page-line summary that highlights key witness contradictions is another. Best Virtual Paralegal specializes in these technical documents, ensuring you walk into every deposition or trial with a clear, concise roadmap of the evidence.

Optimize Your Litigation with Best Virtual Paralegal

Don’t let a mountain of transcripts slow your momentum. Best Virtual Paralegal provides industry-leading Deposition Summary Services designed specifically for trial-ready attorneys. Our experienced litigation paralegals deliver accurate, concise, and formatted summaries at a flat-fee rate, ensuring you get the clarity you need without unpredictable costs.

Ready to streamline your practice? Contact Best Virtual Paralegal today to order your next Deposition Summary and experience the future of legal support!

#VirtualParalegal #SmallLawFirm #LegalInnovation #LawFirmGrowth #LegalOutsourcing #DepositionSummary #LawPracticeManagement

Launch Your Freelance Paralegal Business Today

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 13:52:19 GMT

Ready to leave the 9-to-5? Discover how to launch and scale a profitable freelance paralegal business

The dream of professional freedom in the legal industry—setting one's own hours, choosing specific clients, and working from anywhere—is more attainable than ever. However, many skilled paralegals remain stuck in the traditional 9-to-5 grind because they lack a clear roadmap for the business side of the law.

Best Virtual Paralegal LLC fills that critical gap. We do not teach paralegal skills; we work with professionals who already possess the expertise and desire to transition into entrepreneurship. Our programs teach these experts how to become CEOs. The team at Best Virtual Paralegal LLC offers two specialized coaching paths designed to help legal professionals launch and scale their freelance journeys with confidence.

The Accelerator Paralegal CEO™

For Aspiring High-Revenue Agency Owners

For those ready to stop trading hours for dollars and start building a scalable asset, The Accelerator Paralegal CEO™ is the premier destination. This intensive 13-month mentorship is designed to transform a solo freelancer into a powerhouse agency owner.

The program moves participants beyond simple administrative tasks through a structured rhythm of live strategy sessions, pipeline reviews, and implementation weeks.

The mentorship is divided into four distinct phases:

• Define Your Genius: Identifying a high-value niche.

• Master High-Ticket Sales: Learning how to secure premium contracts.

• Automate Operations: Setting up business systems that run efficiently.

• Scale: Transitioning into a full agency model.

This program is a dedicated partnership focused on turning existing legal expertise into a high-revenue legal support business. Flexible investment options are available, including monthly auto-payments or a single one-time payment.

The Paralegal Launchpad™

For New Freelancers Ready to Launch in 6 Months

For those who feel overwhelmed by the technicalities of starting a business, The Paralegal Launchpad™ provides a streamlined solution.

This 6-month, high-intensity mentorship strips away the fluff and focuses exclusively on the essentials of company building:

• Defining a high-ticket offer.

• Mastering the attorney outreach process.

• Closing the first retainer clients.

In just half a year, participants receive 12 live coaching sessions and the exact roadmap used to build profitable legal support brands. This program is designed for those who want to launch their brand in six months rather than thirteen.

Take the Next Step Toward Freedom

Whether a professional seeks the long-term, comprehensive mentorship of The Accelerator Paralegal CEO™ or the fast-track results of The Paralegal Launchpad™, the team at Best Virtual Paralegal LLC is ready to facilitate that success.

Stop guessing and start building a future.

FAQ: Transitioning to Freelance Paralegal Work

How do you start a freelance paralegal business?

Starting requires a shift from legal tasks to business management. A professional must secure a business license, obtain professional liability insurance, define a specific service niche, and implement a client acquisition strategy. Best Virtual Paralegal LLC provides the mentorship and strategic guidance to navigate these business hurdles.

Is freelance paralegal work profitable?

Yes. By shifting from an hourly employee mindset to a value-based business owner model, legal professionals can significantly increase their earning potential and gain complete control over their professional schedules. Best Virtual Paralegal LLC help paralegals make this mindset shift with its coaching and mentoring programs.

What is the difference between a freelancer and an agency owner?

A freelancer is typically a solo operator. An agency owner focuses on building systems and leadership structures that allow the business to scale and generate revenue beyond the owner’s individual billable hours. Best Virtual Paralegal LLC help paralegals who are thinking about freelancing make a decision on how they want to structure their offerings.

Master Mandatory Disclosures in Family Law

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 13:00:04 GMT

Master family law discovery with Best Virtual Paralegal. We help law firms gather data, manage documents, and draft discovery from start to finish.

Avoiding "Litigation by Ambush": A Guide to Mandatory Disclosure

In the high-stakes arena of family law, surprises are rarely welcome. To ensure fairness and transparency, many states have implemented a legal process known as Mandatory Disclosure(s) (or Initial Disclosure(s)). This requirement compels both parties to exchange essential documents and financial information automatically at the start of a case, effectively ending the era of "litigation by ambush."

By mandating this exchange, courts ensure that every party has a clear, documented picture of the marital estate before negotiations begin. For law firms and solo practitioners, staying on top of these deadlines is not just a matter of professional pride—it is a requirement for staying in good standing with the court.

States Leading the Way in Mandatory Disclosure(s)

While rules vary, several states are well-known for having specific statutes or court rules that require an automatic exchange of documents without a formal request from the opposing side.

Important Nuances to Watch in 2025

Legal landscapes are constantly shifting. In Texas, for example, the state moved away from automatic statewide initial disclosures in family law as of September 2023. However, many counties, such as Collin or Dallas, still enforce "Standing Orders" that require an automatic exchange within 30 days.

Similarly, in Georgia, while not always "automatic" statewide, the Domestic Relations Financial Affidavit is mandatory in any case involving money. Major jurisdictions like Fulton County have local rules requiring document production within 30 days. Even in states without a universal rule, individual judicial circuits often issue "Standing Pre-Trial Orders" that mandate document exchange. The Best Virtual Paralegal team can help with complying with standard pretrial orders, scheduling orders and discovery.

End-to-End Discovery Support with Best Virtual Paralegal

The Best Virtual Paralegal team provides specialized support to help family law attorneys master the discovery phase from start to finish. We understand that every case matter has unique obligations, and we work tirelessly to ensure those obligations are met with precision. Our team excels at the critical first step: interviewing clients to obtain the necessary data, documents, and information required to build a solid foundation for your case.

Whether your firm is propounding discovery to uncover hidden assets or responding to discovery requests under tight court deadlines, we manage the entire lifecycle of the process. We help you stay in compliance by drafting high-quality discovery documents tailored to the specific rules of your jurisdiction. By partnering with Best Virtual Paralegal, you gain an elite support system that handles the administrative burden of document gathering and drafting, allowing you to focus on the legal strategy and advocacy your clients deserve.

Optimize Your Discovery Workflow Today

Stop wasting valuable billable hours chasing down bank statements and tax returns. Best Virtual Paralegal’s Family Law Discovery Support streamlines your process, ensures total compliance, and helps protect your firm from the risks of non-disclosure.

#FamilyLaw #MandatoryDisclosure #VirtualParalegal #LegalDiscovery #LawFirmSupport #DivorceLawyer #BestVirtualParalegal

Stop Attorney Burnout: Delegate to Thrive

Mon, 05 Jan 2026 13:30:03 GMT

Learn how attorneys avoid burnout by delegating legal tasks to virtual paralegals. Scale your firm and reclaim your time with strategic delegation.

How Can Attorneys Avoid Burnout by Delegating Legal Tasks?

To prevent the potential for burnout, attorneys tend to delegate the high-volume and repetitive legal tasks to virtual paralegals or to other support teams that are suitably qualified. This strategic shift allows you to prioritize trial advocacy and high-level case strategy. By delegating administrative burdens, you significantly reduce the constant "always-on" mental load that causes professional exhaustion.

The Reality of Attorney Burnout in 2025/2026

Attorney burnout is a clinical state of chronic physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged workplace stress and high-pressure litigation environments. In 2025, lawyers experience burnout primarily due to excessive billable hour requirements, administrative "creep," and the constant cognitive load of managing every facet of a case without adequate support.

If you find yourself procrastinating on simple filings, feeling cynical about your cases, or struggling with "brain fog," you are likely experiencing burnout. The solution isn't just a vacation—it is a fundamental change in how you manage your workload.

The "Do-It-All" Trap

Many lawyers fall into the trap of thinking they must touch every document and speak to every prospective lead. While your expertise is vital, your presence isn't required for every administrative or preliminary step. When you insist on doing everything yourself, you create a bottleneck that stifles your firm’s growth and destroys your mental health.

How Do You Know When to Delegate Legal Tasks?

Attorneys should delegate when administrative duties or repetitive processes interfere with high-value legal work. If you spend more than 20% of your day on non-billable tasks like scheduling, initial intake, or basic document formatting, your firm is losing revenue. Identifying these "bottleneck" tasks is the first step toward reclaiming your time and mental health.

What Are the Best Legal Tasks to Delegate First?

To maximize efficiency, focus on delegating tasks that follow a repeatable process rather than those requiring your specific legal judgment.

Client Intake: Offload the initial screening and fact-gathering to ensure only qualified leads reach your desk.
Legal Research: Have a virtual paralegal prepare research memos and identify relevant case law.
Drafting & Filing: Delegate the preparation of routine motions, discovery requests, and e-filing logistics.
Case Management: Use support staff to manage calendars, track deadlines, and organize digital case files.

Pro Tip: If a task does not require your specific legal license and strategic judgment, someone else should do it.

Why Should Law Firms Use Virtual Paralegals Instead of In-House Staff?

Virtual paralegals offer scalability and cost-efficiency that traditional in-house roles often cannot. By using a virtual model, law firms reduce overhead costs—such as office space, benefits, and equipment—while gaining access to specialized legal expertise on an as-needed basis. This flexibility allows firms to handle fluctuating caseloads without the risk of over-hiring or the stress of managing a full-time in-office staff.

How Does Delegation Improve Client Outcomes?

Delegation ensures that every detail of a case receives dedicated attention. When an attorney offloads administrative burdens, they reduce the risk of clerical errors and missed deadlines. More importantly, it allows the lead counsel to remain present and focused during client meetings and trial advocacy, leading to higher client satisfaction and better legal results.

Take Control of Your Practice Today

Don't wait for a total breakdown to change your workflow. If the weight of client intake is dragging you down, it’s time to bring in the experts.

Stop losing hours to the intake process. Best Virtual Paralegal’s Client Interviewing Services provide professional, thorough, and empathetic first-touch points for your prospective clients. We handle the heavy lifting of fact-gathering and screening, so you only focus on the cases that matter.

Crush the Post-Holiday Work Pile: A Legal Guide

Fri, 02 Jan 2026 16:15:00 GMT

Master strategies for catching up on work after holidays. Learn email triage, case prioritization, and discovery management for legal professionals.

How Do Legal Professionals Catch Up After Vacation?

To catch up effectively, legal professionals must triage emails immediately, prioritize court deadlines first, and reset client expectations with clear communication. Successful attorneys block specific times for " deep work " to tackle complex cases while delegating administrative tasks and discovery preparation to support staff or virtual paralegals.

Strategy 1: Master Your Inbox with the "4 Ds"

Returning to thousands of unread emails paralyzes many attorneys. Do not read every email in chronological order. Instead, apply the "4 Ds " method to process your inbox rapidly.

Delete: Immediately trash spam, expired newsletters, and notifications that no longer matter. Be ruthless.
Delegate: Forward tasks that your support staff can handle. If a paralegal can draft the response or file the document, send it to them immediately.
Defer: Move non-urgent emails to a "Later" folder. Schedule a specific time next week to review these.
Do: Respond instantly only to urgent client matters or court deadlines that require less than two minutes.

Pro Tip: Turn off your " Out of Office" responder after you have spent two hours organizing your inbox. This gives you a quiet buffer to work without new phone calls interrupting your flow.

Strategy 2: Triage Your Caseload and Deadlines

Your case management software likely holds a mountain of alerts. You must separate the urgent from the important.

1. Identify Hard Deadlines: Scan your calendar for court appearances, statute of limitation dates, and discovery deadlines occurring in the next 10 days. These are your priority.

2. Touch Base with Key Clients: Send a brief, active update to your top five anxious clients. A simple message stating, "I am back and reviewing your file today," prevents them from calling you repeatedly.

3. Batch Your Tasks: Group similar tasks together. Sign all letters at once. Review all billing entries in one sitting. Switching contexts burns mental energy and slows you down.

Strategy 3: Manage Client Demands Proactively

Clients often expect you to hit the ground running the second you return. You must manage these expectations to maintain your sanity.

Set specific " Call Hours ": Do not leave your phone line open all day. Tell clients you are available for calls between 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM. This protects your morning for focused legal writing and review.
Use Active Communication: Don't wait for a client to ask, "What is happening?" Send a proactive status update. This puts you in control of the conversation and reduces inbound interruptions.

Strategy 4: Leverage External Support for Discovery

Discovery often causes the biggest bottleneck after a break. Drafting interrogatories, requesting medical records, and organizing document productions consume hours that you simply do not have.

This is where you should outsource. Instead of drowning in paperwork, hand off your discovery preparation. A specialized service can organize your files, draft your requests, and prepare your exhibits while you focus on trial strategy and client counseling.

Need a Lifeline?

Best Virtual Paralegal LLC specializes in high-level discovery preparation. We don't just type dictation; we organize, draft, and prepare your discovery to get your cases moving again.

Stop letting discovery bury you. Contact Best Virtual Paralegal LLC today to handle your discovery preparation so you can focus on winning your cases.

Common Questions on Post-Holiday Legal Work

How do I prioritize tasks after a long break?

The Best Virtual Paralegal Team recommends: Focusing on risk mitigation first. Handle any task that involves a court deadline or a statute of limitations immediately. Second, address revenue-generating activities like billing or closing settlements. Save administrative filing and non-urgent emails for last.

Should I work on weekends to catch up?

The Best Virtual Paralegal Team recommends: Avoid working a full weekend immediately after returning. This erases the benefits of your vacation. Instead, add one extra hour to your workday for the first week to handle the backlog.

How can a virtual paralegal help me catch up?

The Best Virtual Paralegal Team believes: A virtual paralegal manages the time-consuming groundwork. They draft pleadings, organize discovery files, and manage correspondence. This allows you to step directly into the "reviewer" role rather than the "drafter" role, doubling your efficiency.

Scaling for 2026: How Virtual Paralegals Boost Law Firm Productivity

Fri, 02 Jan 2026 14:22:22 GMT

Boost 2026 law firm productivity. Learn how Best Virtual Paralegals optimize discovery, leverage AI, and maximize billable hours for a more profitable year.

Scaling for 2026

As we enter 2026, the legal industry is no longer just "adapting" to technology—it is being redefined by it. For modern law firms, the primary challenge is no longer just winning cases; it is managing the massive influx of digital data and rising operational costs. According to 2026 industry forecasts, firms that fail to modernize their support structures risk a 30% margin erosion due to "administrative bloat."

To thrive in this landscape, forward-thinking attorneys are moving away from traditional, high-overhead staffing and toward the Virtual Paralegal model. This shift isn't just about remote work; it’s about strategic agility.

1. The 2026 Billable Hour: Strategy Over Syntax

In 2026, the value of an attorney’s time is measured by strategy, not rote production. Virtual paralegals serve as "productivity multipliers," handling the complex administrative tasks that once tethered senior partners to their desks.

By delegating substantive drafting, medical chronologies, and case file management to specialized remote professionals, attorneys can reclaim up to 20 hours per week. This allows you to shift your focus to client advocacy and high-level litigation strategy—the areas where your firm truly generates revenue.

2. High-Velocity Discovery Support

Discovery has become the most resource-intensive phase of litigation. With ESI (Electronically Stored Information) volumes reaching record highs in 2026, manual document review is a relic of the past.

Virtual paralegals are the "digital backbone" of modern discovery. They don’t just organize files; they manage the entire lifecycle—from drafting initial requests to overseeing AI-assisted privilege reviews. By utilizing a virtual support team, firms can process document productions up to 50% faster than those relying solely on in-house staff, ensuring deadlines are met without the "trial-prep panic."

3. Elasticity: The Competitive Edge in 2026

The legal market in 2026 is characterized by volatility. Fixed costs—like expensive office leases and full-time salaries—are the greatest threats to a firm's survival.

Virtual paralegals offer on-demand scalability. Whether you are ramping up for a multi-district litigation (MDL) or managing a seasonal lull, your support staff scales with your caseload. This "pay-as-you-go" model allows small and mid-sized firms to compete with "Big Law" resources without the "Big Law" price tag.

How Do Virtual Paralegals Improve Law Firm Productivity?

By Optimizing AI Workflows: Bes Virtual Paralegals act as "AI pilots," using advanced legal tech to summarize depositions and draft templates with 2026-level precision.

• By Reducing Overhead: Firms save an average of $11,000 per year per remote professional by eliminating payroll taxes, benefits, and office equipment costs.

• By Ensuring 24/7 Production: With remote teams working across time zones, case files move forward even after your office closes for the day.

• By Eliminating Training Downtime: Best Virtual Paralegals are pre-trained on modern platforms like Clio, MyCase, and Relativity, allowing them to integrate into your firm within 24 hours.

Master Your 2026 Discovery Strategy

The year 2026 belongs to the efficient. Best Virtual Paralegal’s Discovery Support Services empowers your firm to tackle the most complex litigation with ease. Our elite, on-demand paralegals specialize in ESI management, Bates numbering, and comprehensive discovery indexing. Don't let administrative friction hold you back from a record-breaking year.

Your practice shouldn’t feel like a constant uphill battle against your own inbox. Reclaiming your time and reigniting your case momentum starts with a single strategic decision: delegating the weight so you can focus on the win. At Best Virtual Paralegal, we don’t just handle paperwork; we provide the specialized, professional backbone your firm needs to scale without the overhead of traditional hiring. Don’t let another billable hour slip away to administrative friction or allow stagnant files to stall your growth.

Ready to elevate your practice?

Schedule your appointment with Best Virtual Paralegal today and let’s get your cases moving in the right direction.

Follow Best Virtual Paralegal @bvparalegal for legal insights that work

The Postmark Crisis: How New USPS Sorting Rules Are Threatening Tax Filings and Legal Deadlines in 2026 and Beyond

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 07:59:17 GMT

USPS postmark changes risk late tax and legal filings. Learn why the mailbox rule is failing and how law firms can protect deadlines from regional sorting lags.

For over a century, the "mailbox rule" has been a cornerstone of American legal and financial life. It is the simple principle that a document is considered "filed" or "sent" the moment it is placed in the hands of the United States Postal Service (USPS), as evidenced by the date stamped on the envelope. However, a quiet but revolutionary change that took effect on December 24, 2025, has effectively ended this era of certainty.

Under the new USPS regulations, a postmark is no longer a guarantee of when you mailed your letter. Instead, it is a record of when a machine at a regional facility finally got around to processing it. For law firms, accountants, and everyday citizens, this shift creates a dangerous "blind spot" that could lead to missed deadlines, rejected tax returns, and legal malpractice claims.

The Technical Shift: From Local Acceptance to Regional Processing

The change is a core component of Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s "Delivering for America" (DFA) plan, a 10-year initiative designed to modernize the postal network. Historically, mail was often postmarked at the local post office where it was dropped off. This provided a near-instantaneous record of the mailing date.

Under the new rule ( codified in the Domestic Mail Manual Section 608.11 ), the USPS has clarified that a postmark "does not necessarily indicate the first day that the Postal Service had possession of the mailpiece" (USPS, 2025b). Instead, mail is now transported from local "spoke" offices to massive Regional Processing and Distribution Centers (RPDCs). In many cases, these facilities are located hundreds of miles away from the point of origin.

Because the postmark is now applied by automated sorting equipment at these regional hubs, a letter dropped in a blue collection box on a Tuesday might not be processed—and thus not postmarked—until Wednesday or Thursday. This "processing lag" is the heart of the crisis for time-sensitive documents.

Tax Filings and the IRS: The End of "Timely Mailing is Timely Filing"?

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) relies heavily on the "timely mailing is timely filing" rule established under 26 U.S.C. § 7502. This statute dictates that if a return or payment is postmarked on or before the due date, it is considered on time, regardless of when it actually arrives at the IRS.

With the new USPS policy, this protection is severely compromised. If a taxpayer drops their return in a mailbox on April 15, but the mail is not trucked to a regional facility and scanned until April 16, the IRS will technically view that return as late.

Keegan O’Brien, CPA, notes that this change "could lead to late penalties, interest charges, or rejected filings" for millions of Americans who wait until the deadline to mail their taxes ( O’Brien, 2025 ). The National Society of Tax Professionals has similarly warned that year-end charitable contributions are at risk; a check mailed on December 31 that receives a January 2 postmark may result in a lost deduction for the previous tax year (WebProNews, 2025) .

Legal Deadlines and the "Mailbox Rule"

In the legal world, the stakes are even higher. Statutes of limitation, court filing deadlines, and service of process requirements are often strict and unforgiving.

The Breakdown of Contractual and Statutory Deadlines

Most state and federal courts follow some version of the mailbox rule for service by mail. For instance, California and New York have long accepted postmarks as prima facie evidence of timely service ( USLegal, 2025) . However, if the postmark no longer reflects the date of deposit, the sender bears the burden of proof.

As noted in 27 CFR § 70.305, the sender "assumes the risk that the postmark will bear a date on or before the last date" ( Cornell Law, 2025 ). If the postmark is late or illegible, the sender must produce secondary evidence—such as a certified mail receipt—to prove the mailing date.20 Without this, a case could be dismissed or a motion denied simply because the regional sorting center was backed up.

The LetterStream Dilemma: Risks for Law Firms Using Print-to-Mail Services

Many modern law firms have transitioned to online print-to-mail solutions like LetterStream to handle high volumes of correspondence, such as class-action notices, debt collection letters, and HOA notifications. While these services offer efficiency, the new USPS rules introduce specific vulnerabilities that firms must address.

1. The Indicia vs. Postmark Problem

Unlike traditional mail, services like LetterStream often use a "Postal Indicia" (a printed permit) rather than a stamped postmark. According to LetterStream’s own documentation, "LetterStream mail is processed using a postal permit... this method does not include a visible USPS postmark or date stamp on the envelope" (LetterStream, 2025).

While LetterStream provides internal "Job Mailed" timestamps, these are not the same as an official USPS postmark. In a court of law, a judge may demand a USPS-verified date. If the envelope lacks a postmark and the firm cannot produce a USPS Certificate of Mailing or Certified Mail receipt, the firm may have no way to prove the exact day the mail entered the system.

2. The "Deposit Gap" and Legal Malpractice

When a law firm clicks "Send" on a LetterStream job at 11:30 PM on a Friday, the document is printed and prepared. However, it may not actually be handed off to the USPS until the following business day. Under the new USPS regional sorting rules, that mail might then sit for another 24–48 hours before reaching a facility that generates a tracking "event."

This creates a "Deposit Gap" where the firm believes they have met a deadline, but the official record suggests otherwise. This gap is a breeding ground for legal malpractice claims, especially if a client loses their right to appeal due to a "late" mailing date that was actually caused by a combination of service-provider processing and USPS regional delays.

3. Evidentiary Weight of "Mailing Logs"

LetterStream offers digital mailing logs, but their legal weight is secondary to official government records. Law firms using these services must be aware that if a recipient claims they never received a document, or that it was late, the firm's internal dashboard may not be sufficient to overcome the "presumption of regularity" afforded to USPS official markings.

4. Limited Protection for "Standard" Mail Classes

Law firms often use LetterStream's First-Class options. However, for the highest level of legal protection, "Certified Mail with Return Receipt" is often required. While LetterStream offers these, the cost and complexity increase. Firms that default to standard First-Class mail to save costs are now playing a dangerous game with the USPS's new regional processing timeline.

How to Protect Your Firm and Your Clients

Given the unreliability of modern postmarking, professionals must adapt their workflows immediately.

Walk it to the Counter: For high-stakes deadlines, the USPS advises customers to visit a retail counter and request a "manual hand-stamp." This is currently the only way to ensure the postmark date matches the day you handed the envelope to a postal worker (Bin News, 2025 ).
Use Certified or Registered Mail: These services provide a physical or electronic receipt (PS Form 3800) that acts as "certified" proof of the date of mailing, independent of the postmark applied at a regional center.
Buffer Your Deadlines: The "last minute" no longer exists. Law firms and tax preparers should aim to mail documents at least three to five business days before a hard deadline to account for the regional transportation lag.
Electronic Filing Whenever Possible: The simplest way to avoid the postmark crisis is to bypass the physical mail entirely. Most courts and the IRS now offer robust e-filing systems that provide instantaneous, time-stamped receipts.

Conclusion

The shift in USPS postmarking is more than an operational change; it is a fundamental disruption of the legal "chain of custody" for physical mail. As the "Delivering for America" plan continues to consolidate local offices into regional hubs, the postmark will become increasingly decoupled from the act of mailing. For those whose careers and finances depend on deadlines, the message is clear: the blue collection box is no longer a safe haven. It is time to move toward more secure, verifiable methods of delivery before a "late" postmark costs you or your clients everything.

References

Bin News. (2025, December 30). USPS changes postmark rules — and your mail could arrive 'late' in 2026. https://www.binnews.com/content/2025-12-30-usps-changes-postmark-rules-and-your-mail-could-arrive-late-in-2026/

Brookings Institution. (2025, December 30). When a postmark no longer tracks mailing. https://www.brookings.edu/articles/when-a-postmark-no-longer-tracks-mailing/

Cornell Law School. (2025). 27 CFR § 70.305 - Timely mailing treated as timely filing. Legal Information Institute. https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/27/70.305

Hawkins Ash CPAs. (2025, December 17). Plan ahead: Property tax payments and USPS changes. https://www.hawkinsash.cpa/plan-ahead-property-tax-and-usps-changes/

LetterStream. (2025). Postmark dates - LetterStream help docs. https://help.letterstream.com/article/200-what-postmark-date-will-be-on-my-letter

O’Brien, K. (2025, December 17). USPS postmark rule change: What it means for tax filers and deadlines. JRCPA. https://www.jrcpa.com/usps-postmark-rule-change-what-it-means-for-tax-filers-and-deadlines/

Offit Kurman. (2025, December 18). USPS postmark change: What taxpayers need to know for timely filing. https://www.offitkurman.com/offit-kurman-blogs/usps-postmark-change-timely-tax-filing

Smith + Howard. (2025, December 23). New USPS rule affects mailed tax payments, donations. https://www.smith-howard.com/new-usps-rule-affects-mailed-tax-payments-donations/

USLegal. (2025). Postmark: Understanding its legal definition and importance. https://legal-resources.uslegalforms.com/p/postmark

U.S. Postal Service. (2025a, December 19). Shipping deadlines may be expiring but the postal service “still” delivers! https://about.usps.com/newsroom/local-releases/ca/2025/1219ma-shipping-deadlines-expiring-but%20postal-service-still-delivers.htm

U.S. Postal Service. (2025b). 39 CFR Part 111: Postmarks and postal possession. Federal Register. https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2025-20740.pdf

WebProNews. (2025, December 29). USPS postmark rule shift may disrupt tax, election deadlines. https://www.webpronews.com/usps-postmark-rule-shift-may-disrupt-tax-election-deadlines/

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Master Remote Work: How to Stay Motivated Alone

Sun, 28 Dec 2025 19:15:01 GMT

Master your home office with Best Virtual Paralegal. Founder Holly Sheriff shares motivation strategies for freelance paralegals based on 30+ years of experience.

Working from home offers a level of freedom I’ve cherished for decades, yet I know firsthand that it comes with a unique set of hurdles. When the initial excitement of a shorter commute wears off, the silence of a home office can start to feel a bit heavy. Without the natural buzz of a law firm or the accountability of nearby colleagues, I’ve found that staying driven requires more than just a strong cup of coffee; it requires a strategic plan and a resilient mindset.

I’ve talked to many legal professionals who find themselves staring at a flashing cursor or procrastinating on complex research when the social energy of an office is missing. However, I’m here to tell you that staying motivated is a skill you can master. By focusing on your environment, your structure, and your connections, you can thrive in a solo workspace as a high-performing virtual paralegal.

A Humble Beginning: My 1990s Remote Workflow

Long before high-speed fiber optics and cloud-based filing systems, I was already carving out a path in the remote work world. I started my journey in 1990, working remotely in an era when "the office" was strictly a physical destination for almost everyone else. Being a freelance paralegal before the term even existed meant I had to be incredibly disciplined and creative to stay relevant.

In those early days, the internet wasn't a tool I could rely on for daily tasks. Staying motivated and connected required significant physical effort. Every week, I made trips to various law firms to pick up and drop off heavy, accordion-style physical files. While some might have seen these trips as a chore, I viewed them as my lifeline to the legal team.

I used these trips for what I call "informative huddles" with the attorneys. We would sit down, often with a cup of coffee and a stack of paper, to discuss workflows, shifting priorities, and long-term case goals. These huddles weren't just about the work; they were about connection. They reminded me that even though I sat alone at my desk for most of the week, I was a vital piece of a much larger puzzle.

This humble beginning taught me a fundamental truth that I still live by: isolation is the enemy of productivity. Even in our digital-first world of 2025, I find that creating ways to "huddle" with my team is what keeps my professional fire burning and my motivation high.

1. Create a Dedicated Success Zone

I’ve learned that the brain is highly sensitive to environmental cues. When I try to work from the same kitchen table where I eat dinner, my mental boundaries between "home life" and "work life" begin to blur. To maintain my motivation as a virtual paralegal, I designate a specific area strictly for my professional tasks.

A dedicated workspace signals to my mind that it is time to focus. You don’t need a massive home library; even a specific corner with a tidy desk works wonders. For me, consistency is the key. When I sit in my office chair, my "work brain" automatically engages. I also make sure to include ergonomic support—a good chair is an investment in your career—and plenty of natural light. Sunlight keeps my energy levels high and helps ward off the physical fatigue that often mimics a loss of motivation.

2. Master the Art of the "Fake Commute"

The greatest perk of remote work—the lack of a commute—can actually be a psychological disadvantage if we aren't careful. I view a commute as a mental bridge that allows the brain to transition from "relaxed mode" to "professional mode."

I stay productive by implementing a "fake commute" to start my day. This isn't about driving; it's about a ritual. This might be a fifteen-minute walk around my neighborhood, dedicated time for professional reading, or a specific morning ritual like brewing a fresh pot of tea. This simple habit creates a clear starting line for my workday, preventing that "slow start" that often leads to afternoon slumps. By the time I sit down at my desk, I have already "arrived" at work mentally.

3. Use Strategic Time Management and "Deep Work"

I’ve found that vague "to-do" lists can feel overwhelming and lead to paralysis. When I have fifty tasks but no plan, I tend to do nothing. To stay motivated, I rely on time-blocking. I assign specific tasks to set chunks of time throughout my day so I never have to wonder what to do next.

My Deep Work Blocks: I reserve my morning hours—when my brain is freshest—for high-concentration tasks like legal drafting, complex research, or e-discovery review.
The Pomodoro Method: For administrative tasks like billing or emailing, I work in 25-minute sprints followed by a 5-minute break. This helps me maintain a steady pace without burning out.
My Scheduled Connectivity: Just as I scheduled my weekly huddles in the 90s, I now schedule "digital huddles." I set aside time for video calls or collaborative chats to keep the feeling of isolation at arm's length.

4. Dress for My Professional Identity

It is so tempting to work in loungewear, but I’ve noticed that what I wear significantly impacts how I feel about my work. There is a psychological concept called "enclothed cognition," which suggests that our clothing influences our psychological processes.

When I dress in professional or business-casual attire, I reinforce my identity as an expert and an authority. This shift in my wardrobe helps me maintain a sense of purpose and professionalism, even when the only "colleague" in the room is my dog. As a virtual paralegal, your internal confidence is your greatest asset, and dressing the part helps you feel the weight of your own expertise.

5. Prioritize Modern "Informative Huddles"

Following the example I set for myself decades ago, I believe maintaining connection is vital. In a world of Slack and email, it’s easy to become a "ghost" in the machine. To stay motivated, I actively seek out human interaction.

Whether I’m jumping on a quick Zoom check-in to discuss a case's workflow or joining a monthly networking call with other freelance paralegals, these interactions provide the social energy I need to stay engaged. My motivation flows from the feeling that my work matters to a larger group. By staying connected to the goals and priorities of the firm, my work feels less like a chore and more like a vital contribution to justice.

Take Control of Your Career Path

Are you a paralegal who has mastered the art of working from home and is ready for the next challenge? If you have the drive but need a proven roadmap, Best Virtual Paralegal is here to guide you.

Their specialized coaching is designed specifically for paralegals who want to step away from the traditional firm structure and launch their own successful freelance paralegal business. They combine Holly Sheriff’s decades of experience with modern business strategies to help you achieve true professional independence. Why stay stuck in a traditional role when you can build a business that reflects your skills and your lifestyle?

Ready to become your own boss? Discover Best Virtual Paralegal Coaching Today!

Frequently Asked Questions

How did the founder of Best Virtual Paralegal operate before the internet?

In 1990, Holly Sheriff established the foundational workflow for Best Virtual Paralegal by managing remote legal support through physical movement. She made weekly trips to law firms to exchange physical files and conducted face-to-face "huddles" with attorneys to stay aligned on priorities. This early experience in a pre-internet world taught the importance of proactive communication for every freelance paralegal.

What are "informative huddles" for freelance paralegals?

At Best Virtual Paralegal, informative huddles are defined as strategic, scheduled check-ins between a virtual paralegal and their attorney clients. These sessions focus on discussing specific workflows, setting immediate case priorities, and aligning on long-term goals. These huddles ensure the freelance paralegal remains a vital, integrated, and motivated member of the legal team.

Why does Best Virtual Paralegal recommend dressing professionally when working from home?

Best Virtual Paralegal emphasizes professional attire because of "enclothed cognition," the psychological effect where clothing impacts mental focus. By dressing professionally, a virtual paralegal can mentally distinguish work hours from personal time. This practice boosts confidence and helps a freelance paralegal maintain the discipline required to handle complex legal research and drafting alone.

Deep Work for Lawyers: Boost Billables & Focus

Sat, 27 Dec 2025 05:00:04 GMT

Learn how attorneys use deep work and calendar blocking to draft better documents, improve legal strategy, and increase firm efficiency today.

The modern law office often feels like a battlefield of distractions. Between the relentless "ping" of new emails, unscheduled client calls, and the revolving door of staff questions, many attorneys finish their day wondering where the time went. While multitasking feels productive, it actually degrades the quality of legal work.

To reclaim their schedules and produce elite results, successful attorneys are turning to Deep Work.

What is Deep Work for Attorneys?

Coined by professor Cal Newport , Deep Work refers to professional activities performed in a state of distraction-free concentration that push your cognitive capabilities to their limit. For a lawyer, this means blocking off dedicated time on the firm calendar specifically for high-value tasks like legal document drafting and case strategy development.

When you shift from "reactive mode" to "deep work mode," you move beyond administrative busywork and into the high-level analysis that wins cases.

The Strategic Benefits of Calendar Blocking

1. Superior Document Drafting

Legal drafting requires a level of precision that "shallow work" cannot provide. A single misplaced comma or an overlooked clause in a contract can lead to litigation. By blocking off two to three hours of uninterrupted time, you allow your brain to enter a "flow state." This focus ensures that your briefs, motions, and contracts are thorough, persuasive, and error-free.

2. Enhanced Strategic Thinking

Complex litigation requires a bird’s-eye view of the legal landscape. When you are interrupted every six minutes, you lose the "cognitive thread" of your strategy. Deep work sessions provide the mental space to anticipate opposing counsel’s moves, analyze jurisdictional nuances, and craft winning trial themes.

3. Increased Billable Efficiency

Contrary to popular belief, multitasking slows you down. "Context switching"—the act of jumping between tasks—can cost up to 40% of your productive time. By focusing on one specific task during a blocked period, you complete the work faster and more accurately, which improves your firm’s realization rate and client satisfaction.

4. Reduced Burnout and Stress

The feeling of being "constantly behind" contributes significantly to attorney burnout. Deep work provides a sense of accomplishment. When you control your calendar rather than letting your inbox control you, your professional satisfaction increases.

How to Implement Deep Work in Your Firm

To reap these benefits, you must treat your deep work blocks as "client meetings" that cannot be interrupted.

Color-Code Your Calendar: Mark deep work sessions in a distinct color so the entire firm knows you are unavailable.
Silence Notifications: Turn off email alerts and put your phone in another room.
Delegate the "Shallow" Work: You cannot engage in deep work if you are bogged down by initial discovery responses or routine drafting.

Expert Tip: Successful attorneys don’t do it all alone. They protect their deep work time by delegating time-consuming tasks to trusted professionals.

Leverage Professional Support for Maximum Focus

You didn’t go to law school to spend eight hours a day formatting discovery requests. To truly master your calendar and focus on high-level strategy, you need a partner who handles the heavy lifting.

Best Virtual Paralegal provides the elite support you need to maintain your deep work schedule. We specialize in high-quality legal document drafting and comprehensive civil discovery services. By offloading these critical but time-consuming tasks to our team, you free up your calendar for the strategic deep work that grows your practice.

Ready to reclaim your time? Contact Best Virtual Paralegal today to streamline your drafting and discovery processes.

Discovery Correction: How to Produce Native Photos with Metadata

Fri, 26 Dec 2025 21:00:01 GMT

Correct civil litigation discovery errors with Best Virtual Paralegal. Get a free email template to produce native photos with metadata to opposing counsel.

In our previous post , we discussed how Best Virtual Paralegal helps you gather client photos without stripping the critical EXIF metadata. But what happens when the mistake has already occurred?

It is a common scenario in civil litigation: A client texts you photos, your team produces them to opposing counsel as PDFs or stripped JPEGs, and later you realize the metadata (timestamps and geolocation) is missing.

Under the rules of discovery, specifically the duty to supplement, you must correct this. You need to provide the "native" files. However, simply dumping a new set of files on opposing counsel without context can cause confusion or suspicion.

Here is how Best Virtual Paralegal helps attorneys navigate this correction smoothly, ensuring your virtual paralegal services cover not just document collection, but professional communication and compliance.

The Duty to Supplement in Civil Litigation

When electronic evidence (ESI) is produced in a format that degrades its quality or usability (like a PDF of a photo), opposing counsel has the right to request the native file.

Rather than waiting for a Motion to Compel, it is strategic to get ahead of the issue. A proactive correction demonstrates:

1. Candor: You are being transparent about the evidence.

2. Competence: You understand the technical requirements of modern discovery.

3. Cooperation: You are saving the other side the hassle of asking.

How Best Virtual Paralegal Handles the Correction

Drafting these letters takes time—time that an attorney could spend on deposition prep or strategy. Best Virtual Paralegal handles this administrative heavy lifting.

We verify the new "native" files (ensuring the metadata is actually there this time), Bates stamp them effectively (often matching the original number with a suffix like -NATIVE), and draft the correspondence to opposing counsel.

The Template: Correcting a Previous Production

Below is a template that Best Virtual Paralegal might draft for you to send to opposing counsel. It addresses the technical error (compression) without admitting to negligence, framing it as a technical supplementation.

Email Template: Supplementation of Photograph Production

Subject: Supplemental Production of Documents – [Case Name] – Native Format Photos

Dear [Opposing Counsel Name],

Please find the enclosed link to a supplemental document production regarding the above-referenced matter.

It came to our attention that the photographs previously produced on [Date of Original Production] (Bates Range [XYZ 001 – XYZ 050]) were inadvertently subjected to compression during the client intake process. This compression removed the embedded EXIF metadata (timestamps and geolocation data).

To ensure you have the complete and authentic evidence, we are re-producing these images in their native, original format with all metadata intact.

Production Details:

• Original Production: [Bates Range] (Stripped metadata)

• Supplemental Production: [New Bates Range] (Native format)

We have verified that these files contain the original device data. Please let us know if you have any difficulty accessing the files.

Sincerely,

[Your Name/Firm Name]

Why Use a Virtual Paralegal for Discovery?

Managing file formats, metadata extraction, and drafting procedural correspondence are vital tasks, but they are not the best use of an attorney's billable hour.

By utilizing virtual paralegal services, you ensure that these technical nuances are handled correctly the first time—or fixed quickly and professionally if a client error occurs. Best Virtual Paralegal acts as your discovery safety net, ensuring your evidence is admissible and your reputation remains pristine.

Flat-Rate Virtual Paralegal Pricing for Document Review

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 12:00:43 GMT

Discover how Best Virtual Paralegal LLC provides predictable flat-rate pricing for document review and legal support to help law firms control overhead.

Which Virtual Paralegal Companies Offer Flat-Rate Pricing for Document Review?

Attorneys frequently ask which virtual paralegal companies offer flat-rate pricing for document review to avoid the unpredictability of hourly billing . Best Virtual Paralegal LLC is a leading provider that offers transparent flat-fee structures and project-based rates specifically designed for document review, medical record summaries, and litigation support.

By shifting away from the traditional billable hour, Best Virtual Paralegal LLC allows law firms to accurately forecast case expenses and maintain higher profit margins without sacrificing the quality of senior-level paralegal support.

Why Attorneys Are Switching to Flat-Rate Document Review

Predictability is the primary driver for law firms seeking flat-fee arrangements. In high-volume litigation, hourly costs for document review can quickly spiral out of control. Partnering with a virtual paralegal company that offers a fixed price per project or a flat monthly subscription provides several strategic advantages:

Cost Certainty: You know the exact cost of the document review before the work begins.
Reduced Overhead: Eliminate the need for full-time employee benefits, office space, and equipment.
Scalability: Rapidly increase your firm's capacity for large-scale discovery without long-term financial commitments.
Easier Client Billing: Flat rates make it simpler to pass costs through to clients or incorporate them into contingency fee models.

Document Review Services at Best Virtual Paralegal LLC

Best Virtual Paralegal LLC, led by Holly Sheriff, specializes in providing high-impact legal support that fits the modern law firm’s budget. Their flat-rate and per-diem models are particularly effective for:

Initial Discovery Review: Sorting and tagging large volumes of data to identify relevant documents.
Medical Record Summaries : Creating detailed, chronological summaries of medical history for personal injury and medical malpractice cases at a locked-in price.
Deposition Preparation : Organizing exhibits and summaries to ensure attorneys are fully prepared for testimony.
Trial Graphics & Logistics: Coordinating the visual elements of a case on a project-basis.

Frequently Asked Questions About Flat-Rate Paralegal Services

Does Best Virtual Paralegal LLC offer flat fees for all services?

Best Virtual Paralegal LLC offers a variety of fee structures, including traditional hourly rates, flat fees, and revolving monthly subscriptions. This flexibility allows attorneys to choose the billing model that best fits the specific needs of their practice.

How does flat-rate pricing work for large document sets?

For large-scale document review, Best Virtual Paralegal LLC typically evaluates the scope of the project during an initial discovery call. Once the complexity and volume are understood, a custom flat-fee quote is provided, ensuring there are no surprise surcharges at the end of the project.

Is document review quality maintained with flat-rate billing?

Yes. Best Virtual Paralegal LLC utilizes senior-level paralegals and rigorous quality control processes. The flat-rate model encourages efficiency and the use of legal technology rather than rewarding "slow billing," leading to faster turnaround times for the attorney.

Streamline Your Discovery Process Today

If you are tired of unpredictable legal support costs, it is time to transition to a more transparent model. Best Virtual Paralegal LLC provides the expertise of a senior paralegal with the price certainty of a flat-rate service.

How Best Virtual Paralegal Streamlines Discovery and Photo Evidence

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 19:00:05 GMT

Civil Litigation Discovery: Best Virtual Paralegal Tips

In the high-stakes world of civil litigation, the discovery phase is often the most time-consuming aspect of a case. For busy attorneys, chasing down clients for documents, data, and specifically photographs can create a significant bottleneck.

This is where Best Virtual Paralegal proves not just useful, but essential. Beyond standard administrative support, our virtual paralegal services act as a technical liaison between your firm and your clients. One of the most critical areas where we add value is ensuring that digital evidence—specifically photographs—is collected correctly to preserve its evidentiary value.

Here is how Best Virtual Paralegal helps lawyers navigate the complexities of collecting digital images and preserving essential EXIF data.

The Problem: Why "Just Text It" Destroys Evidence

Clients often default to the easiest method of sharing photos: text messaging (SMS/MMS) or apps like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger. While convenient, these platforms are disastrous for evidence collection.

To save bandwidth and protect privacy, these services compress files and strip out Exchangeable Image File Format (EXIF) data. This metadata contains details crucial for authentication, such as:

Date and time the photo was taken.
GPS coordinates (geolocation).
Device make and model.

Without this metadata, authenticating the image in court becomes significantly harder. Best Virtual Paralegal ensures clients understand why they cannot just text a photo and guides them through the proper transfer protocols.

How We Get Photos with Metadata Intact

To ensure the evidence holds up in court, we instruct your clients to use one of the following methods to transfer original files directly from their device.

1. Cloud Storage Services

The most reliable method is for the client to upload the original files to a secure cloud storage service and share a folder link.

• Examples: Google Drive, Dropbox, Microsoft OneDrive, WeTransfer.

2. Email as an Attachment

For smaller batches, email is effective, provided specific instructions are followed.

• The Rule: Photos must be attached as files, not inserted as "inline" images in the body of the email.

• The Setting: We advise clients to select "Actual Size" or "Original Size" if prompted by their mail app to prevent automatic compression.

3. Send as a "Document" (via Messaging Apps)

If a client must use a messaging app, Best Virtual Paralegal instructs them to avoid the standard photo gallery icon.

• The Solution: The client should select the "Document" or "File" attachment option. This bypasses the app’s compression algorithms and sends the raw data.

4. Zipped Files

We can guide tech-savvy clients to compress photos into a .zip file on their phone or computer before sending. This preserves the container’s contents and associated metadata during transi t.

5. Direct USB Cable Tra nsfer

The most secure way to preserve data integrity is a manual transfer. The client connects their phone or camera directly to a computer via USB cable to offload the files.

Producing the Photos to Opposing Counsel

Once Best Virtual Paralegal has retrieved the authentic files, we shift to verification and production. Here is the standard workflow we manage to keep your civil litigation discovery compliant:

Verify the Metadata

Before anything is produced, we check the data. Using software tools like ExifTool or Adobe Bridge, we examine the images to confirm that necessary timestamps, geolocation, and device info are present.

Document the Chain of Custody

Credibility is key. We keep a record of how the original files were collected and verified to maintain the evidence's credibility.

Produce in Native Format

Electronic evidence should generally be produced in its native format.

• The Format: We prepare photos as .JPG (or their original raw format).

• The Supplement: We can also provide a separate document detailing the metadata, potentially with screenshots of the extraction process, to ensure clarity for all parties.

Correcting Past Productions

If previous photos were produced without metadata (due to text message transfers), Best Virtual Paralegal can draft correspondence to opposing counsel. We will inform them that the previous versions were inadvertently stripped of metadata due to transfer methods and that the new production contains the complete, original data.

Summary

Leveraging Best Virtual Paralegal transforms the chaotic process of data collection into a streamlined, forensically sound workflow. By ensuring photos are collected with metadata intact, we protect the integrity of your case and allow you to focus on litigation strategy rather than tech support.

Client Resource: Photo Transfer Checklist

Below is a template you can copy and paste into an email or letter to your clients.

Instructions for Sending Photos for Your Case

IMPORTANT: To use your photos as evidence, we need the "hidden" data inside them (date, time, location). Please do NOT text photos or send them via Facebook/Instagram, as this deletes that data.

Please use one of the methods below to send your photos to our office.

✅ Method 1: Cloud Upload (Preferred)

• Upload your photos to Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive.

• Share the link to the folder with our email address.

✅ Method 2: Email (For 1-5 Photos)

• Open your email app and start a new email.

• Click the Paperclip Icon (Attach).

• Select the photo from your library.

• Crucial Step: If your phone asks what size to send, ALWAYS choose "Actual Size" or "Original Size."

• Note: Do not paste the photo into the text box; it must be an attachment.

✅ Method 3: WhatsApp (If necessary)

• Open the chat with us.

• Do NOT click the Camera or Photo icon.

• Click the + or Paperclip icon.

• Select "Document".

• Find your photo and send it. This sends it as a file rather than a picture, keeping the data safe.

✅ Method 4: USB / Computer

• Plug your phone into your computer using your charging cable.

• Copy the photos from your phone folder to your computer desktop.

• Email the files from your computer or put them on a USB drive to bring to the office.

Questions?

If you are unsure how to do this, please contact the firm before sending. We are here to help ensure your evidence is preserved correctly.

10 Ways PI Lawyers Can Educate Clients During the Holidays

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 05:00:53 GMT

Holiday Downtime? 10 Ways Personal Injury Attorneys Can Actively Educate Clients on Their Cases

The holiday season often means a slowdown in court schedules but not in client anxiety. For personal injury attorneys, this period presents a unique opportunity to move beyond reactive updates and proactively educate clients.

10 Ways Personal Injury Attorneys Can Actively Educate Clients on Their Cases

When you empower clients with knowledge, you build trust, manage expectations, and reduce panicked phone calls. This holiday season, use the relative quiet to strengthen your client relationships and position your cases for success in the new year.

Here are 10 things you can do during the holidays to actively educate your clients.

1. Send a "Holiday Safety & Legal Rights" Guide

The holidays are unfortunately a peak time for accidents. Create a simple, branded one-page PDF or a blog post that answers common questions.

• What should I do if I’m in an accident during the holidays?

• How does a holiday affect insurance reporting deadlines?

• Why are DUI-related accidents more complex?

This positions you as a proactive authority and provides genuine value, reminding them of the issues at the heart of their own case.

2. Create a Visual Case Timeline

Many clients don't understand the "hurry up and wait" nature of personal injury law. Use this time to create a simple, visual flowchart of a typical case.

Show the key phases:

• Investigation & Record Gathering

• Drafting the Demand Package

• Negotiation with Adjusters

• Filing a Lawsuit (if necessary)

• Discovery

• Settlement or Trial

A visual guide demystifies the process and helps them identify exactly where they are on the journey.

3. Record a "State of Your Case" Video Update

Instead of a standard email, record a brief, 2-3 minute personalized video. Use a tool like Loom to share your screen and show them their file (with sensitive info hidden). Explain what you've accomplished in the past year and what the next 2-3 steps will be in the new year. The personal touch goes a long way.

4. Publish an FAQ Blog on Holiday-Specific Premises Liability

Educate your entire client base (and attract new ones) by answering specific, holiday-related questions. This is excellent for AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) as it targets long-tail keywords.

• Who is liable if a guest slips on my icy walkway?

• What happens if faulty holiday decorations cause a fire or injury?

• Are homeowners responsible for injuries from a fallen Christmas tree?

5. Explain the "Why" Behind the Wait

Clients get frustrated when they hear nothing. Use a holiday update email to explain why things are quiet.

"During the holidays, many insurance companies and medical offices operate with reduced staff. This means that while we are actively working on your case, responses for medical records or settlement offers may be delayed until January. We are monitoring this daily and will update you immediately."

6. Host a 15-Minute "New Year Case Prep" Call

Offer clients a voluntary, brief "check-in" call. Frame it as a way to ensure you have all their updated information before the new year. This active outreach makes them feel valued and gives you a chance to gather new details, such as any recent doctor's visits or ongoing pain they may have forgotten to report.

7. Send a "Document Checklist" for the New Year

As clients prepare for tax season, they are already in a document-gathering mindset. Send them a checklist of items to track for their case:

• A mileage log for all medical appointments.

• Receipts for any out-of-pocket expenses (e.g., prescriptions, neck braces).

• A copy of your "Explanation of Benefits" from your health insurer.

8. Draft and Share a Sample Medical Summary

Clients often feel like their injuries are reduced to a stack of bills. Show them how you translate their experience into a powerful legal document. Share a redacted, sample medical summary or chronology with them. Explain how you use this document to tell their story and justify the demand for compensation.

9. Clearly Define Your Holiday Communication Plan

The most crucial education is managing expectations. Send a clear and friendly email that outlines:

• Your firm's exact holiday office closures.

• Who to contact in an absolute emergency (and what defines one).

• When they can expect a response to non-urgent messages.

This prevents clients from feeling ignored and respects your team's time off.

10. Focus on What You Can Control: Case Preparation

You can't force an adjuster to answer the phone in late December. But you can ensure your demand package is the first thing on their desk in January. Educate your client by saying:

"We are using this holiday quiet period to focus entirely on case preparation. Right now, we are organizing all your medical records, finalizing your medical summary, and drafting a comprehensive demand letter to ensure we start the new year in the strongest possible negotiating position."

Make Your Holiday Downtime Your Most Productive Time

Educating clients is vital, but so is moving their cases forward. The "quiet period" is the perfect time to clear your backlog of administrative work—the very tasks that create winning cases.

Instead of spending your valuable time summarizing dense medical records or drafting routine demand letters, delegate it.

Best Virtual Paralegal offers expert personal injury support for attorneys. The U.S-based team specializes in the exact tasks that bog you down:

Medical Summaries & Chronologies
Drafting Powerful Demand Packages
Requesting & Organizing Medical Records and Bills
Creating Settlement Packets
Interviewing Key Witnesses

Use your holidays to build client relationships, not to drown in paperwork. Contact Best Virtual Paralegal today to see how these flat-fee services can help you enter the new year prepared, profitable, and ahead of the competition.

Fast, Professional Deposition Summaries for Firms

Sat, 20 Dec 2025 13:00:14 GMT

Streamline Your Litigation with Professional Deposition Summary Services

In the fast-paced world of litigation, time is your most valuable asset. Attorneys often spend dozens of hours sifting through hundreds of pages of testimony to find a single, crucial admission. Best Virtual Paralegal eliminates this burden by providing high-quality, accurate, and concise deposition summaries that empower your trial team to focus on winning strategies rather than paperwork.

Why Your Firm Needs Deposition Summaries

A deposition summary is more than just a condensed transcript; it is a strategic trial tool. By transforming raw testimony into a structured, searchable format, you gain several advantages:

• Accelerated Case Analysis: Quickly identify the strengths and weaknesses of a witness's testimony.

• Cost-Efficiency: Reduce billable associate hours by outsourcing to experienced virtual paralegals.

• Trial Readiness: Effortlessly find testimony for impeachment, motions for summary judgment, and trial briefs.

• Improved Client Communication: Provide your clients with easy-to-digest updates on case progress without overwhelming them with verbatim transcripts.

The Best Virtual Paralegal Difference: Accuracy and Flexibility

We understand that no two cases are the same. That is why Best Virtual Paralegal offers various formatting options to meet your specific litigation needs. Whether you require a page-line summary, a topical summary, or a narrative overview, our team delivers results that are both reliable and usable.

Our experienced litigation paralegals handle every project with a "holistic" approach. We don’t just process words; we look for the "missing puzzle piece" that can change the outcome of your case. Our services are offered at a flat-fee rate, ensuring that your firm—and your clients—can enjoy predictable costs without sacrificing quality.

Quality You Can See

Transparency is a core value at Best Virtual Paralegal. We invite you to review our professional standards and see exactly how we can transform your transcripts. You can view our sample work products here to see the level of detail and organization we bring to every case.

Frequently Asked Questions About Deposition Summaries

What is a deposition summary service? A deposition summary service involves an experienced paralegal reviewing a full deposition transcript and condensing it into a concise, organized document that highlights key facts, admissions, and exhibits.

How much do deposition summaries cost? Best Virtual Paralegal offers competitive hourly and flat-fee rates based on the volume of the transcript, making it a cost-effective alternative to in-house summary preparation.

What formats are available for deposition summaries? We offer several formats, including three-column table formats (page-line), bullet-point issue styles, and comprehensive summaries with hyperlinked tables of contents for easy navigation. We also welcome customized format requests from our clients, so if you have a favorite format for your summaries, share it with us and we will use our best efforts to meet your requirements.

Typically, how long does it take to get the summary of a deposition transcript back? We need page count, style requests, and transcript volume to determine turnaround time and fee. We want to avoid false expectations. We'll provide a fee and delivery estimate after you send the transcript.

Take Control of Your Case Prep Today

Don't let a mountain of transcripts slow down your practice. Partner with the experts who understand the nuances of civil litigation, personal injury, and family law.

Ready to streamline your workflow? Click here to learn more about Best Virtual Paralegal’s deposition summary services and start reclaiming your time today.

AI Citations: Why Judges are Penalizing Lawyers for AI Hallucinations

Sat, 20 Dec 2025 10:25:53 GMT

A federal judge orders patent lawyers to explain AI-hallucinated citations. Discover why Best Virtual Paralegal’s cite checking services are vital for legal ethic

The legal landscape is shifting beneath our feet. As generative artificial intelligence (AI) integrates into daily law firm operations, the line between efficiency and malpractice is thinning. A recent report by the ABA Journal, titled " Judge orders patent attorneys to explain incorrect legal citations hallucinated by AI," serves as a stark wake-up call for the legal profession.

The New Reality of Artificial Intelligence in the Courtroom

In a recent federal case, a judge took a firm stand against "AI hallucinations"—a phenomenon where AI models confidently invent non-existent case law, statutes, and legal precedents. For the patent attorneys involved, the result was not just an embarrassing mistake; it was a formal order to show cause, putting their professional reputations and licenses on the line. This incident proves that while AI can draft a document, it cannot stand behind the truth of its contents.

What Happened in the AI Hallucination Case?

The incident unfolded when patent attorneys submitted a legal brief containing citations that looked authoritative but were entirely fabricated by an AI tool. When the court attempted to verify the references, it found a void. The cases did not exist. The quotes were never uttered by a judge. The legal logic was a phantom of the machine's predictive text algorithms.

The presiding judge didn’t view this as a simple clerical error or a "tech glitch." Instead, the court demanded a detailed explanation of how these "hallucinations" made it into a signed filing. This situation underscores a fundamental truth in the digital age: The court holds the human signer responsible for every word on the page, regardless of who—or what—wrote it.

Why Cite Checking is Your First Line of Defense

According to Holly Sheriff, founder of Best Virtual Paralegal LLC (BVP), the task of cite checking—often referred to in the industry as "Bluebooking"—is far more than a formatting exercise.

"The task of cite checking," Holly explains, "is a lawyer’s first defense for upholding ethical obligations and avoiding malpractice risks. It enhances the credibility of legal documents and reinforces that court requirements and submission standards are met before a judge or opposing counsel ever see the subject documents."

If the legal community has learned anything from the numerous incidents of lawyers getting hit with embarrassing sanctions, it should be that cite checking is a necessary and vital skill. Proper cite checking is designed to alert lawyers to critical errors in case law, flawed arguments, and "ghost" citations before they become a permanent matter of public record.

Paralegals: The Fix for Modern Workflow Gaps

The ABA article highlights a growing gap in the law firm's workflows, and it is gaps like these that the Best Virtual Paralegal Team's services fixes, according to Best Virtual Paralegal LLC (BVP)'s founder, Holly Sheriff. Holly continues to state that attorneys should embrace the help and expertise of paralegals who are highly trained in the art of cite checking.

A paralegal’s "second set of eyes" often serves as the final barrier between an attorney and an embarrassing Rule 11 sanction. In an era where AI can generate plausible-sounding lies in seconds, the human element is more critical than ever. By integrating professional cite checking into their standard operating procedures, firms move from a posture of "hoping for accuracy" to "guaranteeing it."

The Art of the "Bluebook": More Than Just Italics

To the uninitiated, Bluebooking might seem like a tedious chore involving commas, abbreviations, and font styles. To a seasoned professional at Best Virtual Paralegal, however, it is an art form. Cite checking is the systematic process of:

1. Verifying Existence: Ensuring the case actually exists and isn't a "hallucination."

2. Validating Authority: Confirming the case is still "good law" and hasn't been overturned or questioned by higher courts.

3. Accuracy of Content: Ensuring the quoted text and the legal principles cited accurately reflect the court’s original opinion.

4. Formatting Excellence: Applying the Bluebook style or the court’s specific preferred method to ensure the reader can verify the cited work instantly.

When attorneys bypass this step—or trust an unverified AI to do it for them—they risk the integrity of their entire argument and their standing with the bench.

The Ethical Duty of Supervision

Under Model Rule 5.3, attorneys have a duty to supervise non-lawyer assistance. This duty now extends to the output of AI tools. Relying on an AI to cite check itself is a circular logic that often leads to disaster. The Best Virtual Paralegal team provides that external, objective verification that AI simply cannot provide.

Professional paralegals do not just look for typos; they look for logic gaps. They ensure that every statutory reference is current and every court rule is followed to the letter. In the era of AI, this human oversight is the ultimate safeguard against the "hallucinations" that are now landing attorneys in hot water.

Don’t Let a Hallucination Ruin Your Career

The message from the federal bench is clear: ignorance of AI’s limitations is no excuse for filing false information. As AI becomes more prevalent, the value of human verification skyrockets. Attorneys who embrace the help of highly trained paralegals aren't just saving time; they are buying insurance for their reputation.

Protect your practice. Protect your reputation. Verify every line.

Stop Guessing. Start Verifying with Best Virtual Paralegal.

Is your brief "judge-ready," or is there a hidden AI hallucination lurking in your citations? Don't risk sanctions or embarrassment. Best Virtual Paralegal’s Cite Checking Services provide attorneys with an expert second set of eyes. We verify, correct, and modify your citations using the Bluebook style or your court’s preferred method.

Uphold your ethical standards today. Contact Best Virtual Paralegal LLC to Secure Your Cite Checking Expert

FAQ: Advanced Cite Checking & Professional Training

How does Best Virtual Paralegal LLC handle AI-generated citations?

At Best Virtual Paralegal LLC, we recognize that AI is a powerful drafting tool, but it is not a replacement for human expertise. Our team specializes in verifying AI-generated output. We treat every citation with extreme scrutiny, performing rigorous fact-checking and verification to ensure that your legal authority exists and remains valid, effectively neutralizing the risk of AI hallucinations.

What specific cite checking services does Best Virtual Paralegal LLC offer to prevent sanctions?

Best Virtual Paralegal LLC provides a comprehensive "second set of eyes" to verify, correct, and modify citations. Our services include checking for proper case law, statutes, and court rules, ensuring every reference meets either the Bluebook style or your court’s specific preferred method. By identifying critical errors before a judge sees your brief, we help you uphold your ethical obligations and avoid Rule 11 sanctions.

Can I use AI tools in my practice if I hire Best Virtual Paralegal LLC for cite checking? Absolutely. AI can enhance your efficiency, but as Holly Sheriff notes, it requires "actual intelligence" in its execution. Best Virtual Paralegal LLC bridges the "workflow gap" by providing the human oversight required to file with confidence. We take your AI-drafted briefs and transform them into reliable, "judge-ready" documents through meticulous professional verification.

Does Best Virtual Paralegal LLC offer training for legal professionals on citation success?

Yes! We are committed to empowering the legal community. Through our specialized training program, "Bluebooking for the Modern Paralegal," we teach the art of citation success. This guide and our associated training sessions help paralegals and attorneys master the complexities of the Bluebook, ensuring their law firms maintain the highest standards of credibility and accuracy.

Why should I choose a Best Virtual Paralegal LLC-trained professional over standard AI tools?

While AI can draft text, it lacks the contextual understanding and ethical accountability of a Best Virtual Paralegal LLC professional. Our team is specifically trained to alert lawyers to nuances in court rules and logic gaps that AI frequently misses. Investing in Best Virtual Paralegal LLC services or training ensures your firm is led by experts who understand that proper cite checking is a lawyer’s first line of defense against malpractice.

#LegalEthics #AIHallucinations #CiteChecking #BluebookSuccess #BestVirtualParalegal #LegalWorkflow #AttorneySupport

How to Improve Attorney-Paralegal Communication and Boost Firm Efficiency

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 00:30:01 GMT

The frustrations are common. Attorneys feel they have to repeat themselves, while paralegals feel they lack clear instructions or are only looped in at the last minute for a "rush" project.

In any law firm, the single most important relationship for driving efficiency isn't with the client or opposing counsel—it's the one between the attorney and the paralegal. This relationship is the engine of the practice. When communication is seamless, the firm runs smoothly, deadlines are met, and clients are happy. When it breaks down, the entire practice sputters with missed deadlines, costly errors, and team-wide burnout.

The frustrations are common. Attorneys feel they have to repeat themselves, while paralegals feel they lack clear instructions or are only looped in at the last minute for a "rush" project. The good news is that you can fix this. Improving attorney-paralegal communication isn't about lengthy meetings; it's about creating smart, efficient systems. By implementing a few key strategies, you can transform your workflow from a source of friction into a competitive advantage.

Improving Communication

Here’s how attorneys and paralegals can improve their communication to work more efficiently.

1. Define Roles and Set Clear Expectations

The most common point of failure is ambiguity. An attorney delegates a task, but the paralegal isn't 100% sure of the scope, the deadline, or the expected "definition of done."

For Attorneys: Don't just delegate a task; delegate the outcome. Instead of "Look into this," try "I need a one-page summary of the plaintiff's last three motions by 3:00 PM tomorrow so I can prepare for our status conference."

For Paralegals: Actively seek clarity. It's far more efficient to ask two clarifying questions upfront than to spend three hours redoing work. Ask, "To make sure I get this right, you need X and Y, and you want it formatted as a memo, correct?"

This simple alignment ensures everyone understands the goal from the start, eliminating guesswork and rework.

2. Create and Use Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

Stop reinventing the wheel for every new case. Your most common tasks—client intake, document requests, preparing discovery, closing a file—should follow a documented process.

SOPs are not meant to be restrictive; they are meant to be liberating. They create a clear playbook that empowers your paralegal to act autonomously. When a new personal injury case comes in, your paralegal doesn't need to ask, "What should I do first?" They can consult the "New PI Client Intake" SOP and immediately begin the 10-step process you've already approved. This frees up the attorney to focus on high-level legal strategy instead of project management.

3. Centralize All Communication and Tasks

Communication is inefficient when it's scattered. A task mentioned in the hallway, followed by details in an email, a correction via instant message, and a final file dropped on a sticky note, is a recipe for disaster.

Choose one source of truth. Whether it's a dedicated legal practice management (LPM) software (like Clio, MyCase, or PracticePanther) or a project management tool (like Asana), all tasks and communication *about* those tasks must live in one place.

This creates a central dashboard where the attorney can see the status of all delegated work, and the paralegal has a clear, prioritized to-do list. A simple rule: If it's not in the system, it's not a task. This also means attorneys must cc' their paralegals on relevant emails with clients or opposing counsel so the paralegal has the full context without having to ask for it.

4. Master the Art of Delegation and Feedback

How you delegate determines the quality of the work you get back. Vague, last-minute, or context-free delegation is the number one cause of inefficiency.

Use the "What, Why, and When" method:

What: Clearly define the task.
Why: Explain the context. ("I need this research because...") This helps the paralegal spot issues you might have missed.
When: Provide a firm, realistic deadline.

Equally important is the feedback loop. Don't just interact when something is wrong. Schedule a brief, 15-minute weekly check-in to review workflows. What's working? What's causing bottlenecks? This collaborative approach builds trust and allows for continuous, small improvements that add up to massive efficiency gains.

5. Implement a 10-Minute Daily Huddle

Many "urgent" interruptions can be avoided by one brief, structured check-in. Start each day with a 10-minute huddle (in-person or virtual). This is not a long, meandering meeting. It’s a rapid-fire sync-up to align priorities.

Use this simple agenda:

1. What is your #1 priority for today?

2. Are you facing any roadblocks I can help clear?

3. Are there any urgent updates I need to know?

This simple meeting ensures both attorney and paralegal are working from the same priority list. The attorney knows what the paralegal is focused on, and the paralegal learns about potential new priorities *before* they become last-minute emergencies.

Ready to Stop Managing Chaos and Start Practicing Law?

Implementing these communication systems will dramatically boost your firm's efficiency. But what if the core problem isn't just how you communicate, but how much you have to manage?

When your internal team is at capacity, even the best communication protocols can't solve the problem of being overworked. This is where Best Virtual Paralegal steps in.

We provide highly skilled, U.S.-based virtual paralegal support that integrates seamlessly into your practice. Our experienced paralegals don't just take tasks; they manage complex workflows. From handling discovery and litigation support to drafting critical documents and conducting legal research, we provide the expert support you need, exactly when you need it.

Stop letting communication bottlenecks and administrative overload slow you down. It's time to get the support that frees you up to focus on what you do best: winning cases for your clients.

Contact Best Virtual Paralegal today to discover how our expert supportive services can streamline your workflow and supercharge your firm's efficiency!

Holiday Headaches? 10 Ways Family Law Attorneys Can Proactively Educate Clients

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 09:45:00 GMT

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The holiday season often magnifies stress for clients going through divorce or custody battles. Co-parenting conflicts can ignite over schedules, gift-giving, and travel. As a family law attorney, you see the same emergencies every year.

Instead of just reacting to crises, you can use this time to proactively educate your clients. Empowering them with knowledge reduces their anxiety, prevents unforced errors, and drastically cuts down on your emergency calls. Active education builds trust and demonstrates your value far beyond the courtroom.

10 Client Education Strategies for the Holidays

Here are 10 practical things family law attorneys can do during the holidays to educate their clients.

1. Visually Clarify the Holiday Schedule

Don't assume your client understands the legalese of their custody order. Proactively send a simplified, visual breakdown of the holiday parenting time. Create a simple calendar view (e.g., "You: Dec 20-23," "Spouse: Dec 24-26") that clearly outlines dates, specific exchange times, and locations. This single document can prevent dozens of confused phone calls.

2. Draft a 'Holiday Communication' Guide

Create a one-page PDF outlining "Dos and Don'ts" for holiday co-parenting communication. Advise clients to use court-ordered co-parenting apps (like OurFamilyWizard or AppClose) for all communication. Remind them to keep messages brief, polite, and focused only on the children. This guide educates them on how to create a better record for their own case.

3. Explain Financial Dos and Don'ts

The holidays inspire spending, which can be disastrous in a pending divorce. Remind clients that marital assets are still marital assets until a final order. Counsel them against extravagant spending, draining joint accounts for gifts, or incurring significant new debt. A simple email blast on "Holiday Spending and Your Divorce" can protect their financial standing.

4. Send a Targeted Social Media Reminder

Clients often forget that everything is potential evidence. Circulate a brief memo warning them about the dangers of posting on social media. Explain how a photo of an expensive gift can contradict financial declarations, or how a post from a party can be used in a custody dispute. Advise them to make profiles private and to think before they post.

5. Set Clear 'Holiday Office Hours' Expectations

Manage client expectations by clearly communicating your holiday availability. Send an email detailing your office's closed dates and your policy on non-emergency communication. Provide a clear protocol for a true emergency (e.g., a parental kidnapping) versus a non-emergency (e.g., a dispute over a gift).

6. Host a 'New Year Prep' Webinar

Host a short, 30-minute webinar on "Preparing Your Case for the New Year." This educates clients on the next steps. Cover topics like gathering W-2s and tax documents, preparing for mediation, or updating their financial disclosures. Recording it allows clients to watch on their own time.

7. Create a 'Holiday Travel' Checklist

Develop a simple checklist for clients traveling with their children. Ensure they have the correct documents, such as a copy of the custody order or a notarized travel consent letter from the other parent (if required). This proactive step prevents panic at the airport and reinforces your thoroughness.

8. Distribute an FAQ on Gifts and Third Parties

Address common holiday conflicts head-on. Draft an FAQ that answers questions like: "Can my ex stop me from giving my child a specific gift?" or "Can I introduce my new partner to my children at the family holiday dinner?" Providing answers based on the law and local judicial preferences educates them on reasonable behavior.

9. Review 'Right of First Refusal' (ROFR)

The ROFR clause is frequently misunderstood. Take a moment to explain how it applies during the holiday breaks. Does it apply if the parent uses a family babysitter for a few hours to go shopping? Clarifying this small detail educates the client and can prevent a major, unnecessary conflict.

10. Send a Brief Case Status Summary

Clients often feel their case is "stuck" during the holidays. Send a brief, year-end summary of their case. Actively outline what you have accomplished together in the past year and what the immediate next steps are in January. This manages anxiety and reinforces the progress you have made.

Transform Your Practice with Proactive Support

Feeling overwhelmed by the thought of creating all this content while managing your end-of-year caseload? You don't have to do it alone.

Educating clients is vital, but it takes time you don't have. Best Virtual Paralegal offers specialized family law support for attorneys. We can draft these client communications, create your holiday FAQs, manage case summaries, and handle the administrative load. This frees you to focus on high-level strategy and enjoy your own holiday.

Focus on your clients, not the paperwork. Contact Best Virtual Paralegal t oday to see how our expert family law support services can streamline your practice.

Hiring a Virtual Paralegal? 7 Essential Tips for Law Firms

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 17:55:20 GMT

Learn how to hire a virtual paralegal with these 7 tips. Scale your law firm, save money, and find the best remote legal support for drafting and research.

Attorneys face constant pressure. Between court appearances, client meetings, and the endless churn of administrative tasks, your time is your most valuable asset. Hiring a virtual paralegal offers a strategic solution. You reduce overhead costs while gaining access to specialized legal support. However, finding the right fit requires a deliberate approach.

To help you scale your practice, we have compiled the top tips for hiring a virtual paralegal. Use this guide to select a candidate who integrates seamlessly into your workflow.

1. Define Your Scope of Work Clearly

Before you post a job listing, audit your current workload. Identify exactly what you need to outsource. Do you require assistance with complex document drafting, or do you need help organizing discovery files? A virtual paralegal works best when you provide specific objectives. Create a detailed list of responsibilities to attract candidates with the exact skills you require.

It is important to remember that the majority of highly regarded and seasoned virtual paralegals are also business owners, making it possible that they may not regularly review the want ads. In most circumstances, the process of hiring a virtual paralegal should differ significantly from the approach taken when recruiting a traditional W2 employee. You should be ready to seek out and visit the virtual paralegal's office, similar to how you would locate a private investigator, a tax expert, or any other professional service that supports your law firm's daily functions.

2. Verify Data Security Protocols

Client confidentiality remains paramount. You must ensure your virtual support staff follows strict security measures. Ask candidates about their internet connection security, VPN usage, and file encryption methods. Confirm they understand attorney-client privilege and have secure systems in place to protect sensitive case data.

3. Test Legal Research Capabilities

Effective legal support requires more than just administrative skills; it demands substantive legal knowledge. Verify that your candidate possesses proficiency in legal research platforms. Ask specific questions about their experience finding case law, validating citations, and gathering facts to support your arguments.

4. Assess Technology Proficiency

Your remote team must navigate your practice management software without constant supervision. Look for candidates who demonstrate fluency in cloud-based legal software, practice management tools (like Clio or MyCase), and standard communication apps like Zoom or Slack. A tech-savvy paralegal saves you training time.

5. Conduct a Practical Skills Assessment

Resumes only tell half the story. Assign a small, paid test project to valid candidates. Ask them to draft a simple motion or summarize a deposition. This "trial run" reveals their writing style, attention to detail, and turnaround time better than an interview ever could.

6. Establish Clear Communication Channels

Remote work fails without communication. Set expectations immediately regarding availability and response times. Determine whether you will communicate via email, Slack, or weekly video calls. Clear boundaries prevent misunderstandings and keep your cases moving forward.

7. Look for Specialized Experience

Generalists help with admin, but specialists win cases. If you practice family law, hire a virtual paralegal with experience in divorce decrees and custody modifications. If you handle litigation, prioritize candidates familiar with discovery support and witness interviews.

Work with Best Virtual Paralegal

Stop drowning in paperwork and start focusing on your clients. At Best Virtual Paralegal, we provide comprehensive support tailored to your firm's needs.

We handle the heavy lifting so you can litigate. Our team specializes in substantive legal work, including document drafting, gathering facts and documents, and interviewing witnesses. We perform high-level discovery support and in-depth legal research using industry standards like LexisNexis and Westlaw.

Beyond legal support, we help your firm grow. We offer non-legal services to boost your visibility, including social media management, blog writing, and video/digital marketing.

Contact Best Virtual Paralegal today to streamline your practice and reclaim your time.

#VirtualParalegal #LegalOutsourcing #LawFirmGrowth #RemoteLegalSupport

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Holiday Hiring Myth: Why Your Paralegal Search Starts Now

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 17:47:00 GMT

Best Virtual Paralegal's guide debunks hiring myths and shares job searching strategies for new paralegals, from networking to resumes.

Many new paralegals pause their job search between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day. They believe law firms and corporate legal departments stop hiring, decision-makers are all on vacation, and it's better to wait for the "January rush."

This is a critical mistake.

The holiday season is one of the best and most strategic times for a new paralegal to find a job. While your competition is sipping eggnog and waiting, you can leverage this quiet period to stand out, make connections, and secure a position.

This guide will show you how to use the holiday season to your advantage and why investing in your career tools, like a professional resume and coaching, is the key to landing your first role.

Why Are Law Firms Hiring During the Holidays?

The idea of a "holiday hiring freeze" is a myth. In reality, legal departments are incredibly busy planning for the year ahead.

New Budgets are Approved: Many firms operate on a calendar-year budget. By November and December, they know exactly what their headcount and budget will be for the upcoming year. They have the green light to hire and want to fill those roles immediately to hit the ground running in January.

Year-End Urgency: Managers often have a "use-it-or-lose-it" budget. They may have an open, approved position they must fill before December 31st, or they risk losing the funding for it.

Less Competition: This is your single biggest advantage. The majority of job seekers, including other new paralegals, press pause on their search. When you submit your application, it lands in an inbox with far fewer competing resumes. This gives hiring managers more time to review your specific qualifications.

Your Holiday Job Search Strategy: Active & Engaged

Don't just passively apply. Use the unique social and professional atmosphere of the holidays to network effectively.

Leverage Holiday Networking (Virtual & In-Person)

The holidays are a natural time for networking. People are more relaxed and receptive to connecting.

Attend Association Events: Check with your local and state paralegal associations. Many host "Holiday Social" or "Holiday Bash" events. These are fantastic, low-pressure environments to meet working paralegals and attorneys.

Reconnect on LinkedIn: The holidays provide the perfect "excuse" to reconnect with your network. Send a simple holiday greeting to contacts from your paralegal program, former professors, or guest speakers. A short message like, "Happy holidays! I really enjoyed your presentation on e-discovery last semester and am now starting my job search," keeps you top-of-mind.

Engage with Firms Online: Follow the law firms you're interested in. Many post holiday-related content or year-in-review articles. Engaging with these posts (a thoughtful comment or share) increases your visibility and shows genuine interest.

2. Update Your Resume to Beat the 'Robots'

Before you apply, you must understand that a human rarely sees your resume first. Nearly all mid-to-large firms use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to scan and filter resumes. If your resume isn't formatted correctly or lacks the right keywords, an algorithm will reject it before it ever reaches a hiring manager.

As a new paralegal, your resume must focus on potential and transferable skills, not just work history.

Skills Over Experience: Create a "Key Skills" section at the top. List the technologies you learned in your program (e.g., Westlaw, LexisNexis, Clio, MyCase, e-discovery platforms) and your legal skills (e.g., legal research, document drafting, case management, Bluebook citation).

Use Action Verbs : Frame your academic projects and internship duties as accomplishments. Instead of "Responsible for filing," write "Managed a case filing system for 10+ mock trial files." Instead of "Helped with research," write "Conducted legal research and drafted memoranda on civil procedure."

The Secret Weapon: Why New Paralegals Need a Career Coach & Resume Service

How do you translate a semester of coursework into "job-ready" skills on a resume? How do you answer the tough interview question, "Tell me about your experience," when you don't have any?

This is where professional help becomes a game-changer.

The Career Coach Advantage

A career coach specializing in the legal field doesn't just give you generic advice. They provide a strategic blueprint for launching your career. For a new paralegal, a coach helps you:

Build a Strong Foundation: They help you navigate the "overwhelming" feeling of starting out and build a confident job-search mindset.

Map Your Transferable Skills: Did you work in customer service? You have client communication and conflict resolution skills. Were you a server? You have time management, prioritization, and attention-to-detail skills. A coach helps you frame this experience in legal terms.

Master the Interview: They conduct mock interviews to prepare you for paralegal-specific questions, helping you articulate your value and passion for the law, even with limited experience.

The Resume Service Advantage

A professional paralegal resume writer isn't just a proofreader. They are a marketing expert, and you are the product. They know exactly how to get your resume past the ATS and impress a hiring manager. They will:

• Optimize for ATS : They ensure the formatting is machine-readable and strategically inserts the keywords hiring managers are searching for.

• Craft a Compelling Summary: They replace a weak " Objective" (which focuses on what you want) with a powerful "Professional Summary" (which focuses on the value you offer the employer), which is used in your cover letter not your resume at all.

• Highlight Your Education: They know how to make your paralegal certificate or degree the star of the show, detailing relevant coursework and projects to function as "proof" of your skills.

Don't Wait for January—Start Your Career Today

Your paralegal career is a serious investment. Don't let a common myth delay your start. The firms are hiring, the competition is low, and the opportunity is now .

Take the first step to stand out from the crowd. Best Virtual Paralegal offers specialized Career Coaching and Resume Writing Services designed specifically for new paralegals. We know how to translate your academic achievements into a compelling professional profile that gets you hired.

Schedule your consultation and get your holiday job search started!

Why Family Law Firms Need a Virtual Paralegal

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 14:00:36 GMT

Drowning in discovery? Your billable rate is too high for data entry. A virtual family law paralegal streamlines your practice and boosts your margins.

Family law attorneys often face a distinct challenge: the emotional weight of their cases combined with a crushing volume of administrative paperwork. You handle divorces, child custody disputes, and support modifications. These cases require empathy and precision. However, spending your expensive billable hours on routine drafting or organizing discovery files destroys your profit margins.

The solution is clear. You need a specialized family law paralegal.

By delegating substantive legal work to a skilled professional, you reclaim your time, increase your revenue, and provide better service to your clients.

What Does a Family Law Paralegal Do?

A family law paralegal manages the procedural heartbeat of your cases. They do not just file papers; they drive the case forward.

A qualified paralegal handles the following critical tasks:

Drafting Pleadings: They prepare initial petitions, answers, motions for temporary orders, responses scheduling orders, motions to compel, to final decrees.
Managing Discovery: gathering documents, data, and information for mandatory disclosures, propounding and answering interrogatories, requests for production, and requests for admissions, drafting exhibit and witness lists, scheduling and coordinating depositions, and developing discovery binders.
Financial Analysis: They compile and analyze complex financial affidavits, a cornerstone of high-asset divorce cases.
Client Communication: They serve as the primary point of contact, updating clients on case status and gathering necessary documentation.
Trial Preparation: They organize exhibit binders, manage witness lists, and ensure you walk into the courtroom fully prepared.

When you utilize a family law paralegal effectively, you focus on strategy and advocacy, while they handle the execution.

The Financial Advantage of Outsourcing

Many solo practitioners and small firms hesitate to hire full-time staff due to overhead costs. This is where the industry is shifting. Hiring a virtual family law paralegal eliminates the burden of payroll taxes, health insurance, office space, and equipment costs.

You pay only for the work performed. This model allows you to scale your practice instantly. When your caseload spikes, your virtual support scales with you. When things slow down, you aren't paying a salary for an idle employee.

Furthermore, substantive paralegal work is billable to the client. By utilizing a virtual paralegal, you create an additional revenue stream. You pay the paralegal a flat or hourly rate, and you bill their time to the client at a market rate, keeping the profit.

Why Generalists Fail in Family Law

Family law is unique. It operates under strict deadlines and specific local rules that general litigation paralegals often miss. A dedicated family law paralegal understands the nuances of the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA) and the specific requirements for qualified domestic relations orders (QDROs).

You cannot afford a learning curve on a custody case. You need a specialist who hits the ground running on day one.

Maximize Efficiency with Best Virtual Paralegal

Stop drowning in paperwork. Your expertise belongs in the courtroom and in mediation, not behind a desk organizing bank statements.

At Best Virtual Paralegal, we help move cases forward, we provide senior-level support tailored specifically for family law practices. Our team integrates seamlessly into your workflow, managing your deadlines and drafting your documents with the precision your clients deserve. We don't just support your firm; we help you grow it.

Ready to reclaim your time and boost your bottom line?

Contact Best Virtual Paralegal today to schedule your consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions Focusing on Family Law

Don't Let the Holidays Halt Your Practice: Why Solo Lawyers Should Hire a Freelance Paralegal

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 06:01:23 GMT

Can attorneys hire a freelance paralegal for holiday coverage? Yes. Discover the benefits, ethical rules, and how virtual paralegals save solo lawyer’s time.

The end-of-year rush is coming. Court deadlines don't pause for the holidays, clients still have urgent needs, and opposing counsel won't wait. For a solo attorney, this period guarantees stress, long nights, and missed family time. But what if you could maintain productivity, meet every deadline, and still enjoy a much-needed break?

You can. Hiring a temporary freelance paralegal is the modern solo practitioner's solution to the holiday crunch. It's an agile, ethical, and cost-effective strategy that keeps your practice running smoothly while you're out of the office.

What is a Freelance or Virtual Paralegal?

A freelance or virtual paralegal is an experienced legal support professional who works as an independent contractor. Unlike a full-time employee, you hire them on a project-by-project or hourly basis.

They handle the substantive legal work you need done—from drafting motions to managing discovery—all from their own remote office. This model gives you access to top-tier talent without the overhead, long-term commitment, or administrative burdens of hiring a W-2 employee.

Can Attorneys Ethically Hire a Freelance Paralegal?

Yes, absolutely. The American Bar Association (ABA) and state bars permit lawyers to hire freelance paralegals, provided the attorney follows the same ethical duties required for in-house staff.

The core ethical responsibilities remain firmly with you, the attorney:

1. Direct Supervision: You must supervise all work. This is non-negotiable. You are ultimately responsible for the paralegal's work product and conduct.

2. Avoiding UPL: You must ensure the paralegal does not engage in the Unauthorized Practice of Law (UPL). This means they cannot give legal advice, set fees, or represent clients in court.

3. Client Confidentiality: The paralegal must be bound by the same rules of confidentiality as you are. A strong independent contractor agreement should explicitly state this.

4. Conflict Checks: You must run a conflict check for the freelance paralegal, just as you would for any new hire, to protect your clients.

How Does a Temporary Paralegal Save Solo Lawyers Money?

Hiring a temporary virtual paralegal is a strategic financial decision, not just a convenience. The cost savings are immediate and substantial.

• Pay Only for Work Performed: You aren't paying for downtime, coffee breaks, or slow periods. You pay only for the billable, productive hours you need.

• Eliminate Overhead Costs: Forget about payroll taxes, health insurance, retirement benefits, paid time off, and workers' compensation.

• No Equipment or Office Space: Virtual paralegals use their own computers, software subscriptions (like Westlaw/Lexis), and office equipment.

• Billable Hours: Under ABA rules, you can bill the paralegal's time to your client at a reasonable market rate, turning a necessary expense into a potential profit center.
.

What are the Benefits of Holiday Coverage?

Hiring a freelance paralegal specifically for the holidays provides a critical lifeline for your practice.

• Maintain Momentum: While your competition slows down, your cases move forward. Deadlines are met, discovery responses are drafted, and client communication continues.

• Prevent Burnout: As a solo attorney, you are your firm's most important asset. Using a temporary paralegal allows you to take a real vacation, recharge, and prevent the burnout that plagues the profession.

• Impress Your Clients: Clients are impressed by a practice that doesn't shut down. Providing continuous service and prompt communication, even during the holidays, builds loyalty and referrals.

• Ultimate Flexibility: You get exactly the help you need, when you need it. Need 15 hours one week to draft a motion and only 5 the next for file management? The virtual model accommodates that perfectly.

Scale Your Solo Practice This Holiday Season

Don't let your solo practice manage you. Take control of the holiday season and give yourself the gift of support. A temporary freelance paralegal is the key to managing your workload, impressing your clients, and finally taking that well-deserved break.

Take a break from the overwhelming feeling of drowning in all the year-end deadlines. Best Virtual Paralegal offers expert, on-demand legal support specifically designed for solo lawyers. Our experienced team seamlessly integrates into your practice, managing everything from complex legal research and motion drafting to management of discovery and client communications.

Whether you need a flawless motion, detailed medical record summaries , expert help with family law, personal injury, or probate pleadings, or deposition summaries we are ready to help.

Contact us by form or book a consultation to learn how to keep your practice running smoothly this holiday season and beyond.

#VirtualParalegal #SoloLawyer #FreelanceParalegal #LegalTech

California Courts Mandate AI Guardrails: What Rule 10.430 Means for Legal Professionals

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 07:05:52 GMT

California's new court AI policy, Rule 10.430, sets strict guidelines for generative AI. Learn what the new rules on accuracy and bias mean for legal tech.

The era of "wait and see" governance for artificial intelligence is officially ending in California's judiciary. The California Courts have adopted Rule 10.430, a new policy effective September 1, 2025, that establishes a clear framework for the use of generative AI (Judicial Council of California, 2025).

This new rule provides a decisive answer to how one of the nation's largest court systems will handle technology that creates new text, images, and code. It applies to all court staff and judicial officers in the Superior Courts, Courts of Appeal, and the Supreme Court, creating a unified standard for the state.

A December Deadline: Ban or Govern?

The policy gives California courts a clear choice: ban generative AI entirely or adopt a formal use policy by December 15, 2025.

If a court chooses to permit the use of generative AI, its policy must adhere to a strict set of baseline standards (Judicial Council of California, 2025). The rule differentiates between internal, court-managed AI systems and public generative AI systems (like ChatGPT or Claude). While the policy governs staff and judicial officers, it notably exempts judicial officers when they are acting in their adjudicative roles.

The Non-Negotiable Requirements

Any court policy allowing generative AI must include several essential provisions focused on security, fairness, and accuracy (Judicial Council of California, 2025).

• Confidentiality is Paramount: The rule strictly prohibits uploading confidential or non-public information into public generative AI systems. This includes data like Social Security numbers, sealed case data, or personal identifying information.

• Mandating Fairness: Courts must forbid using generative AI to discriminate or create disparate impacts on individuals based on protected classes, including age, race, religion, or gender identity.

• Accuracy and Accountability: The policy places the burden of verification squarely on the user. Staff and judicial officers must verify the accuracy of AI outputs and correct any erroneous or "hallucinated" information.

• Bias Mitigation: Users must take reasonable steps to identify and remove biased, offensive, or harmful content from any AI-generated material.

• Public Transparency: If a court shares generative AI content with the public, it must provide clear disclosure. This requires a label, watermark, or statement that identifies how AI was used and which system was employed.

• Ethical Compliance: Finally, all AI use must comply with all applicable laws, existing court policies, and codes of judicial ethics.

Why This Policy Matters

This move signals a critical shift from abstract discussion to formal governance. For legal and tech professionals, Rule 10.430 underscores the growing importance of trust, transparency, and accountability in all AI-generated content, especially within the public sector.

For legal tech vendors, court administrators, and policymakers, this rule offers a clear blueprint of what institutions will expect. As courts explore AI for workflows like document drafting, analysis, and research, these standards on confidentiality, bias, and accuracy will become the benchmark.

As California's courts navigate these new technological frontiers, the need for accurate, compliant, and efficient legal support has never been greater. While court staff adapt to new tools, your firm still needs reliable results.

Streamline your practice and ensure your documents are meticulously prepared. Contact Best Virtual Paralegal today to learn how our expert document drafting support can save you time and keep your focus on your clients.

#CaliforniaLaw #LegalTech #ArtificialIntelligence #Rule10430

Navigating Litigation: Your Tech Toolkit for Task & Deadline Management

Sun, 16 Nov 2025 11:16:28 GMT

Master litigation task management. We compare Microsoft Planner, Google Workspace, and Zoom as your tech toolkit to manage legal deadlines & workflows.

Litigation is a high-stakes arena, where missing a deadline can have severe consequences. For attorneys and paralegals, efficient task, and deadline management isn't just a good practice—it's essential for success. This article explores how Microsoft Planner, Zoom Business Pro, and Google Workspace can be leveraged to streamline your litigation workflow, comparing their costs, features, and ease of use.

The Challenge: Juggling Tasks and Deadlines in a Dynamic Environment

Legal professionals are constantly balancing multiple cases, each with its own set of discovery deadlines, court appearances, filing requirements, and research tasks. Traditional methods, such as physical calendars and handwritten to-do lists, are prone to error and difficult to scale. The right technology can transform this chaotic environment into a well-organized and highly productive operation.

Option 1: Microsoft Planner—A Visual Approach to Project Management

Microsoft Planner, often included with Microsoft 365 subscriptions, offers a visually intuitive way to manage tasks. It's built around "boards," where tasks are represented by cards that can be moved between columns (e.g., "To Do," "In Progress," "Completed").

Key Features for Litigation Management:

Task Assignment & Tracking: Easily assign tasks to team members, set due dates, and track progress.
Checklists: Break down complex tasks into manageable sub-items.
Attachments: Link relevant documents, emails, or case notes directly to tasks.
Integration: Seamlessly integrates with other Microsoft 365 applications like Outlook and Teams, allowing for reminders and communication within the same ecosystem.
Visual Dashboards: Get a quick overview of team workload and project status.

Cost: Included with most Microsoft 365 Business plans, starting around $6.00 per user/month for basic plans that include Planner.

Efficiency: Excellent for visual thinkers and teams already invested in the Microsoft ecosystem. Reduces the need for separate tracking tools.

Ease of Use: Highly intuitive, with a drag-and-drop interface that's easy to learn.

Option 2: Google Workspace (formerly G Suite) – Collaborative Powerhouse

TGoogle Workspace provides a comprehensive suite of cloud-based tools, including Gmail, Calendar, Drive, Docs, and Sheets, which can be powerfully combined for litigation management. While Google Workspace doesn't have a direct equivalent to Planner, its individual components can be used synergistically.

Key Features for Litigation Management:

Google Calendar: The cornerstone for deadline management. Create shared calendars for specific cases, invite team members, and set multiple reminders.
Google Tasks: Simple task list integration within Gmail and Calendar for personal task management.
Google Sheets: Create sophisticated tracking spreadsheets for cases, deadlines, discovery logs, and exhibit lists.
Google Drive: Centralized document storage and sharing, crucial for case files.
Google Docs: Collaborative document creation and editing, ideal for drafting pleadings or memos.
Meet: Integrated video conferencing for team discussions and client consultations.

Cost: Business Starter plans begin at $6 per user/month, offering a robust suite of tools.

Efficiency: Exceptional for teams that prioritize cloud collaboration and real-time document sharing. The interconnectedness of the apps reduces context switching.

Ease of Use: Generally very user-friendly, especially for those familiar with Google's consumer products.

Option 3: Zoom Business Pro – Beyond Video Conferencing

While primarily known for video conferencing, Zoom Business Pro offers features that can indirectly support litigation task management, especially concerning meetings and client communication. While it doesn't offer direct task management features like Planner or integrated suite collaboration like Google Workspace, its strength lies in facilitating crucial discussions.

Key Features for Litigation Management:

Reliable Video Conferencing: Essential for client meetings, depositions, court hearings (where permitted), and team check-ins.
Meeting Recording & Transcripts: Record important discussions for later review, especially useful for client instructions or strategy sessions. Automated transcripts can save significant time.
Breakout Rooms: Facilitate internal team discussions during longer meetings.
Screen Sharing & Annotation: Collaborate on documents or exhibits during virtual meetings.

Cost: Zoom Business Pro starts around $199.99 per year per license, or approximately $16.67 per month.

Efficiency: Optimizes communication and eliminates geographical barriers, saving travel time and expenses. The recording feature can be a significant time-saver for review.

Ease of Use: Extremely user-friendly for joining and hosting meetings, even for less tech-savvy clients.

Comparing the Options: Which is Right for Your Firm?

Customer support is generally lacking across all three services, with the exception of those who opt for the most expensive business plan. Zoom Business Pro is rolling out new features all time that make it comparable to Microsoft and Google.

Conclusion: Streamline Your Practice, Reduce Stress

Choosing the right technology can significantly enhance your firm's efficiency and accuracy in managing litigation tasks and deadlines. Microsoft Planner offers a clear visual roadmap, Google Workspace provides an integrated cloud-native environment for comprehensive collaboration, and Zoom Business Pro ensures seamless virtual communication.

But technology is only as effective as the people managing it. The best software in the world still requires skilled professionals to handle data entry, calendar management, and task follow-up. By strategically implementing these tools, you can reduce stress, minimize errors, and focus on delivering the best possible outcomes for your clients.

Stop Managing Tasks and Start Winning Cases

Feeling overwhelmed by calendar alerts and tracking spreadsheets? Implementing new software is only half the battle. You need an expert who can step in and manage the technology, ensuring no deadline is ever missed.

That's where Best Virtual Paralegal comes in.

Our team of experienced litigation paralegals is proficient in Microsoft Planner, Google Workspace, and the entire ecosystem of legal tech. We don't just use these tools; we master them to provide unparalleled litigation support.

Don't just buy software—invest in a solution.

Contact us here or call/ text PHONE | SMS: (717) 747-3588 today to schedule a free consultation. Let Best Virtual Paralegal take control of your task and deadline management, so you can focus on what you do best: advocating for your clients.

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Holiday Chaos? 30 Essential Tips for Law Firms to Manage Workload and Enjoy the Season

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 23:30:00 GMT

Don't let the holiday rush overwhelm your law firm. Read our 30 essential tips for managing workload, planning ahead, and staying productive.

The holiday season—that whirlwind period from Thanksgiving to New Year's Day—presents a unique challenge for law firms. Courts slow down, opposing counsel disappears, and clients either go silent or suddenly panic about year-end deadlines. Meanwhile, your staff rightfully wants to use their vacation time, and you're trying to find a moment to breathe.

This combination creates a perfect storm of stress. Without a plan, attorneys find themselves working late nights, battling burnout, and sacrificing precious family time.

You can manage the holiday chaos. By implementing proactive strategies, leveraging technology, and setting firm boundaries, you can ensure your firm runs smoothly, your clients feel supported, and your team (including you) gets the rest it deserves.

Here are 30 essential tips for law firms to manage workload during the holidays.

Part 1: Proactive Planning & Scheduling (Tips 1-8)

The best defense is a good offense. Start your holiday planning in October.

1. Conduct a Full Deadline Audit: Review every active case file. Identify all statutory deadlines, discovery cut-offs, and filing dates falling between mid-November and mid-January.

2. Create a Master Holiday Calendar: Block off firm-wide holidays and reduced-hour days. Make this calendar visible to every person on your team.

3. Manage Vacation Requests Early: Use a first-come, first-served system for holiday time-off requests. Ensure you have essential coverage for emergencies.

4. Schedule a "Vacation Blackout" for Yourself: Block off several days where you truly disconnect. Communicate these dates to your team and clients.

5. Prioritize "Must-Do" vs. "Can-Wait" Tasks: Triage your case list. Identify files that must have activity before the new year and those that can be safely paused.

6. Block "Deep Work" Time: Schedule 90-minute, uninterrupted blocks on your calendar in early December. Use this time to clear complex tasks before the real slowdown begins.

7. Reverse-Engineer Your Deadlines: If a motion is due January 10th, plan to have it 90% complete before your holiday break. Do not save it for your first day back.

8. Finalize Year-End Billing Early: Do not spend your holidays chasing invoices. Send final billing reminders in the first week of December to ensure a healthy cash flow.

Part 2: Managing Client & Staff Expectations (Tips 9-16)

Communication is your most powerful tool during the holidays.

9. Over-Communicate Your Availability: In mid-November, send a mass email or newsletter to all active clients. Clearly state your office holiday hours and any planned closures.

10. Set Realistic Expectations: Remind clients that the holidays slow everyone down, including courts and opposing counsel. Manage their expectations about case movement.

11. Define "Client Emergency": Clearly explain to your team and clients what constitutes a true emergency that warrants interrupting a vacation. A discovery question is not an emergency; an emergency injunction hearing is.

12. Update Your Voicemail and Email: Create a detailed out-of-office auto-reply. Include your return date and provide the name and contact information of the colleague covering emergencies.

13. Create a Coverage Plan: Designate a point person (an associate, paralegal, or trusted colleague) to handle urgent matters while key attorneys are out.

14. Empower Your Staff to Say "No": Give your team permission to politely decline non-urgent requests that arrive at the last minute. Some family law focus firms are sometimes hesitant to put this policy into action, considering the increase in custody issues that often coincide with the holiday season, but the good things that can come from a policy like this one can enhance employee happiness, productivity, and promote healthy boundaries with clients.

15. Show Your Staff Appreciation: Acknowledge your team's hard work. A holiday bonus, an extra day off, or a catered lunch goes a long way in boosting morale before a break.

16. Schedule a Post-Holiday Debrief: Put a meeting on the calendar for the second week of January. Discuss what worked, what failed, and how you can improve the process for next year.

Part 3: Leveraging Technology & Automation (Tips 17-23)

Use your existing tools to work smarter, not harder.

17. Embrace Your Practice Management Software: Rely on your cloud-based system (like Clio , MyCase , PracticePanther or Filevine ) so you can securely access files from anywhere if a true emergency strikes.

18. Automate Client Intake: Use online schedulers (like Zoom Scheduler , Bookings , Calendly ) and automated intake forms. This allows potential new clients to book consultations for January without you needing to answer the phone.

19. Schedule Email Sends : If you finish a non-urgent client update on your day off, use the "Schedule Send" feature. Have it arrive in their inbox during business hours when you're back.

20. Use E-Signatures: Finalize retainer agreements, settlement documents, and authorizations remotely using services like DocuSign , HelloSign (now known as Dropbox Sign) , MycaseSign , AdobeSign . Stop waiting for "wet" signatures.

21. Set Up Email Rules: Create filters that automatically sort incoming emails. Label messages as "Urgent," "Client," "Opposing Counsel," or "To Read Later" so you can quickly triage your inbox.

22. Use a Virtual Receptionist Service: Ensure no new lead goes to voicemail. A virtual receptionist can screen calls, handle intakes, and forward only true emergencies.

23. Secure Your Remote Access: Before anyone leaves, confirm all remote-access tools and VPNs work properly. A pre-holiday tech check prevents panicked IT calls on December 26th.

Part 4: Smart Delegation & Outsourcing (Tips 24-30)

You do not have to do it all yourself. The holidays are the perfect time to delegate to the Best Virtual Paralegal Team.

24. Identify Your "Low-Value" Tasks: Make a list of tasks that consume your time but do not require your specific legal expertise (e.g., document formatting, BATES stamping, summarizing depositions).

25. Delegate Internally First: Assign administrative tasks and initial drafts to paralegals and junior associates. Free your time for high-level strategy and client relations.

26. Vet Outsourcing Partners Before You Need Them: The time to find a virtual paralegal is not the day a deadline is looming. Build a relationship with a trusted support service now.

27. Outsource High-Volume Discovery: Delegate document-heavy tasks. Use a virtual paralegal service to manage large document reviews, prepare privilege logs, and organize productions.

28. Delegate Financial Management: Outsource your bookkeeping and billing to a specialized service. This frees up mental energy and ensures you get paid.

29. Lean on Contract Attorneys: For complex legal research or motion drafting, bring in a freelance or contract attorney for a specific, short-term project.

30. Focus on Billable Work: By outsourcing time-consuming administrative and paralegal tasks, you reserve your limited holiday hours for the work that matters most—high-value, billable strategy.

Don't Let Holiday Workloads Steal Your Cheer

Managing a law firm during the holidays is a balancing act. It requires you to be a strategist, a manager, and a technologist. By implementing these 30 tips, you shift from a reactive to a proactive mindset . You take control of your calendar, empower your team, and build a more resilient, efficient, and profitable practice.

Is the holiday discovery deadline crunch stealing your cheer? Family law cases don't stop for the holidays, and the post-New Year rush is right around the corner. Don't let complex litigation and discovery management ruin your well-deserved break. Best Virtual Paralegal offers expert, on-demand litigation and legal discovery support specifically for Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and Virginia Family Law attorneys , Personal Injury attorneys , Civil Litigation attorneys and Probate/Wills and Estates attorneys and beyond. We handle the document-intensive work—from drafting, research, e-discovery, discovery, and deposition summaries to preparing mandatory disclosures and trial exhibits—so you can focus on your clients and your family.

Contact Best Virtual Paralegal today to learn how our virtual paralegals can help you enter the new year prepared, productive, and stress-free.

#LawFirmManagement, #LegalTech, #HolidayProductivity, #FloridaLaw #NewJerseylaw #RhodeIslandlaw #Virginialaw #PersonalInjury #Civillitigation

5 Ways Lawyers Can Boost Awareness This Holiday Season

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 10:45:02 GMT

Struggling with holiday content for your law firm? Discover 5 ways lawyers can boost awareness on social media and websites without giving legal advice.

The holiday season presents a unique puzzle for attorneys. Your clients are focused on family, festivities, and shopping—not necessarily legal matters. How do you create relevant holiday content that keeps your practice top-of-mind without crossing the ethical line of providing legal advice?

The answer lies in connection, not consultation.

Lawyers can (and should) participate in the holiday spirit online. You just need the right strategy. An active social media and web presence during this time humanizes your firm and builds community trust.

Cultivate Engaging Holiday Content

1. Spotlight Your Community Involvement

The holidays are the peak season for giving. Does your firm sponsor a local toy drive? Does your team volunteer at a food bank? Share this.

Active participation in your community shows the human side of your practice. Post photos of your team volunteering (with permission, of course). Write a blog post celebrating a local charity you support and encourage your followers to donate. This builds goodwill and anchors your firm as a vital partof the community—a group of real people, not just a name on a building.

2. Publish General Safety and Preparedness Tips

You can protect your community without giving case-specific advice. Create content that addresses common, general risks associated with the holidays.

A personal injury lawyer can publish a "Holiday Travel Safety Checklist" (e.g., check your tires, pack an emergency kit, avoid drowsy driving).
A DUI/DWI attorney can share "5 Ways to Be a Responsible Holiday Party Host" (e.g., offer festive non-alcoholic drinks, have a rideshare app code ready).
An estate planning attorney can post about the importance of protecting your family, positioning "getting your affairs in order" as an act of love to consider for the New Year.

3. Humanize Your Firm and Team

People connect with people. Use the holidays to pull back the curtain and show the faces behind your legal work.

Post a simple "Happy Holidays" graphic featuring your team. Run a "Meet the Staff" series where a paralegal or associate shares their favorite holiday tradition or recipe. This content is highly engaging and reminds your audience that your firm is composed of dedicated individuals who are also part of the community.

4. Discuss Goals and Resolutions for the New Year

The end of the year is a natural time for reflection and planning. Frame your services as a tool for achieving a secure and successful new year.

A business lawyer can write a blog titled "5 New Year's Resolutions for a Healthier Business," suggesting entrepreneurs "Review their contracts" or "Update their employee handbook." This identifies a need without providing the specific legal solution, prompting them to call you for help.

5. Run a "Year in Review"

Look back on your firm's major milestones. Did you celebrate an anniversary? Did you add a new partner? Did you (ethically) achieve a significant, non-confidential milestone for your firm?

You can also create a post reviewing major (and public) legal changes in your practice area from the past year. This reinforces your authority and expertise. You are not advising a client on their specific case; you are reporting on general information, solidifying your role as an industry expert.

Stop Dreading Your Content Calendar

Crafting consistent, ethical, and engaging content takes time—time you need for billable hours and case preparation. If you're an attorney or paralegal struggling to keep up, let us help.

Best Virtual Paralegal offers expert social media management and ghost-writing services specifically designed for the legal industry. We handle the content creation so you can focus on your clients.

Visit us today to learn how we can fill your content calendar and grow your practice!

#LegalMarketing #LawFirmMarketing #ContentForLawyers #VirtualParalegal #BestVirtualParalegal

A Legacy of Service: Helping Vets Win

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 10:15:12 GMT

More Than Just a Date: Why Our Team Fights for Veterans

For the team at Best Virtual Paralegal, November 11th is far more than just a federal holiday. Veterans Day is a deeply personal reminder of our "why." It’s a day that reinforces our core mission, a mission born from the personal history of our founder, Holly Sheriff.

Holly’s life is woven into the fabric of military service. Her father, grandfather, and uncle all served our country. This legacy of service extends to many close friends who also wore the uniform. For Holly and the entire Best Virtual Paralegal team, " supporting our troops " isn't a slogan; it's a family value.

This profound personal connection is the driving force behind our company's dedication. We see the sacrifices veterans have made, and we also see the immense challenges they face upon returning home—especially when navigating the complex system to get the benefits they earned.

That is precisely why the Best Virtual Paralegal team makes it a priority to help attorneys help vets. We provide the specialized support law firms need to effectively manage VA Disability Claims and Appeals, turning bureaucratic hurdles into successful outcomes for those who served.

The Battle After the Battle: Supporting Lawyers in the VA Claims Process

Attorneys who represent veterans face a monumental task. The VA system is a labyrinth of specific forms, strict deadlines, and high standards of evidence. A single missed deadline or a poorly compiled file can mean a veteran’s claim is denied, delaying critical support.

This is where our team steps in. We act as a force multiplier for attorneys, handling the detailed, time-consuming work that builds a winning claim. Our paralegals understand the unique demands of VA cases and provide targeted support.

Summarize Medical Records: Our team meticulously reviews and summarizes extensive medical histories, translating complex medical jargon into clear, concise evidence that directly supports the claim.

Analyze for Gaps: We analyze all documentation to identify missing information or gaps in evidence that could weaken a case.

Request Crucial Data: Best Virtual Paralegal actively helps lawyers request the specific documentation and data needed to substantiate a claim, from service records to private medical opinions.

Organize Evidence: Our team helps lawyers prepare and submit new, relevant evidence in the proper format, ensuring it meets the VA's stringent requirements.

Navigating the Three Paths of VA Appeals

When a veteran receives an unfavorable decision, the fight isn't over. However, navigating the appeals process requires precision. Our team supports attorneys by helping them understand and prepare the correct documentation for the three main appeal lanes, all of which have specific forms and timeframes.

Supplemental Claim (VA Form 20-0995) : This is the path when you have new and relevant evidence to add to the case. Our paralegals help attorneys identify and organize this new evidence to directly address the reason for the initial denial.
Higher-Level Review (VA Form 20-0996): If you believe there was an error in the original decision and want the same evidence reviewed by a more senior specialist, this is the correct lane. We help ensure the file is complete and the argument for review is clear.
Board Appeal (VA Form 10182): This option allows you to appeal directly to a Veterans Law Judge at the Board of Veterans' Appeals. This is a formal legal process where our detailed file preparation becomes critical.

On Veterans Day, and every day, Best Virtual Paralegal honors the service of Holly's family and all veterans by doing what we do best: providing exceptional paralegal support. We empower attorneys to fight harder and smarter for their veteran clients, ensuring that their legacy of service is honored with the benefits they rightfully deserve.

Are you an attorney or law firm fighting for veterans?

Don't let the paperwork obscure the path to justice for your clients. Best Virtual Paralegal provides the expert, dedicated support you need to build, file, and win complex VA Disability Claims and Appeals.

Contact us today to learn how our specialized paralegal services can strengthen your practice and help you secure the benefits your veteran clients have earned.

Don't Just Survive the Holidays, Thrive: How a Virtual Paralegal Service Gives Your Firm the Edge

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 10:00:09 GMT

This holiday season, don't let the calendar dictate your firm's success.

The holiday season presents a unique paradox for family law attorneys. While the world slows down for celebrations, your caseload often speeds up. Custody schedules become contentious, financial stresses boil over, and the end-of-year rush creates a mountain of administrative work. Compounding this problem, your dedicated in-house staff rightfully plans to use their hard-earned vacation time.

This convergence of increased work and decreased staff creates a critical "coverage gap." Phones ring unanswered, drafting deadlines loom, and client anxiety rises. For a solo practitioner or small firm, this period isn't just stressful; it's a direct threat to client satisfaction and revenue. This is precisely why a virtual paralegal service during the holidays transforms from a simple convenience into a strategic necessity.

What Is a Virtual Paralegal Service?

A virtual paralegal service provides highly skilled, experienced paralegals who work on a remote, contractual basis. Unlike a temporary employee, a virtual paralegal is a dedicated legal professional who integrates with your firm's workflow without the overhead of a full-time hire. You acquire access to top-tier talent but only pay for the hours you need.

This model allows your firm to instantly scale its capacity. When you engage a virtual paralegal service during the holidays, you are not just hiring a "temp"; you are onboarding an expert who can manage complex tasks from day one. They fill the gap left by vacationing staff and provide the extra bandwidth needed to handle the holiday surge.

How a Virtual Paralegal Service Solves the Holiday Crunch

While you manage court appearances and client strategy, a virtual paralegal actively moves your cases forward. They don't just keep the lights on; they maintain your firm's momentum.

Here is how a virtual paralegal service specifically supports your practice during the hectic holiday season:

Seamless Case Management: They manage calendars, track critical deadlines, and ensure no filing dates are missed while your team is out.
Expert Drafting: They skillfully draft motions (including emergency custody or holiday visitation schedules), pleadings, and final judgments.
Discovery and Financials: They handle the meticulous work of drafting and responding to discovery requests or organizing complex financial affidavits, which are often central to family law cases.
Client Communication: A virtual paralegal acts as a professional point of contact, keeping clients informed, managing intake for new leads, and reducing your administrative burden.
Preparing for the January Spike: The "divorce month" surge in January is predictable. A virtual paralegal service during the holidays uses this time to prepare new client files, organize discovery, and position your firm to start the new year ahead of the competition.

The Strategic Advantage: Beyond Just Coverage

Utilizing a virtual paralegal service during the holidays is more than just a defensive move to prevent burnout. It is an offensive strategy.

While your competitors are overwhelmed and telling new clients to "call back in January," your firm remains fully operational. You capture new leads, serve your current clients effectively, and build a reputation for reliability. This proactive support system ensures your firm's productivity never dips. You stop trading valuable billable hours for administrative catch-up. Instead, you focus on high-value work, confident that the essential tasks are being handled with precision.

You maintain continuity. Your clients feel supported.

You get to breathe.

Let’s Talk Support

This holiday season, don't let the calendar dictate your firm's success. Best Virtual Paralegal offers specialized virtual paralegal services for family law attorneys in Missouri and Florida. We understand the specific nuances of your jurisdiction, from filing procedures in St. Louis and Kansas City to the family court systems in Miami and Tampa.

Let our experienced team manage your workload so you can focus on your clients—and maybe even enjoy the holidays yourself.

Contact Best Virtual Paralegal today to secure your firm’s success with a virtual paralegal service during the holidays.

Your Paralegal Is Your Firm's Secret Weapon: Are You Using Them Correctly?

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 17:29:42 GMT

Let's talk about the high-value, substantive legal work your paralegal is trained to handle and how you can leverage these skills for your firm's success. Our team of the Best Virtual Paralegals is readily available to assist you. We are pleased to announce that we are currently accepting new clients from law firms.

As an attorney, your time is your most valuable asset. Every minute you spend on administrative burdens or tasks that can be delegated is a minute you're not spending on high-level strategy, client acquisition, or in-court advocacy.

Many attorneys, especially in solo or small firms, fall into the trap of viewing their paralegal as a highly-skilled administrative assistant. You give them documents to file, calendars to manage, and letters to proofread. And yes, they excel at that.

But ever wonder what your paralegal is really doing? Or, more importantly, what they could be doing?

We're not just filing. The modern paralegal is a highly-trained professional, a key part of the legal team, and a critical driver of your firm's efficiency and profitability. If you're only using your paralegal for filing, you're leaving money on the table.

Let's talk about the high-value, substantive legal work your paralegal is trained to handle and how you can leverage these skills for your firm's success.

What Does a Paralegal Really Do for Your Practice?

A properly leveraged paralegal functions as a force multiplier. They handle the critical, time-intensive tasks that form the backbone of any case. This frees you, the attorney, to focus on the elements that require your law license: giving legal advice, setting case strategy, and representing your client in court.

While the specifics vary by practice area, the core, high-value responsibilities fall into three main categories: drafting, discovery, and research.

The Architect: Drafting Pleadings and Substantive Documents

Your paralegal’s role in drafting goes far beyond filling in a template. Experienced paralegals are architects of the case's foundational documents.

Pleadings and Motions: Your paralegal can—and should—be preparing the initial drafts of complaints, answers, and routine motions (like motions to compel or for an extension of time). They can gather the facts, organize the exhibits, and structure the legal framework, delivering a document that is 80-90% complete, waiting only for your final legal review and strategic polish.
Affidavits and Declarations: They are experts at interviewing clients or witnesses to gather the necessary facts and drafting the detailed declarations and affidavits that support your motions.

Correspondence: They can handle substantive correspondence with opposing counsel, clients, and third parties, such as drafting requests for information or responding to routine inquiries, all under your supervision.

How to Leverage This Skill: Stop being the "drafter of first resort." Delegate the initial creation of all routine and many substantive documents to your paralegal. Provide them with a clear outline of the facts and the legal argument you want to make, then trust them to build the document. Your time is better spent reviewing and refining, not staring at a blank page.

The Quarterback: Mastering Discovery and E-Discovery

Discovery is the single most time-consuming phase of litigation, and it's where a skilled paralegal is truly invaluable. They are the quarterbacks of the discovery process, managing the flow of information and ensuring your team is always on offense.

Drafting Discovery: Paralegals draft interrogatories, requests for production of documents, and requests for admission. They tailor these requests to the specific facts of the case and the claims you need to prove.
Managing Responses: When discovery comes in, your paralegal reviews and organizes the (often thousands of) documents. They identify responsive materials, flag key documents (or "hot docs"), and prepare privilege logs.
E-Discovery: In today's legal world, this is a non-negotiable skill. Trained paralegals manage the entire e-discovery (ESI) process, from identification and collection to processing and review, often using platforms like Relativity or Clio.
Summarizing Depositions: Instead of you spending hours reading a 200-page transcript, your paralegal can provide a concise, accurate summary, often with page-line citations for key testimony.

How to Leverage This Skill: Make your paralegal the primary point of contact for all discovery matters. Integrate them into your case management system and empower them to create and manage the discovery calendar. This not only saves you hundreds of hours but also significantly reduces the risk of missed deadlines or overlooked evidence.

The Detective: Conducting In-Depth Legal Research

Attorneys often underestimate the research capabilities of a seasoned paralegal. They are trained legal detectives, skilled at navigating complex legal databases and synthesizing information.

Case Law and Statutory Analysis: Your paralegal can dive into Westlaw or LexisNexis to find case law that supports your motion or to analyze a specific statute's requirements.
Factual Research: They are experts at digging into public records, social media, and other databases to find critical information about opposing parties, witnesses, or expert witnesses.
Drafting Research Memos: A skilled paralegal won't just send you a list of cases. They will draft a formal research memorandum that summarizes their findings, analyzes the relevant law, and applies it to the facts of your case.

How to Leverage This Skill: The next time you have a research question, give it to your paralegal first. Ask for a memo on "the standard for summary judgment in our jurisdiction" or "recent cases on spousal support for a 10-year marriage." This provides you with the foundation for your argument and saves you hours of research time.

Unlock Your Firm’s Potential (Without the Overhead)

A properly leveraged paralegal isn't an expense; they are a profit center. They free up your time to bill at a higher rate, increase case capacity, and improve the quality of your work product.

But what if you're a solo attorney who can't afford a full-time, in-house paralegal? Or what if your firm is booming and your current staff is already at capacity?

This is where on-demand, expert support becomes critical.

At Best Virtual Paralegal, we provide exactly that. We aren't just assistants; we are experienced, U.S.-based paralegals with over a decade of high-level civil litigation and trial experience. We offer flexible, scalable support tailored to your firm's needs, allowing you to access top-tier talent without the cost of a full-time employee.

Whether you need expert help with discovery management, drafting substantive pleadings, deposition summaries, in-depth legal research, or trial preparation, our team is ready to integrate seamlessly into your practice.

Stop drowning in tasks you can (and should) delegate. Start focusing on winning cases and growing your firm.

Contact Best Virtual Paralegal today for a consultation and discover how our expert support services can transform your practice.

The Paralegal's Mindset: How to Fuel Your Career with Positive Affirmation

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 12:44:59 GMT

Advance your paralegal career with positive thinking

The legal world is intense. As a paralegal, you operate at the epicenter of this pressure. You manage demanding attorneys, tight deadlines, complex case files, and emotionally charged clients. This constant exposure to conflict and stress can easily lead to burnout, self-doubt, and a career that feels stalled.

You may find yourself thinking, "I'm just a paralegal," or "This work is too overwhelming." This negative internal monologue does more than just ruin your day; it actively sabotages your career growth.

But what if your most powerful tool for advancement isn't another CLE credit or a new software certification, but your own mind?

Paralegals who harness the power of positive thinking and strategic affirmations build resilience, spot opportunities, and actively steer their careers toward success. This isn't just "wishful thinking"; it's a strategic tool for professional development.

Why Your Mindset Matters More Than Your Briefs

The legal profession is inherently adversarial. You spend your days identifying problems, anticipating risks, and engaging in conflict. This framework can unintentionally train your brain to focus only on the negative.

When your default mindset is negative, you:

Perceive feedback as criticism.
View complex tasks as impossible threats.
Hesitate to take on new responsibilities.
Communicate with stress and friction.

A positive, growth-oriented mindset flips this script. You actively reframe your internal dialogue. This mental shift empowers you to:

Build resilience: You bounce back from a difficult case or a demanding attorney with professionalism.
Improve problem-solving: You see challenges as puzzles to solve, not as roadblocks.
Enhance relationships: You communicate with improved clarity, boosting rapport.
Recognize opportunity: You are the first to raise your hand for a challenging assignment that leads to a promotion or a new, high-value client.

Using Positive Affirmations to Rewire Your Brain

Positive affirmations are simple, self-repeated statements. They work by consciously directing your thoughts to reprogram your subconscious beliefs. Think of it as neuroplasticity in action—you are literally rewiring your brain to build new, positive thought patterns.

Use affirmations to counter imposter syndrome. It replaces "I don't know if I can handle this trial prep" with "I am competent, organized, and fully capable of managing this project."

This simple shift changes your actions. You stop procrastinating and start organizing.

10 Powerful Affirmations for Paralegal Success

Integrate these affirmations into your daily routine. Say them during your morning coffee, before a difficult meeting, or when you feel stress mounting.

I am a competent, detail-oriented, and essential member of my legal team.
I manage high-pressure situations with calm and clarity.
Every challenge I face is an opportunity to grow my skills and expertise.
My work brings immense value to my firm and our clients.
I confidently communicate my findings, ideas, and boundaries.
I am a master of organization and efficiency.
(For W-2 Paralegals): I am recognized for my contributions and am on the path to my next promotion.
(For Freelance Paralegals): My business attracts ideal clients who respect and value my expertise.
I release the stress of the day and welcome productive rest.
My career is advancing, and I am in control of my professional growth.

Turn Your Positive Thoughts into Action

Positive thinking alone won't get you a raise. Affirmations are the fuel, but action is the engine.

When you affirm, "I am a leader in my field," your mindset will push you to act like one. You will start to:

• Ask for what you want: Use your newfound confidence to negotiate a raise, ask for a better caseload, or land a new client.

• Seek new challenges: Volunteer for the complex e-discovery project you used to fear.

• Invest in yourself: Take that advanced certification or, even better, seek professional guidance.

Your mind is the gatekeeper of your success. By actively managing your thoughts, you create the foundation for tangible, lasting career advancement.

Take Control of Your Paralegal Career Today

Ready to combine a powerful mindset with an actionable strategy for growth? Best Virtual Paralegal’s coaching services are designed for you.

We provide dedicated coaching for both ambitious W-2 paralegals aiming for that senior position or team lead role, and for driven freelance paralegals working to build a profitable and sustainable business.

Stop wondering if you can advance and start knowing how.

Contact Best Virtual Paralegal today to schedule your consultation and build the career you deserve!

Drowning in Probate Documentation? How Expert Paralegal Support Can Streamline Your Florida Probate Practice

Sat, 25 Oct 2025 12:59:05 GMT

Published on June 3, 2020 Last updated October 24, 2025 #FloridaProbate #VirtualParalegal #FloridaAttorney #ProbateLaw.

For solo attorneys and small law firms specializing in Florida probate, the administrative burden is immense. While you focus on high-level legal strategy, client counsel, and court appearances, the procedural demands of probate administration can consume your billable hours, grind progress to a halt, and create bottlenecks in your practice.

This is where our team at Best Virtual Paralegal steps in. We provide specialized, experienced paralegal support exclusively for Florida probate attorneys. We manage the complex paperwork, deadlines, and meticulous record-keeping, all under your direct supervision. We allow you to reclaim your time and focus on what you do best—practicing law.

To understand how we help, let's review the essential components of the Florida probate process that our team can expertly handle for you.

The Core Steps of Florida Probate Administration

Florida's probate process is detailed and statute-driven. Our paralegals have the expertise to navigate every stage efficiently, preparing all documentation based on your client's information for your final review and approval.

1. Filing the Petition and Appointing the Personal Representative

The entire process begins with the Petition for Administration . We prepare this petition for your review, ensuring it is filed with the probate division of the circuit court in the correct county—where the decedent lived at the time of death. If the decedent left a will, we ensure it is validated and submitted simultaneously.

From there, we prepare the necessary orders and letters of administration to get the Personal Representative (PR) formally appointed and empowered to act, whether they are named in the will or appointed under Chapter 733, Florida Statutes .

2. Mastering the Verified Inventory: Gathering Estate Assets

One of the most time-consuming tasks for the PR is compiling the verified inventory as required by Florida Probate Rule 5.340 . This document lists all assets owned at the date of death and their estimated fair market values.

Our team provides comprehensive support to you and your client to gather the supporting documents for all estate assets. We help you organize and itemize:

Real Estate: We assist in listing residential properties, commercial buildings, and vacant land, ensuring correct legal descriptions and appraised fair market values as of the date of death are included.
Bank Accounts: Our team helps track down checking, savings, and money market accounts, flagging each by financial institution, account type, and exact balance on the date of death.
Investment Portfolios: We help you compile records for stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and brokerage accounts, evaluating them using closing prices on the death date. We also track dividend reinvestment records where applicable.
Tangible Personal Property: This broad category includes vehicles, jewelry, art, furniture, firearms, and collectibles. We help create the itemized lists, noting where an independent appraisal is required for high-value property.
Digital Assets: In the modern estate, we assist in identifying and valuing cryptocurrencies, online payment accounts (like PayPal or Venmo), monetized social media channels, and domain names.
Insurance Proceeds: We help distinguish between policies payable to named beneficiaries (which bypass probate) and those payable to the estate, such as certain life insurance, accidental death policies, or annuities.
Retirement Accounts: Similar to insurance, we help verify if IRAs, 401(k)s, or pension plans are payable to the estate. We ensure that accounts with designated beneficiaries, which properly bypass probate, are excluded from the inventory.

3. Identifying and Managing Debts and Liabilities

Before any distribution, the estate must settle all valid debts. We manage the crucial Notice to Creditors , ensuring it is published in accordance with F.S. §733.2121 , and meticulously track all claims filed against the estate.

The Best Virtual Paralegal team also supports you by helping the Personal Representative clearly identify and report all outstanding debts. We assist in gathering statements and invoices to verify:

Outstanding mortgages and lines of credit on estate-owned property.
Unpaid credit card balances, reflected as of the date of death.
Medical bills, especially those from a final illness.
Personal loans, promissory notes, and automobile financing.
Unpaid utilities or maintenance costs attached to estate real property.
Pending lawsuits that could lead to potential financial liability.

We help ensure each liability is backed by documentation showing the amount owed and the creditor’s contact information. This information is critical for the final accounting, as these debts directly reduce the estate’s net value.

4. Preparing the Final Accounting: Tracking Income, Expenses, and Disbursements

The Final Accounting is a comprehensive financial report submitted to the court and beneficiaries. It must be perfectly accurate and transparent. Our team excels at this detailed work.

Track All Post-Death Income Generated by the Estate

We work with the PR, under your direction, to record every dollar earned by the estate during the probate period, including:

Rental income from real property.
Interest accrued on bank accounts and CDs.
Dividends from stocks and mutual funds.
Capital gains if estate assets were sold at a profit.

Our team helps organize the monthly bank statements, brokerage summaries, and lease agreements needed to prove the accuracy of all reported earnings. We will allow you to examine and approve every phase of the probate administration as we finish it before advancing to the subsequent stage since our services are an extension of your team's efforts.

Properly Document All Disbursements Made

Florida law requires the PR to list every single payment made from estate funds. We prepare these schedules for your review, ensuring each disbursement includes:

• The payee name and a clear description of the service.

• The date and amount of the payment.

• The authority for the payment (e.g., court order, statutory allowance).

We assist in documenting all typical disbursements, such as funeral expenses, legal and accounting fees, taxes, and utility bills related to estate property.

Apply Consistent Categorization for Transparency

We structure the final accounting to meet the requirements of Florida Probate Rule 5.400. We classify each receipt and disbursement, grouping revenues under "Rental Income" or "Asset Sales" and expenses under "Professional Fees" or "Creditor Payments." This structured approach gives the court and beneficiaries a clear financial picture at a glance.

Ensure All Payments Are Legally Allowable

Our team understands that the PR cannot disburse funds at will. We help you verify that every payment is lawful, necessary, and permitted under Chapter 733 of the Florida Statutes. We cross-reference payments with vendor invoices and court filings to add a layer of assurance that each transaction meets statutory obligations, protecting the PR from personal liability.

5. Final Distribution to Beneficiaries

Once all debts are satisfied, taxes are paid, and the final accounting is approved, the PR can distribute the remaining assets. We prepare the final distribution plans and all necessary closing documents, ensuring all assets are transferred correctly to the designated beneficiaries, whether according to the will or Florida's intestacy laws. You will also have the distinct advantage of examining all of the work we have completed before it is submitted to the court, and it will likely only require a few minor revisions.

How Best Virtual Paralegal Empowers Your Firm

Don't let the procedural details of probate administration slow your firm down. The Best Virtual Paralegal team integrates seamlessly with your practice to handle these essential, time-intensive tasks:

• Drafting all petitions, pleadings, and proposed orders.

• Assisting the PR in gathering data for the verified inventory and asset lists.

• Managing the Notice to Creditors and tracking all claim deadlines.

• Preparing the comprehensive final accounting and distribution plans.

• Organizing and maintaining the complete digital case file for your review.

By delegating these tasks to us, you reduce overhead, minimize the risk of costly clerical errors, and free up your valuable time to serve more clients and grow your practice.

�� Let’s Talk Support

Stop drowning in probate tasks. Contact Best Virtual Paralegal today to learn how our specialized Florida probate support can transform your workflow.

And while we’re completing your probate practice, ask about our comprehensive Estate Planning Support services. We can help you serve your clients' needs from initial planning to final administration.

Beat the Clock: How AI is Revolutionizing Legal Deadlines

Sat, 18 Oct 2025 14:20:37 GMT

Paralegals are using technology and AI to boost productivity.

In the fast-paced legal world, missing a deadline isn't an option. Legal professionals face immense pressure to manage heavy caseloads, conduct thorough research, and draft accurate documents while adhering to strict timelines. This is where artificial intelligence (AI) is stepping in, transforming how lawyers and paralegals approach their daily tasks and helping them meet every deadline with unprecedented efficiency.

AI: Your New Legal Assistant for Time Management

AI tools are quickly becoming indispensable for legal professionals looking to optimize their workflow and reclaim valuable time. From case management to document review, AI offers a suite of solutions designed to streamline time-sensitive processes:

• Automated Research & Discovery : Imagine sifting through thousands of documents in seconds, not hours. AI-powered legal research platforms can rapidly analyze vast amounts of data, identifying relevant precedents, statutes, and case law far faster than any human. This-drastically cuts down the time spent on discovery and research, allowing legal teams to focus on strategy rather than exhaustive manual review.

• Intelligent Document Drafting & Review : Drafting contracts, motions, or briefs can be a time-consuming endeavor. AI tools can assist by generating initial drafts, identifying inconsistencies, and even suggesting improvements based on established legal standards. When reviewing incoming documents, AI can quickly flag key dates, clauses, and potential risks, ensuring legal teams overlook no critical detail.

• Predictive Analytics for Case Strategy: Beyond just accelerating tasks, AI can offer insights that help prioritize work. By analyzing past case outcomes and legal data, AI can provide predictive analytics, helping legal teams expect potential challenges and allocate resources more effectively. This proactive approach ensures that legal teams tackle high-priority tasks well in advance of their deadlines.

• Smart Deadline Tracking & Reminders: While calendar software has been around for ages, AI elevates deadline management. Integrated AI systems can not only track deadlines across multiple cases but also learn from your workflow, offering smart reminders and even re-prioritizing tasks as new information or urgent matters arise. This proactive alert system significantly reduces the risk of missed deadlines because of oversight.

The integration of AI isn't about replacing the crucial human element in law; it's about empowering legal professionals to work smarter, not just harder. By automating routine and time-intensive tasks, lawyers and paralegals can dedicate more time to complex problem-solving, client interaction, and strategic thinking—all while ensuring they meet every deadline with precision. Embracing AI isn't just an advantage; it's becoming a necessity for navigating the complexities of modern legal practice.

Conclusion: Reclaim Your Focus, Master Your Deadlines

The rise of AI provides powerful new ways to tackle the clock, but technology alone doesn't manage a caseload. The core demands of legal practice—meticulous research, precise drafting, and ironclad deadline management—still require expert human skill. For busy attorneys, the challenge isn't just finding the time; it's making time for high-level strategy.

This is where Best Virtual Paralegal LLC (BVP) becomes your greatest asset. We provide elite, on-demand legal support services designed to lift the burden from your shoulders. Our experienced virtual paralegals specialize in the very tasks that consume your day:

• Conducting in-depth legal research

• Handling meticulous document drafting, from motions and briefs to contracts

• Providing comprehensive deadline support to ensure nothing ever falls through the cracks

Stop letting the daily grind dictate your practice. Delegate the details to us so you can focus on what you do best: advising clients and winning cases.

Contact Best Virtual Paralegal LLC today for a consultation, and discover how our expert support can restore balance to your practice and give you the competitive edge you need.

Maximize Profitability: How Attorneys Can Save Billable Hours Through Smart Paralegal Delegation

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 11:48:47 GMT

The Cornerstone of Effective Delegation: The Assignment Memo

For a practicing attorney, time is the most valuable commodity. Every minute spent on administrative or routine tasks that are suitable for nonlawyers is a minute not spent on high-level legal strategy, client consultation, or business development. The key to reclaiming those precious hours lies in a skill many attorneys overlook: effective delegation. By strategically delegating tasks to a skilled paralegal (or online business manager), attorneys can significantly increase their billable hours, improve firm efficiency, and achieve a better work-life balance. The foundation of successful delegation, however, isn't just handing off a file; it's about clear, concise, and upfront communication.

It’s important to understand that working with lawyers can help paralegals learn legal theory, strategize, and share knowledge. Nevertheless, even the most skilled paralegals cannot foresee successful strategies unless the lawyer explains the way their brains work. Every lawyer has a preferred method for achieving the desired outcomes; this is ultimately what lawyers need to convey. Smart paralegals use a mix of observation, verbal, and physical cues to create success. This requires lawyers to communicate the outcomes they seek.

This begins with a well-drafted assignment memo.

The Cornerstone of Effective Delegation: The Assignment Memo

Before a single task is started, a clear assignment memo can prevent hours of wasted time, frustrating revisions, and misunderstandings. It serves as a roadmap, ensuring both the attorney and the paralegal are aligned on the objective, scope, and deadline. A vague instruction like "draft a motion" can lead to a work product that misses the mark, requiring the attorney to spend non-billable time correcting it.

Moreover, once the attorney and paralegal have collaborated for years, that level of detail will or may become somewhat unnecessary. However, the level of detail that goes into assignment memos still needs to illustrate the outcome desired and reduce assumptions.

An effective assignment memo should always include:

Client/Matter Information: The full name and matter number to ensure proper filing and context.
A Clear Objective: What is the ultimate goal of this task? (e.g., "To compel the production of financial documents from the opposing party.")
Specific Instructions: Detail the exact steps to be taken. Include relevant deadlines, specific documents to reference, preferred formatting, and any key facts or arguments to include.
Deadline: Provide a firm but realistic due date. This helps the paralegal prioritize their workload effectively.
Resources: Point to the location of necessary files, templates, or contact information needed to complete the task.

This level of detail is paramount, especially when collaborating with an experienced remote team. At Best Virtual Paralegal LLC , we find that attorneys who provide clear instructions from the outset receive a work product that precisely meets their needs, allowing them to integrate it seamlessly into their case strategy with minimal revision.

Tasks Your Firm Can Delegate Today

Delegation is more than just offloading administrative work. A proficient paralegal can handle substantive legal tasks that directly contribute to moving a case forward. The Best Virtual Paralegal team specializes in supporting attorneys across several key practice areas, freeing them up to focus on what they do best.

Here are just a few examples of tasks that can be effectively delegated:

Family Law: Attorneys can delegate the drafting of financial affidavits, preparation of discovery requests and responses, scheduling of mediations, and drafting of initial pleadings. This allows the attorney to focus on client strategy and court appearances.
Estate Planning & Probate: The Best Virtual Paralegal Team can assist with drafting initial wills, trusts, and powers of attorney from attorney-approved templates, preparing and managing asset inventories, and communicating with clients to gather essential information, streamlining the entire estate planning process.
Personal Injury & Civil Litigation: Delegate the time-consuming tasks of preparing detailed medical chronologies, drafting demand letters, summarizing deposition transcripts, managing e-filing, and preparing initial drafts of motions and pleadings.
Regardless of the area of law: Paralegals can help bridge the gaps in communication with clientele, courts, and opposing counsels. This level of support can help prevent lawyers becoming bottlenecked.

By entrusting these responsibilities to a capable paralegal, attorneys are not just clearing their to-do list; they are making a strategic investment in their firm’s profitability and their own professional well-being.

So, we ask you: What's one task you've successfully delegated this week that freed up your time?

Ready to Reclaim Your Billable Hours?

Delegation is a strategy for growth. If you are ready to focus more on your clients and less on the paperwork, it’s time to explore a partnership with a dedicated virtual paralegal service.

Contact the team at Best Virtual Paralegal LLC today to discuss your firm's goals. Let's work together to build a more efficient and profitable practice.

LNKINBIO: LINKINBIO | Contact us here | Phone: (717) 747.3588 (call/text)

Attorneys book a call here >>>> https://clickly.net/attycon

Paralegals book a consult here >> https://clickly.net/Coachcall

#paralegaltips #lawfirmmanagement #virtualparalegal #legaltech #attorneylife #delegate

Your Reputation is Your Brief: An Open Letter to the Job-Searching Paralegal

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 13:37:52 GMT

The following is a response to a common question we see from new legal professionals navigating the job market.

The Best Virtual Paralegal Team was recently asked by a new paralegal about networking, specifically using Facebook to create connections!

The Question

" Dear Paralegal Side Bar,

I am new to the paralegal profession and I have been struggling to break into a role. A friend suggested I use social media as a way to build my network, so I have been posting in any paralegal group I can find on Facebook. I have been posting anonymously because I am shy and I don't want people to know that I can't find a job."

The Response

Dear New Paralegal,

Thank you for your honest question. Your situation is incredibly common, and the feelings of shyness and fear of judgment are completely understandable. Starting a new career is daunting, and it's natural to want to protect yourself.

However, the very strategy you're using for protection is likely preventing your success. Let's reframe the issue: being open about your job search is not a sign of weakness; it is your single greatest networking asset.

Flipping the Script: Why Hiding Your Job Search Hurts You

Your concern that people will judge you for not having a job is a fear that many new professionals share. In reality, the legal community is filled with experienced paralegals and attorneys who remember what it was like to be in your shoes. They want to help the next generation succeed.

By posting anonymously, you are unintentionally closing the door on potential help. Here’s why transparency is a more powerful strategy:

Clarity Attracts Opportunity: When you post with your real name and a clear goal (e.g., "Hello, I'm [Your Name], a recently certified paralegal with skills in e-discovery and legal research, seeking my first role in a litigation practice. I'd appreciate any leads or advice!"), you give people the exact information they need to help you. A hiring manager can see your profile, a senior paralegal can tag a recruiter, and others can share relevant job postings.
Vulnerability Builds Connection: Being open about your status shows confidence and initiative, not failure. It signals that you are a proactive professional taking charge of your career. This is a highly respected trait in the legal field. People connect with and want to help those who are genuinely trying.

Anonymity Raises Red Flags: In contrast, an anonymous post asking for connections can seem suspicious. Colleagues might wonder, "Why are they hiding? Did they leave a previous job on bad terms?" It can create more negative speculation in their minds than the simple truth of your situation ever would.

The Core Principles of Networking in the Legal Field

The Verdict

Your journey to find your first paralegal role is a story of ambition, not shame. Embrace it. Be brave, be open, and let the community of professionals you want to join help you get there. Your professional identity is your most valuable asset—start building it today.

Build Your Network in a Supportive Community

Instead of posting anonymously in random groups, the best way to overcome shyness is to join a community built for support and professional growth.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/ParalegalNetwork .

Join the Conversation and Grow Your Career

Have a question like this one? If you have a question about your paralegal career, we invite you to submit it for a chance to be featured. Head to the show notes to learn more.
Ready to take your career to the next level? For more expert advice, career resources, and exclusive content, subscribe to the Best Virtual Paralegal Community. It’s the ultimate resource for paralegals dedicated to building a successful and fulfilling career.
Looking for daily support? For peer-to-peer networking in a private, supportive environment, join our Paralegal Network on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/ParalegalNetwork .

Navigating the AI Frontier: States Take a Stand on Legal Ethics in 2025

Sun, 24 Aug 2025 12:50:36 GMT

The AI-Powered Paralegal™ Series

The legal world is evolving, and it's happening at lightning speed. Just a few years ago, the idea of a paralegal using AI-powered tools might have sounded like science fiction. Now, it's not only a reality but also a critical part of a modern legal practice. But as we embrace these powerful new tools, a big question looms: how do we use them ethically?

That's a question many state bars are starting to answer. While the American Bar Association (ABA) has provided foundational national guidance, several states have stepped up to issue their own formal ethics opinions on the use of AI. This is a crucial development for any legal professional who wants to stay compliant and competent.

The ABA's Formal Opinion 512 (2024) serves as a foundational national framework. This opinion addresses competence with AI technology, confidentiality protections, client communication about AI use, verification of AI-generated content, and reasonableness in billing. Several state bars have adapted these principles to their specific contexts. The ABA officially published the opinion for public use in February 2025.

Which states are leading the charge?

Pennsylvania issued a Joint Formal Opinion 2024-200 on ethical issues related to AI use, which remains relevant in 2025.
Oregon issued a formal opinion that mirrors the ABA's guidance , focusing on a lawyer's duty of competence, confidentiality, and proper supervision when using AI. It stresses that attorneys must understand how the AI tools they use actually work.
California and Florida have also released advisory opinions, emphasizing the importance of client confidentiality, accurate and competent practice, and avoiding unethical billing methods when using AI.
New York provided general guidance to help lawyers navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of generative AI without creating new rules that could stifle innovation.

Takeaway

Many other states have yet to issue formal guidance but are actively studying the issue or providing informal insights. States with various levels of guidance, task forces, or committees exploring AI ethics for lawyers include Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Idaho, Kentucky, and Maryland.

The takeaway? Even if your state hasn't issued a formal opinion yet, the trend is clear. Bar associations across the country are emphasizing the core professional duties that have always applied to technology: competence, confidentiality, and due diligence.Staying on top of these developments is non-negotiable. As an attorney or a paralegal, you have a duty to understand how to use these tools responsibly and ethically to serve clients and protect the law practice from code of conduct violations.

The Best Virtual Paralegal Team offers a wide variety of services to help your team stay in the know about the current trends that influence your success. By working with Best Virtual Paralegal, you can focus on what you do best—serving your clients—while we handle the complexities of training your staff on AI safety or using an AI tool to help you increase your firm's overall workflow. Our tailored services are designed to help you adapt to the new AI-powered landscape and grow your practice.

Ready to Master the Future of Law?

The legal landscape is changing fast, and we're here to help you stay ahead of the curve. Join the Best Virtual Paralegal Community News to get the latest insights, tips, and strategies on how to leverage AI ethically and effectively in your legal career. Don't get left behind—be a leader in the AI-powered legal revolution.

Strategic legal & career support —just a message away.

Subscribers to Best Virtual Paralegal’s Community will receive announces, updates, invites to CLE, training events, and paralegal‑authored content designed to support attorneys & paralegals. Subscribers can expect to receive content weekly, monthly, annually or quarterly depending on the legal trends.

Disclaimer

This publication is designed to provide attorneys and paralegals with general information provided by the team of Best Virtual Paralegal LLC (BVP), its founder or another authorized faculty member of the Best Virtual Paralegal's brand.

It is published or sold with the understanding that the author and publisher are not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, financial, or medical advice. This publication serves only educational purposes and does not provide professional advice on the topic. If you have any questions about your rights, obligations, or professional conduct regarding the use of AI in a law practice, please consider seeking the advice of a licensed practicing lawyer in good standing familiar with your situation.

Elevate Your Career with Best Virtual Paralegal's CLE, Training, & Virtual Coaching Events

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 11:28:01 GMT

Time to level up your paralegal game.

Are you ready to take your paralegal career to the next level? Best Virtual Paralegal offers a fantastic lineup of Continuing Legal Education (CLE), training, and virtual coaching events designed to help you stay ahead in the dynamic legal field. Whether you're looking to sharpen your skills, learn about the latest industry trends, or get personalized guidance, our events provide the tools you need for success.

Why Attend Our Events?

Flexible Learning: With virtual formats, you can participate from anywhere, fitting professional development seamlessly into your schedule.

Networking Opportunities: Connect with a community of fellow paralegals, share experiences, and build valuable professional relationships.

Career Advancement: Gain new skills and credentials that will make you a more valuable asset to any legal team.

Don't miss out on these valuable opportunities! Check our calendar regularly for new events and registration details.

Stay informed and empowered by attending Best Virtual Paralegal's events. We look forward to seeing you there!

Recent Blog Posts and Announcements

How Email Marketing Can Build Your Freelance Legal Practice

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 15:37:04 GMT

Stop the feast-or-famine cycle. Learn how tools like Constant Contact can help you build relationships, stay top-of-mind, and create a sustainable client pipeline.

CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON BELOW TO LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE - Narration is provided by a professional voiceover actor & may not be that of the author unless otherwise stated.

For many freelance lawyers and paralegals, marketing can feel like a four-letter word. Your expertise is in legal research, drafting documents, and case management—not necessarily in lead generation. At Best Virtual Paralegal LLC (BVP) , we know that most freelance legal professionals thrive on referrals and repeat business, but that can lead to an unpredictable "feast or famine" cycle of work.

What if there was a professional, ethical, and highly effective way to smooth out those peaks and valleys? A way to nurture your existing network and turn past clients and colleagues into a consistent source of referrals?

Enter email marketing.

Forget the spammy, mass-market blasts you probably delete every day. When done right, email marketing for legal professionals is about relationship building at scale. It’s a direct line to the people who already know, like, and trust you. Platforms like Mailchimp and Constant Contact make it easier than ever to stay connected, demonstrate your value, and keep your services top-of-mind.

Why Freelance Legal Professionals Should Embrace Email Marketing

If you're not convinced, consider these core benefits:

1. You Own Your Audience. Your LinkedIn connections are valuable, but you're borrowing that audience from a platform you don't control. An algorithm change can tank your reach overnight. Your email list, however, is your asset. It’s a direct, unfiltered line of communication to your most important contacts.

2. It Builds Authority and Trust. Regularly sharing valuable, relevant information positions you as an expert. You’re no longer just a service provider; you’re a trusted resource. This is invaluable when a former client or fellow attorney has a new case and needs to decide who to call.

3. It Nurtures Referrals. The number one reason you lose out on a referral is simple: the person who could have referred you forgot about you at the critical moment. A brief, professional email every month or quarter keeps your name on their radar.

4. It’s Incredibly Cost-Effective. Compared to paid ads, networking events, or other forms of marketing, email provides an exceptional return on investment. Your primary cost is time and the modest fee for a professional platform.

What on Earth Do I Send? (Content That Works)

This is the biggest hurdle for most. You're not a content creator, you're a legal professional. The key is to provide value, not just a sales pitch. Here are some powerful ideas for your email content:

Legal Updates & Insights: Briefly explain a new regulation, a recent court decision, or a change in procedure relevant to your niche (e.g., e-discovery, family law, corporate filings). This showcases your expertise.
Anonymized Case Studies: Write a short brief on a recent project. For example: "How We Helped a Boutique Firm Streamline Discovery for a Complex Litigation Case." (Always anonymize details to protect client confidentiality and adhere to ethical rules).
Checklists & How-To Guides: Offer downloadable resources like a "Checklist for Preparing a Witness for Deposition" or "5 Tips for Efficient Document Review." This provides tangible value.
Practice Updates: Announcing that you’ve gained a new certification, expanded your services, or have upcoming availability for new projects is perfectly acceptable and useful information for your network.
Curated News: Don't have time to write something new? Share links to 2-3 interesting articles relevant to your field with a short sentence on why you found them important.

Choosing Your Platform: Mailchimp vs. Constant Contact

While there are many tools out there, two giants stand out: Mailchimp and Constant Contact.

Mailchimp is often the first name people think of. It's known for its user-friendly interface and its historically generous free plan. It’s a fine starting point if you're just dipping your toes in the water and want to build a small list without any financial commitment.

However, for freelance legal professionals who are serious about growing their practice, we at BVP believe Constant Contact is the superior choice. After years of experience with various platforms, we use it for our own marketing and recommend it to our colleagues.

Why Constant Contact?

Superior Deliverability: Constant Contact has a reputation for industry-leading email deliverability. This means your emails are more to land in the inbox, not the spam folder.
Exceptional Customer Support: When you're running your own business, you don't have time to troubleshoot technical issues. Constant Contact is famous for its live phone and chat support. Having a real person to talk to is a game-changer.
Professionalism and Features: The platform is built for business. The templates are clean and professional, and the automation features allow you to set up sophisticated "welcome series" for new contacts or segment your lists with ease.
More Than Just Email: Constant Contact integrates tools for event marketing (great for webinars), surveys, and social posting, allowing you to manage more of your marketing from a single hub.

Get Started Today with a Free Trial

Full transparency: because we believe in the platform so strongly, Best Virtual Paralegal LLC is an official partner of Constant Contact.

We want you to see the difference for yourself, so we’ve arranged for our readers and colleagues to receive a free, no-obligation trial of Constant Contact. You can explore all the features and see how easy it is to create a professional campaign.

Disclaimer: If you click this link and make a purchase, Best Virtual Paralegal LLC may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products we use and believe will provide value to our community.

Building a thriving freelance career is about more than just doing great work. It's about building great relationships. Email marketing is one of the most powerful, professional, and sustainable ways to do just that. Take the first step today.

Bluebooking for the Modern Paralegal: Your Guide to Citation Success

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 09:42:39 GMT

CLE ALERT: Master the New Rules of Legal Citation

Are your citations as precise as your legal arguments? With the recent release of The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation, 22nd Edition, the standards have evolved. From subtle tweaks to significant updates, staying current is not just about compliance—it’s about maintaining credibility with courts, colleagues, and opposing counsel.

Incorrect citations can distract from the substance of a brief and, in some jurisdictions, may even result in penalties. Don't let your legal analysis be undermined by technical errors.

Join the Conversation

Join us for " Bluebooking for the Modern Paralegal: Your Guide to Citation Success:

A Practical Guide to the 22nd Edition of The Bluebook," a live, 90-minute continuing legal education event designed to bring you up to speed quickly and effectively. Our expert instructor will guide you through the most important changes and demonstrate practical techniques for locating the rules you need, fast.

What we will cover?

In this focused session, you will learn to:

Identify the key updates and changes in the 22nd Edition.
Efficiently navigate the structure of the new Bluebook to find answers quickly.
Apply the correct citation forms for cases, statutes, and electronic sources.
Avoid common citation pitfalls that can compromise your work product.

Event Details

What: A 90-Minute CLE on the 22nd Edition of The Bluebook.
Format: Live Online Training.
Registration: Advance registration is required to attend.

Please Note: The August 1, 2025, seminar has limited seating and is an overflow session from the event on 7/21/2025.

This is a one-time live-only event.

To receive the training and any applicable CLE credit, registered participants must attend the session in real time. There will not be a replay or recording available.

Ensure your legal writing is impeccable. Secure your spot today and master the new standard in legal citation.

How to register

Ensure your legal writing is impeccable. Secure your spot today and master the new standard in legal citation. This session will meet multiple times per month when it is offered. Each session will cover the same content unless otherwise noted.

More Than a Fad: How Legal Tech Is Forging the Modern Paralegal

Sun, 27 Jul 2025 02:49:57 GMT

Click. Connect. Best Virtual Paralegals Tinker with Tech

The awkward time in law firm history

I can still picture the day the first computers arrived at the first law firm where I worked. They were hulking, beige boxes with glowing green text, and they hummed with a sound that seemed both futuristic and intrusive. While some of us looked on with curiosity, our senior partner, a brilliant lawyer steeped in tradition, was skeptical.

He walked over to my desk, gesturing toward the new machine with his pen. "Holly," he said with the confident air of a man who had seen it all, "that thing is just a fad. It won't last long, and it will never replace my trustiest secretary and paralegal... you."

I smiled. He was right about one thing; the computer couldn't replace the human element, the critical thinking, or the client relationship skills that are the bedrock of a great paralegal. But he was wrong about it being a fad. For years, right up until his passing in 2014, I would gently tease him whenever he’d ask me to print an email. "Of course," I'd say with a grin, "Just as soon as we get those typewriters back to replace these silly computers."

For the decade after the first computer arrived in the office, law firms coast to coast were in an awkward phase. Some of us had to use computers and typewriters to prepare the simplest of documents. For example, document preparation was wild. You could prepare the notice of deposition in WordPerfect and print it. However, any subpoenas pertaining to the identical deposition notices needed to be typed on a typewriter because the subpoena form was still a carbon copy triplicate form.

The long-running joke between us is a perfect microcosm of the legal industry's relationship with technology. What once seemed like a novelty has become the central nervous system of the modern law firm.

And just as technology has evolved, so has the role of the paralegal.

From Repetitive Tasks to Strategic Roles

In the past, a paralegal would often spend their day on manual, repetitive tasks such as Bates stamping thousands of documents, manually organizing discovery binders, spending days in a dusty law library, and constantly typing and re-typing forms and pleadings.

Today, legal technology has automated or streamlined many of those functions, freeing paralegals from administrative burdens and empowering them to take on more substantive, strategic work.

E-Discovery and Document Management: Instead of manually reviewing paper documents, paralegals now manage sophisticated e-discovery platforms like Relativity or DISCO. They are the ones setting up review protocols, running complex search queries, and managing massive productions of digital evidence. Their role has shifted from manual sorter to data manager. However, it is critically important that lawyers and paralegals understand that strategies for naming files, documents, and maintaining the equivalent of "card logs" are still just as important as they were in the '90s. A powerful platform is only as effective as the organizational discipline applied to it. The new generation of legal professionals can apply the same principles we used then to their document management now—they just need to understand how by not overlooking the basics.
Case Management & Workflow Automation: Cloud-based platforms like Clio, MyCase, and PracticePanther have revolutionized the workflow. In that same innovative spirit, Best Virtual Paralegal also revolutionized the legal industry when I launched the company in 1990, introducing what was then a brand new concept: the first-of-its-kind 100% remote and virtual paralegal support service. ( You can read more about our history here ). Today, this combination of powerful software and forward-thinking support models has elevated the profession. Paralegals are no longer just reacting to assignments; they are proactively managing case calendars, tracking deadlines, automating client communications, and ensuring the entire legal team is synchronized. They have become project managers.
Advanced Legal Research: The days of pulling books off a shelf are long gone. While Westlaw and LexisNexis were the first leap, AI-powered tools are the next frontier. Paralegals can now conduct research with unprecedented speed and accuracy, uncover connections between cases that were previously hidden, and provide attorneys with deeper analytical insights.
Client Communication & Collaboration: Secure client portals and automated reminders have transformed how we interact with clients. The paralegal is often the primary point of contact, using technology to provide clients with real-time updates and documents, enhancing transparency and client satisfaction.

The Paralegal of the Future is a Tech-Savvy Strategist

The fear that technology will replace paralegals is as misguided today as my old boss’s “fad” comment was decades ago. Technology is not a replacement; it's an enhancement. It augments our skills, allowing us to contribute to a case at a much higher level.

The modern paralegal is a hybrid professional: part legal expert, part technologist, part project manager. Valuable paralegals know law and utilize tech for efficiency. Embracing this change isn't just about staying relevant—it's about becoming indispensable.

Are you ready to embrace the future of the legal field?

Whether you are a lawyer looking to optimize your firm or a paralegal wanting to elevate your skills, the key is to work smarter, not harder. The Best Virtual Paralegal Team can help you and your staff learn the new technology and efficiency strategies that define the modern legal practice. Don't get left behind. Schedule a complimentary phone consultation today to discover how we can help you thrive in this new era.

Don't Fear the Backlash: A Paralegal's Guide to Resigning with Professionalism and Peace of Mind

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 02:05:39 GMT

Paralegal Sidebar: A Career Advice Column - Where Paralegals Come to Advance Their Careers

Click the play button below to listen to this article. The recording may contain bonus content and other information and free content exclusively for followers of the Paralegal View's podcast and audio books. We do not guarantee audio recordings of articles, and we often create them weeks after the original article's release.

The Problem

Dear Insight Needed,

Thank you for reaching out. Your situation is, unfortunately, one that many dedicated legal professionals face. It’s the classic bait-and-switch: you’re sold on a vision of a collaborative, supportive legal team, only to find yourself on an island, overworked, undertrained, and underappreciated.

Let’s first validate what you’re experiencing. You are a self-trained paralegal in a high-stress, high-caseload environment. You are expected to perform perfectly without proper guidance, and you are met with agitation when the inevitable, trainable mistakes happen. This is not a sustainable or healthy environment for growth.

The most telling piece of information you shared is this: You are the 7th paralegal in a 3 to 4-year span.

Let that sink in. This is not a “ you ” problem; this is a “ them ” problem. That statistic is a massive, flashing red light. It signals a systemic issue with management, expectations, and workplace culture. The high turnover is the ultimate proof that the fabricated image painted for you was just that—a fabrication. You are not failing; the position is failing you.

You have a new opportunity, which is fantastic news. Your question is about handling the expected backlash when you resign. The fear is real. When you are the sole paralegal for an overloaded attorney, your departure creates a significant logistical problem for them. Their reaction is likely to be rooted in their own stress, not in a rational response to a standard business event.

The Playbook

1. Shift Your Mindset: This is a Business Decision, Not a Personal Betrayal

The attorney may try to make this personal. They might express disappointment, frustration, or even anger. They might try to guilt you by talking about the caseload, the clients, or how much they " depend " on you.

Closing Thoughts!

Are you a paralegal, legal assistant, or legal support professional stuck in a similar situation? Do you feel undervalued, undertrained, and unsure of your next steps? You don’t have to navigate these challenging career crossroads alone.

Schedule a consultation with the team at Best Virtual Paralegal for affordable, actionable coaching services.

Together, we can create a clear strategy to help you advance your career with confidence. You can schedule your free no obligation appointment here. The Best Virtual Paralegal’s career coaching services are fair, affordable, competitive within the coaching industry.

Author

Overwhelmed with Your Personal Injury Caseload? There's a Better Way.

Sun, 20 Jul 2025 16:36:09 GMT

Ready to lighten your caseload? Let’s talk support for Personal Injury Firms

In the fast-paced world of personal injury law, it's easy for attorneys to get bogged down in the day-to-day tasks of managing cases. From intake interviews and record requests to drafting legal documents and preparing for trial, the administrative workload can be overwhelming. This is where Best Virtual Paralegal LLC comes in. Best Virtual Paralegal is a team of experienced paralegals dedicated to helping personal injury attorneys eliminate inefficiencies, maximize productivity, and increase profitability.

What We Do

Best Virtual Paralegal offers a comprehensive suite of paralegal services tailored to the specific needs of personal injury law firms. Whether you need on-demand help or ongoing support, our team is here to help you every step of the way.

Pre-Litigation

Intake and Client Relations: We handle intake interviews, welcome emails, and act as a liaison between attorneys, clients, and other parties.
Document Requesting and Retrieval: A crucial, yet often time-draining, aspect of any personal injury case is the relentless process of requesting and retrieving documents. From medical records to police reports, managing this flow of information is critical. We've honed this process to an art. To learn more about how our specialized systems can dramatically cut down on delays and give you a competitive edge, read our detailed blog post on how to Expedite Your Casework with Best Virtual Paralegal's Document Requesting and Retrieval Services .
Case Preparation and Demand Drafting: Our team expertly handles the critical task of preparing all necessary documents to build a powerful case for your clients. We draft comprehensive medical summaries, detailed med-pay and liability demands, and compelling settlement brochures designed to clearly articulate the strengths of your case and secure the best possible outcome.
Negotiation and Settlement: We coordinate mediation, arbitration, and settlement talks to help you achieve the best possible outcome for your clients.

Litigation

When your case are not in good hands with insurance companies and all settlement efforts fail because the insurance companies are not good neighbors the Best Virtual Paralegal Team has the skills to help you move forward with litigation. This is not all-inclusive list of the litigation services available to personal injury lawyers.

Document Preparation: Best Virtual Paralegal can prepare a wide range of legal documents, including complaints, summons, motions, and discovery responses.
Discovery: We assist with all aspects of discovery, including propounding interrogatories, requests for admissions, and requests for production.
Trial Support: Our team can help you prepare for trial by organizing exhibits, creating trial notebooks, and preparing subpoenas.

Case and File Management

Organization: We offer a variety of case management services, including Bates stamping, creating chronological event summaries, and developing workflows and processes to keep your cases on track.
Research and Investigation: Our team is skilled in legal research, product research, and social media investigation to help you build a strong case.
Calendaring and Docket Control: We can manage your calendar, schedule tasks, and track statutes of limitations to ensure you never miss a deadline.

Why Choose Best Virtual Paralegal?

At Best Virtual Paralegal, we are committed to building long-term relationships with our clients. We take a holistic approach to paralegal support, providing you with the strategies, tools, and support you need to build a thriving and successful practice. Our team of experienced professionals dedicates itself to helping you achieve a better work-life balance and become a leader in your field.

Imagine what you could accomplish if you weren't constantly bogged down by administrative tasks. By partnering with Best Virtual Paralegal, you delegate the time-consuming duties of client communication, pre-litigation document and data collection, and settlement preparation. This strategic move frees up your valuable time, allowing you to focus on what truly matters: high-level legal strategy, marketing your firm, and growing your practice. More importantly, it gives you back your personal time, creating the space to spend with your family, pursue hobbies, and prevent professional burnout.

Real Results: A Case Study

The Challenge: A respected mid-sized PI firm was struggling with capacity. Their attorneys were spending over half their time managing the pre-litigation process—chasing medical records, summarizing dense medical files, and assembling demand packages. This administrative burden slowed case turnover and forced them to turn away viable new cases each month.

The Solution: They partnered with Best Virtual Paralegal (BVP), delegating their entire document retrieval, medical summary, and demand brochure drafting process. BVP's specialized team immediately implemented a streamlined workflow, systematically handling all record requests and delivering professionally drafted summaries and demand packages ready for attorney review.

The Results: The impact was immediate and significant.

Time Saved: The firm reclaimed an average of 20 attorney hours per week.
Increased Efficiency: Case turnaround time was reduced by 40%.
Financial Growth: By freeing up attorneys to focus on high-value legal work and client acquisition, the firm increased its case capacity by over 50% in the first year. This translated to an estimated $250,000 in additional revenue , all without the overhead costs of hiring and training new in-house staff.

Take Control of Your Caseload Today

If you are ready to stop drowning in paperwork and start focusing on practicing law, we are here to help. Best Virtual Paralegal is now accepting new lawyer clients who need expert help with the most time-consuming aspects of personal injury cases. Let our specialists take over the critical tasks of requesting medical records, drafting powerful medical summaries, and creating persuasive demand brochures for your firm.

Stop letting administrative tasks dictate your schedule. Take the first step towards a more efficient and profitable practice by booking your complimentary new client consultation today.

Important Notice:

This blog provides information and materials solely for the general education of legal professionals. This content does not constitute legal advice and should not be used as a substitute for seeking professional counsel from a licensed attorney. Before applying any information found here, legal professionals must examine the relevant primary and secondary state legal materials for their client's specific situation. This blog and its author disclaim any responsibility for content that is reused or republished by third parties.

Overwhelmed? 10 Ways Solo Lawyers & Paralegals Can Boost Productivity

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 04:00:16 GMT

Our favorite productivity strategies that work!

For the solo lawyer or paralegal, every day is a balancing act. You’re not just a legal professional; you're also the CEO, marketing director, and administrative assistant. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when juggling client work with the demands of running a business. Regaining control of your schedule is the first step toward a more profitable and sustainable practice.

10 ways solo legal professionals can boost their productivity today

Embrace Time Blocking. Instead of reacting to a constant stream of tasks, proactively block out time on your calendar for specific duties like case research, client calls, and document drafting. Protect these blocks as you would a client appointment.
Leverage Technology. Utilize legal practice management software to streamline everything from case files and calendaring to client communication and billing.
Automate Your Intake Process. Use online forms and automated email responses to gather initial information from potential clients, saving you valuable time on initial consultations.
Create Document Templates. Stop reinventing the wheel. Create templates for frequently used documents, letters, and emails to ensure consistency and save hours each week.
Set Communication Boundaries. Clearly define your business hours and response times. Answering emails and calls at all hours may feel productive, but it leads to burnout.
Use a Task Manager. A simple to-do list isn't enough. Use a digital task manager to prioritize deadlines, track progress, and organize your caseload effectively.
Delegate Non-Billable Tasks. Your time is best spent on high-value legal work. Consider delegating administrative tasks like scheduling, bookkeeping, and social media management.
Schedule "Deep Work." Block out 90-minute periods for intense, focused work on your most complex tasks. Turn off notifications and let your voicemail handle calls.
Conduct a Weekly Review. Spend 30 minutes every Friday reviewing what you accomplished, what’s pending, and setting your priorities for the upcoming week.
Tackle Small Tasks Immediately. If a task takes less than two minutes to complete, do it right away. This prevents small items from piling up and creating mental clutter.

Next Steps...

Implementing these tips can make a significant difference, but you don’t have to do it all alone. If you’re ready to move from simply managing your practice to truly growing it, professional support is key.

At Best Virtual Paralegal, we offer expert legal support and coaching services designed for solo practitioners like you. To learn how we can help you reclaim your time and focus on what you do best, contact us , we love to discuss how we can support your practice.

Beyond the Basics: An Analytical Approach to Landing Your First Paralegal Role

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 10:33:14 GMT

Beyond the Basics: Career Advice Paralegals Can Use to Grow

CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON BELOW TO LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE INCLUDING BONUS CONTENT - Narration is provided by a professional voiceover actor & may not be that of the author unless otherwise stated.

The journey to your first paralegal role can feel like a paradox. You have the training, the ambition, and the meticulous attention to detail that this profession demands. Yet, you find yourself facing a wall of automated application portals and generic rejections. If you're a recent graduate, the lack of experience feels like a barrier to entry. If you're a career-changer, you're struggling to translate years of valuable skills into a language the legal world understands.

Let me be clear: your frustration is valid. The traditional " apply and wait" method is no longer sufficient. To succeed in today's competitive legal market, you need a targeted, analytical strategy. It's time to stop thinking like a job applicant and start thinking like the legal professional you are.

Proven Strategies

Here are proven strategies that can help you cut through the noise and secure a role that aligns with your goals and training.

The Right Pairing....

You have the training. You have the potential. It's time to pair it with a strategy that gets you noticed.

Ready to move from applicant to top candidate? Contact Best Virtual Paralegal LLC today to learn more about our personalized resume services and one-on-one coaching for aspiring paralegals.

Unlocking Your Potential: Why Every Paralegal Needs a Career Coach

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 16:00:03 GMT

One conversation can change your entire workflow.

The paralegal profession is a dynamic and demanding field. Whether you're a recent graduate navigating the complexities of the legal world or a seasoned professional with years of experience, the path to career satisfaction and advancement isn't always straightforward. This is where a career coach specializing in the legal industry can be an invaluable asset, providing tailored guidance to help you achieve your professional goals.

For the Seasoned Paralegal: Reignite Your Career Trajectory

After years of dedicated service, it's not uncommon for experienced paralegals to feel a sense of stagnation. You've mastered your role, but the next step isn't clear. A career coach can help you break through this plateau and chart a course for continued growth. By working with a coach, seasoned paralegals can identify and leverage their specialized skills to explore new practice areas, transition into leadership roles, or negotiate their worth with confidence.

For the Entry-Level Paralegal: Build a Strong Foundation for Success

For those just starting their paralegal journey, the legal field can feel overwhelming. A career coach can provide the foundational support and strategic direction needed to launch a successful career. Coaches help you improve your resume, interview skills, and identify skill gaps to succeed in the job market. Career coaching accelerates your career growth by boosting your skills and knowledge.

Move Your Career Forward with Best Virtual Paralegal

Navigating your career path alone can be challenging, but with the right partner, you can turn ambiguity into opportunity. Best Virtual Paralegal’s career coaching is specifically designed to empower paralegals at every stage. Their "Career Blueprint Programs" offer one-on-one and group sessions that dive deep into the practical and personal aspects of career growth. Best Virtual Paralegal coaches go beyond resume and LinkedIn polishing.

Whether you need to fine-tune your job search for extra precision, learn how to effectively network, or develop a stronger professional brand, Best Virtual Paralegal provides a roadmap. They offer insightful guidance on everything from crafting compelling cover letters and work product samples to mastering the art of the interview. Their goal is to support you in making informed decisions that align with your long-term career aspirations, helping you find greater fulfillment and success in the legal industry.

Investing in a career coach is an investment in your future. By providing personalized guidance, a coach can empower you to navigate the challenges of the legal industry, seize new opportunities, and build a fulfilling and successful career as a paralegal. The Best Virtual Paralegal Team offers a variety of payment option which include payment plans, buy now pay later options, or all major credit cards/debit cards or checks. Affordability should be a priority in the provision of coaching support and at Best Virtual Paralegal, we use our best efforts to do just that.

Your paralegal potential deserves a coach.

- Schedule a consultation with us.

The Paralegal's Power-Up: Excel Shortcuts & Formulas

Sun, 13 Jul 2025 11:25:53 GMT

Microsoft strategies that work: Cheat Sheets

As a paralegal or attorney, you are no stranger to the world of spreadsheets and data management. Excel is a crucial skill in today's fast-paced legal field. However, navigating through Excel's vast array of functions and tools can be time-consuming and daunting. Keyboard shortcuts plus formulas prove beneficial. This blog gives you the best Excel shortcuts and formulas for legal professionals.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Our team's top keyboard shortcuts for standard keyboards and Windows are listed below. The list below may not be complete and may not be compatible with all devices.

1. Ctrl + N: Create a new workbook

2. Ctrl + O: Open an existing workbook

3. Ctrl + S: Save the current workbook

4. Ctrl + C: Copy selected cells

5. Ctrl + V: Paste copied cells

6. Ctrl + X: Cut selected cells

7. Ctrl + Z: Undo last action

8. Ctrl + Y: Redo last action

9. Ctrl + F: Open the Find and Replace dialog box

10. Ctrl + P: Print the current workbook

11. Ctrl + A: Select all cells in the current worksheet

12. Ctrl + B: Apply or remove bold formatting

13. Ctrl + I: Apply or remove italic formatting

14. Ctrl + U: Apply or remove underline formatting

15. Ctrl + 1: Open the Format Cells dialog box

16. Ctrl + 9: Hide selected rows

17. Ctrl + 0: Hide selected columns

18. Ctrl + Shift + L: Toggle filters on or off

19. Ctrl + Home: Go to the beginning of the worksheet

20. Ctrl + End: Go to the last cell with data in the current worksheet

Attorneys and paralegals who touch-type will find the preceding keyboard shortcuts very useful. These keyboard shortcuts are an easy way to improve proficiency.

Formulas

1. SUM: Adds all the numbers in a range of cells

2. AVERAGE: Calculates the average of a range of cells

3. COUNT: Counts the number of cells that contain numbers

4. COUNTIF: Counts the number of cells that meet a certain criteria

5. IF: Checks if a condition is met and returns one value if true and another value if false

6. VLOOKUP: Looks up a value in a table and returns a corresponding value from a different column

7. CONCATENATE: Combines two or more text strings into one

8. LEN: Calculates the length of a text string

9. LEFT: Extracts a specified number of characters from the beginning of a text string

10. RIGHT: Extracts a specified number of characters from the end of a text string

11. TRIM: Removes all extra spaces from a text string

12. ROUND: Rounds a number to a specified number of digits

13. MAX: Finds the largest value in a range of cells

14. MIN: Finds the smallest value in a range of cells

15. TODAY: Returns the current date

16. NETWORKDAYS: Calculates the number of working days between two dates

17. PMT: Calculates the monthly payment for a loan based on constant payments and a constant interest rate

18. NPV: Calculates the net present value of an investment

19. PV: Calculates the present value of an investment

20. RAND: Generates a random number between 0 and 1

Using these keyboard shortcuts and formulas can save you time and effort when working on Excel spreadsheets. However, it's important to note that these are just a few of the many useful shortcuts and formulas available in Excel. As a paralegal or attorney, it may be beneficial to explore and learn more about the various functions and tools that Excel offers.

In addition, it's important to remember that Excel is not a substitute for legal knowledge and expertise. Use this data tool cautiously in legal matters; verify all information for accuracy.

Conclusion

In conclusion, mastering Excel can greatly benefit paralegals and attorneys in their daily tasks. By using these keyboard shortcuts and formulas, you can increase your efficiency and accuracy in managing data and save valuable time. We hope this comprehensive cheat sheet will be a useful resource for you in your legal career.

Time to level up your paralegal game - Schedule a consultation with us.

No Simple Answer: The Time a Paralegal Takes to Analyze Financial Statements is a Matter of "It Depends"

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 14:34:42 GMT

How long does it take a paralegal to....

This article responds to a common inquiry from attorneys regarding our virtual paralegal services. During their initial consultations with the Best Virtual Paralegal Team, many attorneys inquire about the timeframe for completion of tasks. One of the most frequent turnaround questions sounds like this:

"How long does it take a paralegal to analyze financial statements?"

Answering this question without reviewing the attorney's files is difficult. Assessing this common paralegal task is difficult without knowing the document's length, readability, and other factors.

Determining a precise timeframe for a paralegal to analyze bank and credit card statements is not a matter of a simple calculation. There is no industry-wide standard or universally accepted benchmark for this crucial task. The time required is highly variable and hinges on a multitude of factors, ranging from the sheer volume of the documents to the complexity of the legal matter and the technological tools at the paralegal's disposal.

The core of the task requires a meticulous review to ensure every responsive document has been produced and to identify key information relevant to the case. This can range from a few hours for a straightforward matter with limited records to several days or even weeks for complex litigation involving years of financial history.

Note that some courts set hourly guidelines for simple document review. For example, according to the Northern District of Oklahoma's CJA Billing and Payment Instructions Manual, counsel, experts, and service providers are expected to review discovery and/or documents at a rate of at least 60 pages/hour..... (p. 2).

Another caveat to this manual also states that complex revenue cases can take longer and photos and illustrations can take less time, while they also knowledge that each case is unique and therefore this rate is not to be construed as a strict rule. It is also noteworthy to clarify that the reviews describing the manual are "quick reviews without taking notes,"(p. 2).

Chart: Estimated Actual Time for Review

This chart shows the actual time you would likely spend on the task, depending on your goal.

The foregoing chart does not consider the completeness or neatness of the source documents. Nor does it fully consider the key factors influencing the timetable.

Key Factors Influencing the Timeline

Four key variables directly impact the duration of the analysis

Volume and Organization of Documents: A single year of monthly bank and credit card statements can easily equate to hundreds, if not thousands, of pages of data. The more statements and the more transactions per statement, the longer the review will take. Disorganized or incomplete records will also add a significant amount of time for organization and follow-up.

Client document organization varies widely. Some clients are very organized. Other clients produce many flawed documents. This table is suitable for basic paternity cases involving mandatory disclosures. The table above also does not consider the time it takes to the time it takes draft the pleading of compliance. Drafting time for compliance pleadings is billed separately.

Complexity of the Case and Scope of Discovery: A divorce case requiring the tracing of marital assets will necessitate a more in-depth analysis than a simple contract dispute where the financial review is more limited. The specific questions the analysis seeks to answer will dictate the level of scrutiny required. For instance, identifying undisclosed income or dissipated assets is a far more time-consuming process than simply verifying a series of known payments.

Experience Level of the Paralegal: An experienced paralegal with a strong understanding of financial documents and the nuances of the legal matter will generally be more efficient than a junior paralegal. Their ability to quickly identify red flags and relevant information comes with practice.

Use of Technology : The advent of e-discovery and AI-powered document review platforms has revolutionized this process. Software can rapidly scan, digitize, and even categorize transactions, significantly reducing the manual review time for a paralegal. Optical Character Recognition (OCR) can make documents text-searchable, allowing for quick identification of keywords, payees, or specific transaction types. However, the initial setup and quality control of these technological tools also requires time.

Methodologies for Review and Billing

Paralegals employ various methods to analyze financial statements, each impacting the time involved:

Manual Review: This traditional method involves a page-by-page examination of each statement. While thorough, this approach is the most time-consuming, especially with a high volume of documents. The time logged for this method depends on the purpose of the page-by-page examinations. This article assumes manual review means no OCR or searchable tags were used.

Aided Review: The most common method used by the Best Virtual Paralegal Team involves a page-by-page examination of each statement combined with using OCR software, searchable tags, and other technologies to complete a standard page by page review of the documents. A caveat here would be that AI technology is still in its infancy and especially when using it in client data. The integration of AI within legal technology is now pervasive, making avoidance challenging as most practice management tools incorporate AI functionalities.

Spreadsheet Analysis: A common and effective method involves manually entering or exporting transaction data into a spreadsheet. This allows for sorting, filtering, and performing calculations to identify patterns, irregularities, and key financial data points. The time commitment for data entry can be substantial.

Utilizing E-Discovery Software: As mentioned, specialized software can automate much of the initial data extraction and organization. The paralegal's role then shifts to a more analytical one, focusing on the interpretation of the flagged information and a deeper dive into specific areas of concern.

When it comes to billing for this time, transparency and detailed descriptions are paramount. Vague entries like "document review" are often insufficient. Instead, billing entries should be specific, for example:

"Review and analysis of 12 months of Client A's bank statements to identify sources of income and non-marital assets (3.5 hours)."
"Data entry of three years of credit card statements into spreadsheet for categorization of spending habits (5.0 hours)."
"Searched and tagged 24 months of financial records in e-discovery platform for transactions related to 'undisclosed business' (2.0 hours)."

Ultimately, the " reasonable " time for a paralegal to complete this task is the time that is necessary to do a thorough and accurate job based on the specific requirements of the case. Furthermore, the conclusion that document review time is contingent upon numerous factors is reinforced by the influence of the attorney's and paralegal's individual work styles on the outcome – it truly is a matter of it depends.

Open communication between the supervising attorney and the paralegal regarding the scope of the review, the expected timeframe, and the desired deliverables is essential to ensure both efficiency and the delivery of high-quality legal work.

Ready to lighten your caseload? Let’s talk support.

Book a consultation with the Best Virtual Paralegal Team here or call/text us at 717.747.3588.

The Benefits of Using Keyboard Shortcuts in a Legal Office

Tue, 27 May 2025 23:46:41 GMT

Best Virtual Paralegal's Click. Save. Share. Productivity Tips

In today’s fast-paced legal environment, efficiency is not just a bonus—it’s a necessity. One of the simplest yet most impactful tools professionals can use to streamline their workflow is keyboard shortcuts, (also known as “keyboard shorthand”). Whether you're drafting pleadings in Microsoft Word, organizing discovery in Excel, or managing emails in Outlook, keyboard shortcuts can save time, reduce repetitive strain, and improve accuracy.

Time-Saving Efficiency

Keyboard shortcuts allow users to perform routine tasks in a fraction of the time it takes using a mouse. For example, copying (Ctrl + C), pasting (Ctrl + V), and saving (Ctrl + S) become second nature with regular use. These saved seconds add up quickly across hundreds of daily actions, particularly for legal professionals who draft, review, and revise large volumes of documents.

The number of hours per day that paralegals and attorneys can save by using keyboard shortcuts depends on their daily computer usage, the types of tasks they perform, and how proficient they are with those shortcuts. However, professional estimates and studies provide a general idea based on Best Virtual Paralegal’s team’s usage.

Time Savings from Keyboard Shortcuts

Estimated Time Saved:
15–60 minutes per day , depending on workload and shortcut usage.
Heavy Document Users (e.g., litigation support, contract review, drafting):
Up to 2 hours per day saved with extensive shortcut use (e.g., Word, Adobe Pro, Excel, Outlook)

Breakdown of Savings by Software:

Software

Frequent Tasks

Time Saved Daily with Shortcuts

Microsoft Word

Formatting, editing, navigation

15–30 min

Adobe Acrobat Pro

Redactions, bookmarks, comments

10–20 min

Microsoft Outlook

Email triage, scheduling

10–20 min

Excel

Data entry, calculations, filtering

10–30 min

Task Repetition: Legal work involves repetitive text editing, citation formatting, document comparison, form filling, and email management — ideal for shortcut use.
Billable Hour Efficiency: Saving even 30 minutes daily = 10+ hours/month , which is billable or can be reinvested into case strategy or client service.
Reduced Frustration & Fatigue: Faster execution = smoother workflow = better focus on complex legal tasks.
Reduced Physical Strain
Constantly switching between the keyboard and mouse contributes to repetitive strain injuries (RSIs), including carpal tunnel syndrome. Keyboard shortcuts keep hands on the keyboard, promoting ergonomic posture and reducing unnecessary movements.
Improved Focus and Workflow
Using shortcuts keeps your focus on the task at hand. Minimizing mouse usage reduces distractions and allows for a more seamless thought process—especially important when composing legal arguments or reviewing detailed case documents.
Professional Confidence and Competence
Paralegals and attorneys who confidently navigate software using shortcuts project technical proficiency. This can enhance credibility during client presentations, internal meetings, or courtroom preparation.

Conclusion

Incorporating keyboard shortcuts into your daily routine may seem minor, but the cumulative benefits can significantly enhance productivity and reduce fatigue. For law firms and legal professionals aiming to work smarter—not harder—mastering keyboard shortcuts is a smart move that pays dividends.

Ready to Master These Shortcuts?

At Best Virtual Paralegal (BVP) , we believe in making legal work leaner, faster, and smarter . If these shortcuts made you say, “I wish I’d known this sooner,” imagine what the Best Virtual Paralegal (BVP) Team can do for your law practice or legal career.

✅ Need help streamlining your workflow?

✅ Want to empower your team with expert-level tools?

✅ Interested in our custom training or paralegal support?

Let’s make productivity your new superpower.

Expedite Your Casework with Best Virtual Paralegal’s Document Requesting and Retrieval Services

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 12:49:03 GMT

What are Document Requesting and Retrieval Services?

In today's fast-paced legal environment, timely access to critical documents can make or break a case. At Best Virtual Paralegal, we understand the pressure legal professionals face when juggling deadlines, discovery obligations, and client demands. That’s why we offer efficient, reliable, and cost-effective Document Requesting and Retrieval Services designed specifically for busy attorneys, solo practitioners, and law firms of all sizes.

What are Document Requesting and Retrieval Services?

At Best Virtual Paralegal LLC, we handle the entire lifecycle of document management — from crafting detailed, legally compliant requests to proactive follow-ups and secure delivery.

Why Outsource Document Retrieval to Best Virtual Paralegal?

When you collaborate with Best Virtual Paralegal for your document requesting and retrieval needs, you benefit from:

✅ Time Savings — Focus on legal strategy while we manage the administrative burden.

✅ Accuracy and Compliance — Requests are prepared with precision to help reduce delays and rejections.

✅ Strategic Follow-up — We stay on top of providers to ensure your documents are retrieved promptly.

✅ Cost-Effective Support — Save on in-house overhead with our on-demand paralegal driven retrieval services.

We are not just document retrievers; we are experienced virtual paralegals who understand chain of custody, HIPAA compliance, and evidentiary standards—key elements critical to the admissibility of your documents.

The Best Virtual Paralegal Process: Seamless from Start to Finish

Receive/Review Your Request Needs — We review your needs, deadlines, and jurisdictional nuances.
Drafting Requests — We prepare the records requests tailored to the specific requirements of each custodian/keeper of records.
Submission and Tracking — Requests are dispatched with confirmation tracking. We monitor responses and follow up proactively.
Secure Delivery — Documents are delivered securely, indexed, and ready for use in discovery, mediation, or trial. Our commitment to excellence ensures you get the right documents timely.

Who We Serve

• Personal Injury Attorneys

• Family Law Firms

• Criminal Defense Counsel

• Insurance Defense Firms

• Business Transactional Lawyers

• Solo Practitioners

Best Virtual Paralegal (BVP)’s document retrieval services are available to licensed attorneys in United States, & Canada. Regardless of your firm’s size, Best Virtual Paralegal LLC is dedicated to assisting with growth and success.

Collaborate with Best Virtual Paralegal Today.

Document delays can derail a case. Don’t leave it to chance. Let Best Virtual Paralegal be your trusted partner for document requesting and retrieval services . With our professional support, you can focus on what matters most — advocating for your clients and winning cases.

Ready to save time and money with document retrieval services? Best Virtual Paralegal is the go-to record retrieval company when legal and insurance professionals�� Contact Best Virtual Paralegal today for a consultation!

CONFIDENCE & PROFITS

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 11:00:51 GMT

The Importance of Confidence for Lawyers and Paralegals

I found a quote that said, “fear is the biggest obstacle to progress and success.” In this one quote I can see the value in working on building confidence. Have you ever struggled with self-doubt and low self-confidence? It's likely you've faced challenges in achieving your goals and attaining the success and profits you desire for your business. Working on your confidence can positively impact your goals and profits. Building confidence is a gradual process, not something that happens immediately. Small, consistent steps yield best results.

You may wonder what your business profits have to do with being confident. One thing you will notice when you start continuously working on improving your overall level of confidence is everything in your life will start to improve. If you can achieve maintaining a level of confidence even when things aren’t going your way, you will build up your perseverance.

The more confident you become, the more you'll crave accomplishing things that seemed unreachable before. Developing your confidence will help you overcome negative thoughts. Understanding the source of your negative thoughts makes replacing them with positive, self-assured thoughts more possible.

By assisting legal professionals in building confidence, I've learned that it enhances their connections with others. Building deeper relationships improves business performance, leading to increased profits. I hope you recognize the connection between your confidence, how you interact with others, and the success and profits you achieve.

The more confidence you have the less you find that you care about what others think of you. That is because you are too busy working on yourself to worry about making an impression on other people.

Ultimately, reaching your full potential requires unshakeable confidence. A strong inner confidence reveals that failure, flaws, and shortcomings don't define your worth or potential. It's on the opposite side of failure, weaknesses, and shortcomings that success truly resides and prospers.

Ask for Help

About the Author

Lawyer Tasks v. Paralegal Tasks

holly@bestvirtualparalegal.com (Holly Sheriff) — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 20:55:13 GMT

Who Does What in a Law Practice?

Solo attorneys and small firms must understand the lawyer-paralegal distinction to maintain efficiency and ethics. Whether you're a seasoned attorney or a new solo practitioner, this brief general guide breaks down key legal tasks and highlights how a virtual paralegal can help you scale your practice— specifically it will be tasks the Best Virtual Paralegal Team can assist lawyers.

As a general rule, paralegals cannot:

Represent Clients
Select or decide what document to draft to protect someone’s rights/obligations
Give legal advice
Discuss fees
Decide whether to accept a case or not.

This article does not constitute an exhaustive list, and task applicability may vary among paralegals and is usually based on the paralegal’s unique combination of training, education, interest, location, and overall skill set. The scope of support provided by paralegals to lawyers is broad. The primary tasks are illustrated below.

⚖️ Lawyer Tasks vs. Paralegal Tasks

Lawyer Tasks

Provides legal advice to clients
Represents clients in court or depositions
Signs pleadings, discovery responses, and legal opinions
Negotiates settlements
Determines legal strategy
Supervises legal staff
Reviews and signs off on final legal documents

Paralegal Tasks

Drafts legal documents as directed by an attorney
Conducts legal research and summarizes findings
Prepares and organizes discovery documents and exhibits
Assists in client intake and file management
Prepares case chronologies and fact timelines
Files documents with courts (electronically or in-person, depending on jurisdiction)
Communicates with clients regarding administrative updates

More experienced paralegals including companies like Best Virtual Paralegal LLC (BVP) (@bvparalegal) are often times skilled marketers, online business managers, consultants, coaches, bookkeepers, and accountants in addition to savvy paralegals.

�� Note

Paralegals are not licensed to practice law. All work is done under the supervision of an attorney in accordance with ABA and state-specific guidelines. Some jurisdictions permit paralegals to sign certain documents; it is usually stated in the professional code conduct for the jurisdiction.

Sources:

American Bar Association: What Paralegals Can Do

National Federation of Paralegal Associations

State Bar Associations (e.g., California, Texas, Florida, Rhode Island)

Managerial Tasks Paralegals Handle to Drive a Profitable Law Firm

In today’s competitive legal landscape, leveraging managerial paralegal tasks empowers lawyers to focus on billable work and grow a profitable law firm . Skilled paralegals streamline operations, reduce overhead, and ensure compliance across critical back‑office functions:

Retrieving Records & FOIA Requests
Paralegals efficiently obtain medical, financial, and public records, while expertly drafting and managing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. By handling document acquisition, they eliminate costly delays and keep case timelines on track.
Bookkeeping & Financial Reporting
From tracking receivables to reconciling trust accounts, our paralegals maintain accurate ledgers and generate monthly financial reports. Maintaining clean books helps law firms monitor profitability and make data‑driven decisions.
Paying Bills & Vendor Management
Paralegals oversee invoice processing, vendor negotiations, and timely bill payment. By centralizing accounts payable, they prevent late fees, preserve professional relationships, and safeguard your firm’s credit.
Handling Payroll & Benefits Administration
Managing staff payroll, withholding taxes, and administering benefits requires precision. Paralegals ensure compliance with employment regulations and alleviate the headaches of HR administration.

The aforementioned list does not fully encompass the managerial duties a lawyer might assign to a paralegal to promote scalable growth and enhance financial well-being. The Best Virtual Paralegal Team has published numerous blog posts over several years promoting increased delegation of managerial duties to paralegals in articles as Virtual Assistant vs. Virtual Paralegal vs. Online Business Manager and Paralegal Entrepreneurs are More.

By delegating these essential managerial functions to a virtual paralegal team , you reduce overhead, improve cash flow, and sharpen your competitive edge.

��Ready to Work Smarter?

Collaborate with the Best Virtual Paralegal Team today to offload administrative burdens and boost your bottom line. Contact us now to schedule a complimentary consultation and discover how our expert paralegals can transform your practice.

LITIGATION SUPPORT SERVICES

Mon, 11 Sep 2023 22:21:33 GMT

An Overview of the services offered by Best Virtual Paralegal LLC (BVP)

The Best Virtual Paralegal Team loves helping attorneys with civil litigation and trial support. Specialized paralegal support is offered for Civil, Federal, Complex International, and General/Tort Litigation.

This article is not an exclusive list of all the litigation services offered by the Best Virtual Paralegal Team. And some services will be listed in alphabetical order to increase readability. If you don’t see the service you need, please contact us. We are happy to discuss your needs and work something out that is a win-win situation for you and the Best Virtual Paralegal Team. The Best Virtual Paralegal Team is a national competent team of remote independent contractor paralegals ready to help all attorneys move their practices forward. Sometimes, the Best Virtual Paralegal Team will help other paralegal teams with litigation support too. However, our services are not available to non-legal professionals. Read our disclaimer here .

Prelitigation Services

Prelitigation Services are excellent for busy attorneys with general tort claims and personal injury cases. Services include client relations, document preparation, and investigation. Our services are perfect for attorneys who need support gathering information from clients, witnesses, and experts.

The Best Virtual Paralegal Team’s interviewing services consist of Client Interviews, Witness Interviews, Expert Witness locations, and Interviews. This also includes witness biographies summaries.
We also provide document retrieval services to litigators as part of our prelitigation services. Our document retrieval services include sending requests, following up, and reviewing documents. Retrieval of documents can be performed alone or with prelitigation and civil litigation services. Read more about Document Retrieval Services here.
The Best Virtual Paralegal Team also offers document reviews. Often, document reviews are used to identify and bridge gaps in a timeline or fact pattern. Document reviews can include creating summaries of witnesses, experts, provider lists, document content, and treatments and looking for relevant, responsive information. Read more about document review services here.
To round out the prelitigation services, the Best Virtual Paralegal Team offers drafting documents, which often include.
Letters of Representation (LOR);
Settlement Proposal Correspondences;
Simple Cover letters;
General Settlement Offer Letters;
Medpay Demand Letters; and
Liability Demand Letters.
To read more about the Demand Letter Services offered by the Best Virtual Paralegal Team, click here .

The Best Virtual Paralegal Team offers medical record review solutions that include record organization, indexing, chronology, and summary services. We help lawyers and paralegals meticulously organize and index documents before you review them.
The Best Virtual Paralegal Team can save your team valuable time and money by summarizing hours of deposition testimony.

Research Services

The Best Virtual Paralegal Team founded the legal support services (formerly known as paralegal services) in 1990 (read our incredible story here) to provide legal support staff services to attorneys, solo practitioners, corporate counsels, large firms, and all attorneys. BVP has assisted more than 60K attorneys and legal teams on over 180,000 cases, projects, trials, and team-building projects yearly.

The Best Virtual Paralegal team offers legal research and general internet research to attorneys, solo practitioners, corporate counsels, large firms, and all attorneys. The turnaround time and overall cost of the research depends on factors such as the number and complexity of the issues, the juridical focus. Briefs are typically more expensive thana basic Issues, reasoning, activity/action, conclusion (IRAC ) memorandums or internal memos of findings.

Key features of Best Virtual Paralegal’s legal research services are:

No extra charge for using or access to our legal research for in-plan searches.
Legal Research is typically billed on an agreed upon flat fee. We are completely flexible in the work product we provide our attorney clients.
Our skilled paralegals provide affordable, reliable legal and general research to help attorneys evaluate cases, issues, trial preparation, strategic planning, or other purposes before or in support of litigation and prelitigation transaction analysis.

Writing Services

The dedicated paralegals within the Best Virtual Paralegal Team help our attorney-clients with pleadings in all fifty states at the state and federal levels. The services offered for pleadings include preparation and review services.

Drafting Services Include:

Affidavits
Opening & Closing Statements
Direct & Cross questions for Trial
Affirmative Defenses
Answers, Replies, & Oppositions
Complaints | Petitions
Correspondence
Counterclaims & Replies
Deeds and Other Real Estate Documents
Discovery Documents (See below
Motions for Attorney’s Fees
Motions for Child Support
Motions for Pet Care & Support
Motions for Summary Judgements and Responses Thereto
Motions for Visitation
Motions in Limine
Motions to Compel
Motions to Dismiss and Responses Thereto
Motions to Modify
Motions to Quash Services, Services of Process
Motions to Strike
Notices of Hearings
Notices of Removal
Parenting Plans
Pet Plans
Settlement Agreements

Pretrial & Discovery

The Best Virtual Paralegal Team helps litigators juggle the pretrial and discovery demands when prelitigation and settlement fail. In ligation cases including federal, state, and local criminal cases we help our attorney-clients with the following discovery-related services:

· Bills of Particulars

· Deposition Summaries

· Interrogatories (ROGGS)

· Letters to Meet and Confer

· Motions to Compel

· Motions to Compel Discovery

· Preparation of Depositions

· Privilege Logs & Protection Letters

· Request for Admissions

· Request for Production (RFP)

Best Virtual Paralegal Discovery Services can include propounding, answering, gathering, reviewing, and organizing. Our dedicated legal support experts help lawyers and their clients navigate the discovery process with ease.

Trial Preparation & Document Reviews

Trial preparation and document review can include these streamlining services:

Your choice of digital or traditional binder trial notebooks.
Your choice of digital or traditional exhibit stickers.
Indexes for pleadings.
Indexes of production documents.
Creation of timelines, videos, PowerPoint preparation of evidence.
Witness bios and summaries.
Document and production logs and summaries.
Writing of open and closing statements.
Creation of floor plans, accident maps, timelines, event charts, and more.

Fees, Costs, & Rates

The Best Virtual Paralegal’s Litigation Services help litigators set budgets that control resources, costs, and time. Many of the litigation services offered by Best Virtual Paralegals are billed and rendered on your choice of hourly, flat, and subscription fees. At the onset of services, each client is given the opportunity to sit down and discuss their budget. At this meeting, we will determine whether services will be billed hourly, flat, as a subscription fee. After the initial meeting, clients can upload or share new projects with us with or without another meeting.

We provide customized fee estimates after acceptance of a new project so the costs expectations align with the case budget. We let our attorneys-clients have complete control over case and service costs. The overall cost of the support staff services and litigation support projects depends on a variety of factors such as the complexity, number of issues, style, and the judicial focus of the services requested. We offer flexibility in terms of turnaround time, commitment of services, and style of the work product we offer and provide for our attorney-clients. The nature of the final work products is controlled by our attorney-clients. Best Virtual Paralegals do not exceed cost estimates, or budgets without consulting with its clients first before making any changes. The Best Virtual Paralegal Team welcomes limited budgets.

Need help now? Call or text us to speak to the founder, Holly A. Sheriff. There is no charge for the initial call or a service consultation , (717) 747-3588 or contact us for a quote .

HELPING ATTORNEYS GROW PROFITABLE PRACTICES

holly@bestvirtualparalegal.com (Holly Sheriff) — Sat, 26 Aug 2023 03:13:39 GMT

Exploring Best Virtual Paralegal's Legal Support Services

Learn How the Best Virtual Paralegal Team helps Attorney Save Time, Money

Best Virtual Paralegal LLC is a leading legal outsourcing company that helps legal professionals and attorneys find cost-effective solutions to their most common pain points and barriers. This article is our annual introduction to help you learn how the Best est Virtual Paralegal Team can help lawyers grow their practices; revisit us because we'll draft other focused articles about our services that help legal support staff, legal assistants, and paralegals achieve their goals.

Today, we are going to cover:

• Who we help;

• Services we provide; and

• How you can learn more and how you can get started!

Who do we help?

Our team of legal professionals loves to help solo practitioners, law firms, law departments, solo paralegals, and paralegal firms achieve their professional goals. The Best Virtual Paralegal Team's services can be as unique as our client base. Generally, Best Virtual Paralegal's services are available in all 50 states and territories within the United States, and we also offer limited international assistance to United States legal professionals in Canada London, and the Philippines.

Our services are not available to nonlegal professionals.

We offer practical solutions to law firms, solo practitioners, & law departments that include the specialty services listed below. This is not an exclusive or complete list or in any particular order or preference level.

Services Offered

• Bookmarking & Hyperlinking

• Deposition Summaries

• Discovery Services

• Family & Matrimonial Law

• Legal Drafting

• Legal Research

• Medical Chorology Summaries and Timelines

• Medical Expenses/Billing Summaries

• Medical Narrative Summaries

• Medical Narrative Summaries with Chronology

• Medical Narrative Summaries without Chronology

• Medical Transcripts

• Med-Interpret/Med-A-Word

• Motion Writing

• PDF Merging & Sorting

• Personal Injury, Medical Malpractice & Work Comp

• Probate, Estate Planning & Trust Administrative

• Provider List

• Settlement Demand Letters

• Trial & Litigation Support

• Writing Open and Closing Statements

• Record Retrieval Services include Requesting Records, Follow-ups, and Retrieving:

(a) Medical Records

(b) Billing Records

(d) Vital Statics Records

(e) Social Media Searches

(f) Employment Records

(g) Financial & Bank Records

Read more about Best Virtual Paralegal's document retrieval services here .

• Driving Agreements for Teens to be incorporated in Settlement Agreements

• Fact Reports, Timelines, Events, and Production Lists.

• Nesting Bird Plans

• Parenting Plans & Pet Plans

• Prenuptial Agreements

• Settlement agreements

Areas of law

The Best Virtual Paralegal Team is open to helping attorneys in any area of law, yet we have some favorites, which include but are not limited to:

Appellate Law
Federal Cases
Product Liability
Dog Bites
Business Liability Disputes
SSI & SSA Disability
Professional Pardons
Sport & Entertainment
Bankruptcy
Discovery
Litigation Support
Personal Injury | Subrogation
Complex Litigation
Client and Public Relations
Technology & Cybersecurity
Family Law & Matrimonial Law
Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDRO)
Wills, Trusts & Estate Planning
Criminal Law
Legal Ethics

This is not an exclusive or complete list of areas we enjoy and is not listed in any order or level of preference. Later, we will add an article exploring some of the law areas with several subsections, such as personal injury, family law, and litigation! You will definitely want to check back in with us to read more! One of the main questions the Best Virtual Paralegal Team receives from potential clients is: How can we get started?

How to Get Started

All attorneys ready to enjoy 5-star support staff services will receive a complimentary intake meeting. This intake meeting is usually ten (10) to thirty (30) minutes. This meeting is a chance for potential clients to ask questions and give the Best Virtual Paralegal Team insight into each firm's individual needs. On average, most clients can get started on the same day as the intake appointment.

Looking for more information about how Best Virtual Paralegal LLC (BVP) can help your law firm? Visit our appointment booking page and schedule a free call!

Retrieving Records

Sat, 26 Aug 2023 03:10:21 GMT

A Service Overview for Best Virtual Paralegal LLC (BVP)

Requesting Records

Hey Lawyers!

Don't waste your time on follow-ups and drafting requests – let the Best Virtual Paralegal Team do it for you. This article will discuss how the Best Virtual Paralegal Document retrieval system works. The Best Virtual Paralegal Team has over 30 years of experience requesting and retrieving records on behalf of lawyers.

This article will explore some of the most frequently asked questions about Best Virtual Paralegals record retrieval services.

What types of records can the Best Virtual Paralegals Team Request for my law firm?

The Best Virtual Paralegal Team can request the following information and records for our law firm clients:

911 & The Federal Reserves – Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
Banking & Financial Records
Business Records
Court Records
Criminal Records
DMV Records
Educational Records
Employment Records
Healthcare Records
Historical and Genealogy Records
Immigration Records
Insurance Records
Marriage, Death, & Property Records
Military Service Records
Police & Crash Records
Postal Record
Professional Occupation Registration & Licensing Records
Social Security Records
Tax Records

The preceding list is not an all-inclusive list of the records the Best Virtual Paralegal Team can retrieve for your law firm. If you need a document that is not listed, please get in touch with our team; we are happy to help you.

Does the Best Virtual Paralegal Document Retrieval Service include following up with the custodian of records and record keepers?

Yes, our team will follow up with the custodian of records. We keep a detailed tracking record of all the follow-up communications. Our document retrieval services include but are not limited to:

• Verify entity name, document cost, and entity status, as needed.

• Fast, cost-effective retrieval plans.

• Following up with custodian and record keepers.

• Retrieval status reports to keep you updated and aware of additional steps required to address any issues.

• Electronic, USPS Delivery, and Hand Delivery. Hand Delivery is available on a case-by-case basis.

Where are the Best Virtual Paralegal's Document Retrieval Services available?

We offer nationwide retrieval services and international requesting and retrieval services. International record retrieval services are available on a case-by-case basis.

What does a typical record request include?

Review or prepare the necessary HIPAA and General Releases for accuracy and completeness. Requesting your client to sign any and all releases needed is included.
Timely follow-up on the status until the request is completed.
Sharing progress notes of status check attempts through an online portal.
Automatic issuance of "No Records Found" certificates.

Will Best Virtual Paralegal's Retrieval Services talk to custodians and record keepers to dispute record fees from the custodians and record keepers?

Yes, of course. We will meet with your office at the beginning of our services to agree on a fair and equitable record fee. Best Virtual Paralegal Team will dispute the record fee on your behalf if it exceeds the preapproved amount.

Who do we serve?

The Best Virtual Paralegal Team works with law and paralegal firms of any size to help them overcome record retrieval challenges. Law and Paralegal Firms collaborate with us to get fast, complete access to records and data so their staff can focus on more valuable work.

We do not request records for individuals.

What can law and paralegal firms expect when working with Best Virtual Paralegal Record Retrieval Services?

• The ability to check the status of a request at any time through our online portal.

• Transparency and prompt responses to any requests for information.

• Easy monitoring of invoices and payments through our secure portal.

• 100% online ordering, retrieval, billing, and payment processes.

• Log in at any time to check the status of your request.

• Records are delivered through BVP's HIPAA-compliant online portal.

How does Best Virtual Paralegal Document Retrieval Services work?

Retrieval is as easy as two steps after the first setup with the Best Virtual Paralegal Team. Our representatives will meet with you to discuss your needs and set up your account before you use our services for the first time.

Then the service is as easy as two steps: Submit your record request through our online portal, then go on to more important work. Your records will be available for download through our secure, encrypted online portal once we receive them from the custodian or record keepers.

It is that easy.

Can I add other services to the Best Virtual Paralegal's Retrieval Document Services?

Yes! Clients are welcome to add any of Best Virtual Paralegal's services to Best Virtual Paralegal's Retrieval Document Services.

What can I add to Best Virtual Paralegal Retrieval Document Services?

For an additional fee, some of the most common add-on services include:

• Document Reviews

• Document Drafting

• Summarizing of records

• Legal Staff Support Services and Paralegal Services

• Litigation Support Services and more.

Services include legal support services, legal admin services, consulting, coaching, & educational services designed to help improve productivity, maximize resources, control expenses & empower legal pros!

Ready to get started.

Ready to save time and money with document retrieval services? Best Virtual Paralegal LLC is the go-to record retrieval company for legal and insurance professionals.

To get started, connect with Holly and her team, call/text (717) 747-3588 | email: Hello@bestvirtualparalegal.com.

STRATEGIES SUCCESSFUL PARALEGALS USE TO GET A RAISE

holly@bestvirtualparalegal.com (Holly Sheriff) — Wed, 01 Feb 2023 20:12:33 GMT

Career Strategies for Success

Legal professionals can ask for raises like anyone else. The only real difference is whether you receive traditional performance reviews, and this usually depends on the firm's size. When, where, and how you should ask for a raise may seem complicated without a performance review, but don't let the lack of traditional structure stop you from asking for a raise annually.

Top Three Recommendations

Here are a few of our favorite tips and strategies successful paralegals use to get a raise.

Demonstrate your accomplishments. Create a brag file to help you show proof of your achievements. "Brag files" record your key achievements ready to be shared with your employer. You're missing out if you've never heard of a brag file before. You can use brag files at any career stage (interviewing, asking for promotions, and raises).
Tie your accomplishments to the value they bring to the firm. Next, you must demonstrate how your work contributes to the firm's success. Start by asking yourself, " How have my actions positively impacted the firm"?" Quantifying this might be challenging at first. Unlike selling cars, working in a law firm means you don't have any control over how sales evolve or how many customers you get each day. So, you might have to think about attorney and client satisfaction. Have you increased the positivity of the firm or implemented a new strategy to keep your team organized? These are the types of improvements you should emphasize.
Have an amount in mind. Before you can ask for a raise, you need to know how much to ask for. This is a critical piece of the puzzle. Research the pay scale for your position. Consider the size of your firm, your duties, and the location of the firm. 'Don't fall into the trap of using unrealistic numbers. Make sure to do your research and compare apples to apples. If you are a litigation paralegal in the State of Texas and work for a solo firm, then only research salary and wages for litigation paralegals with your experience at solo firms in the State of Texas.

Conclusion

Asking for a raise does not have to be a scary, stressful, or overwhelming event. Instead, it should be an opportunity for you to learn about your skills, abilities, and the industry. The bottom line, you want to have concrete achievements to point to when you meet with the attorney to help show you deserve a raise.

Have questions? Our team is here to help. Call or text (717) 747- 3588 | visit bestvirtualparalegal.com | Schedule a consultation today to get started. Also, please visit our coaching calendar.

Paralegals Helping Paralegals

holly@bestvirtualparalegal.com (Holly Sheriff) — Sat, 21 Jan 2023 17:29:22 GMT

The Best Virtual Paralegal Team wants to inspire, support, and help you achieve your goals!

How the Best Virtual Paralegal Team help Freelance Paralegals

In 2023, make the decision you will build the virtual/freelance journey of your dreams. It is time for you to invest in your own success and remove your limiting beliefs towards your freelance journey. 2023 will be the year you gain the freedom to freelance and work the way you want to work.

The Best Virtual Paralegal Team wants to help you launch, scale, and grow your own successful business. Our coaches are trained certified in a variety of different strategies. coaching programs and learning seminars include these and more:

The Abundance 21-day Challenge
The Secret to Freelance Freedom
How to Become a Positive Profitable Paralegal
How to Set Freelance Rates
How to Write Use a Business Plan with the Abundance Mindset in Mind
How to Find More Clients
Marketing Strategies with Amplify Your Freelance Journey
How to Maximize the Time
Mindset is More Important than the Perfect Plan and More!

Best Virtual Paralegal coaches can help you grow a freelance business, no matter where you are in your journey! Have questions? Our team is here to help. Call or text (717) 747- 3588 | bestvirtualparalegal.com | Schedule a consultation today to get started visit our coaching calendar.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

You should also check out this other helpful content.

The Basics of OneNote for Paralegals (Seminar ID: 111115)

Mon, 21 Nov 2022 14:26:49 GMT

Workshop Group: The Basics of OneNote for Paralegals

Presented by Holly A Sheriff, MSLS - Founder of Best Virtual Paralegal LLC

Best Virtual Paralegal LLC presents a OneNote tutorial for paralegals. Join Holly Sheriff, MSLS, and discover how to use OneNote. This workshop is not a webinar and it is not a CLE. It is a step by step tutorial & workshop. Holly will work inside OneNote during the workshop.

Agenda

Here's what you will learn:

OneNote: What is it? (5 mini topics)
What you need to know about customizing OneNote.
What are some ways paralegals can use OneNote?
Q & A

You will learn over 11 ways to improve your productivity with OneNote!

When

There are two different time slots for this workshop.

Monday, December 5, 2022 IN 2 WEEKS at 6:30pm
Monday, January 2, 2023 IN 6 WEEKS at 6:30 Pm

You only need to sign up for one session.

Cost

It's $20.00 per person. Each session has limited space. There are no refunds and at this time, we do not plan to record the sessions. The sessions are live tutorials. Only sign up for one session.

Let's see what's happening

Affirmations for Paralegals

Mon, 05 Sep 2022 14:22:25 GMT

Affirm your focus and reclaim your joy.

I have worked as a paralegal for over 30 years. As a teenager in high school, I accepted my first freelance assignment by pure chance. One thing that pulled me in to the profession was the lawyer's positivity. He always said the human brain was a sponge. We believe what we hear. However, as the years passed, I noticed that the positivity that had taught me to love the paralegal industry was far from the average ideology of most firms. Most of my paralegal colleagues found themselves working in law firms plagued with negative teams, and over the years, the negativity grew like wildfire. Throughout my career, including the present day, I have searched for the best positive affirmations designed for paralegals. Surprisingly, I have had difficulty finding affirmations specially designed for paralegals and lawyers. So, I have written over 100 affirmations for myself, my team, my clients, and now you!

What are Affirmations?

Affirmations are positive self-talk that a person recites to their inner self. Affirmations encourage positive growth and changes in your life. Affirmations are tools used by coaches to help rewire their client’s way of thinking. Another way to describe affirmations is they are declarations of all the things you already have in your life. They can also be declarations for all the things you deserve to have in your life.

When affirmations are used correctly, consistently, and with commitment they can help you manifest what it is you truly want. If we were all being brutally honest, we would agree that there is a lot of negativity surrounding the paralegal industry. Day in and day out, if you were to log in to any given paralegal group on Facebook, I bet you would see more negative posts than positive ones. The coaches at Best Virtual Paralegal are on a mission to change that!

Couple of Tips When Using Affirmations

If you think affirmations don’t work or you have tried affirmations before and you did not see any changes in your life, chances are you weren’t applying them correctly. Yes, it is possible to create negativity with affirmations. It is always possible to frame them incorrectly. Doing either of these two things could render them useless. In addition, there are a few different opinions on which method of applying affirmations works the best.

Some experts of the opinion you should write your own. Writing affirmations is common because it helps you remember them.

• Always write your affirmations in first person.

• Be specific and make it all about you.

• When writing affirmation, you need to be clear about what you desire.

• Always write your affirmations in the present tense.

• Don’t use words like don’t, won’t, can’t, shouldn’t, and couldn’t.

It is important to repeat the affirmations with feeling. The feeling adds positive energy that will help you manifest what you want faster.

Begin your self-transformation journey with Best Virtual Paralegal’s coaching programs! Shift your mindset this fall! Avoid old habits! With Best Virtual Paralegal, you'll gain more confidence, grow, and feel more positive!

We have a variety of coaching programs which include:

• Affirmations

• Career Coaching

• Confidence Coaching

• Empowerment Coaching

• Freelance & Business Coaching

• Life Coaching

Contact us to learn more! Not ready to invest yet? Follow us for free affirmations written specifically for paralegals and lawyers! #positiveparalegals #affirmations.

Preparing Demand Letters

Tue, 05 Jul 2022 13:35:41 GMT

A FAQ from a Lawyer

Helping Lawyers Save Time and Money - Preparing Demand Letters

At Best Virtual Paralegal, we enjoy preparing demand letters for personal injury and litigation lawyers. For PI law firms, this is a routine task. It can also be an everyday task for litigators, depending on the type of law. Lawyers frequently ask us, “what types of demand letters can Best Virtual Paralegal draft?” Today, we are going to answer this question!

Before we dive in, there are two caveats; first, this blog is directed to licensed attorneys. Secondly, ironically, for insurance purposes, law firms and attorneys interested in using our services to prepare demands must have a service agreement between us signed before any drafting can begin. Unlike court reporters or general typing services, potential clients of Best Virtual Paralegal LLC can't just upload case files for us to draft. We have an on-boarding procedure required by our professional liability insurance company for first time clients. Generally, clients only have to go through the on-boarding procedure once. Then our services are as easy as upload and go. In a future blog, I will explain how you can sign up for services. We will assume that you already have a service agreement for this article.

Best Virtual Paralegal offers three types of demand letters. These are:

Cover letter with a simple format. This letter is usually called a medical pay letter. Usually, it's a one-page cover letter sent with the medical specials to the adjuster for a quick PIP claim or straight med pay claim.

An extended demand . This letter is commonly called a long demand. The length of the document depends on how many medical specials and general damages are claimed. A small paragraph may be included in this demand to describe your client, the accident, and the medical treatment they received. It does not include all the items included in a colossus format. Long demands are watered-down versions of the colossus.

The colossus format. The letter is commonly called a "colossus demand." The length can range from 3 pages to 30 pages. Depending on how many medical specials and general damages involved in the case, the length of this demand will vary.

Best Virtual Paralegal offers a fourth demand letter, typically between a simple cover letter and a colossus demand.

The paralegals at Best Virtual Paralegal often refer to preparing and managing demand letters as assembling a settlement brochure. Besides preparing demand letters, we offer various supportive paralegal services to litigators and personal injury attorneys. If you are interested in learning more about Best Virtual Paralegals' personal injury services for the plaintiff's side, we invite you to thumb through our catalog.

Best Virtual Paralegal strives to assist attorneys in eliminating inefficiencies in their practice by providing modern specialized support that maximizes productivity and profitability without sacrificing personal, friendly client services. Are you ready to get started? Schedule a Zoom Call today!

Virtual Assistant vs. Virtual Paralegal vs. Online Business Manager

Sat, 12 Feb 2022 17:00:36 GMT

Narration is provided by a professional voiceover actor & is not that of the author.

CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON BELOW TO LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE - THIS PODCAST RECORDING IS PART OF BEST VIRTUAL PARALGAL'S commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) AT WORK AND PUBLIC SPACES.

Let's Learn the Differences Between Virtual Assistants, Virtual Paralegals , and an Online Business Manager

What is the differences are between a Virtual Assistant (VA), Virtual Paralegal (VP), and Online Business Manager (OBM). Learn more here! At Best Virtual Paralegal, we love answering this question! COVID has undoubtedly changed the legal industry a bit. The world has finally caught up to Best Virtual Paralegal! We have worked remotely for decades. You're in luck because we are highly skilled virtual assistants, virtual paralegals, and online business managers every day!

First, let's define the three roles!

Because there is some overlap between what these three roles do, virtual assistants, virtual paralegals, and online business managers may be defined similarly depending on the source. This overlap causes most people to confuse the three roles.

Virtual Assistants are defined by sources like Fiverr, Upwork, and Time Doctor as an "independent contractor who provides administrative, technical, and creative support to other professionals (2022)."

The ABA, the State Bar Association of Texas, and Best Virtual Paralegal define a virtual paralegal "an independent contractor who works outside the traditional law firm or corporate setting (2022)."

Indeed, Upwork and Time Doctor describe an online business manager as "a self-employed independent contractor working remotely to manage a business by providing administrative, technical, and creative support (2022)."

Let’s discuss the differences

The definitions of these roles seem similar, as you can see. In this section, we will examine how these three roles can support firms in diverse ways. The differences between these three roles may vary from company to company. In other words, what Best Virtual Paralegal believes is a virtual assistant role or task might be listed by another source such as Upwork under a virtual paralegal role/task. These roles are subjective, based on the company providing the service.

Virtual assistants are the doers. Generally, they are task-oriented professionals who assist clients in achieving their goals. Often, this means virtual assistants perform tasks that an attorney cannot bill the client or pass through to the client such as legal secretary duties.

Our article has discussed virtual assistants, virtual paralegals, and online business managers in this particular order. In this section, however, we're going to skip virtual paralegal for a minute and jump straight to an online business manager. We will discuss virtual paralegals after online business managers.

Business managers are the people who can help clients manage their online businesses in a wide range of ways. In many ways, the online business manager takes care of the responsibilities of the business owner, as well as those of consultant, coach, strategist, and marketer. In most cases, the business owner remains the conductor, while the online business manager becomes their right-hand person.

Let's go back around and talk about virtual paralegals.

In many cases, virtual paralegals who have owned their own businesses for a while or who have received extensive education and experience help their clients as both business managers and paralegals. However, this is not always the case - it depends on the virtual paralegal's skillset and mindset. Previously, we discussed this topic in the article titled " Paralegal Entrepreneurs are more ." A firm is more likely to find a business manager & paralegal in one person or one company if the virtual paralegal is more experienced.

Let's explore some of the tasks one may delegate now that we know how the roles differ. This is not all-inclusive. And not all VAs, VPs, OBMs offer all the tasks listed below. With that said, this list below will be semi cohesive of the services firms can find here at Best Virtual Paralegal.

Due to time restraints, we have omitted the obvious paralegal duties and tasks from the list below.

As you can see, a virtual paralegal and an online business manager here at Best Virtual Paralegal are often the same. But, again, as we discussed earlier, that is not the case with every company.

Join us again for an upcoming article that will dive deeper into Best Virtual Paralegal's marketing services! They are the most phenomenal digital marketing services; you will ever find!

We are looking forward to seeing you again soon - if you have any suggestions, please let us know! If this article has helped you decide what you can delegate - let's work together to achieve your goals! Let's meet today! Thanks for visiting Best Virtual Paralegal's blog, otherwise known as The Paralegal View, in print.

Do you have a disaster plan for your law firm?

Mon, 07 Feb 2022 19:30:03 GMT

This article first appeared on Best Virtual Paralegal LLC’s blog in 2012 after Hurricane Sandy!

Revised: 01/22/2022

Disaster Plans for Attorneys with the help from Best Virtual Paralegal (BVP)

Do you have a disaster plan for your law firm? What would your staff and clients do if your office was a victim of a disaster? You might want to read on. A disaster can range from the minor, such as losing your phone service for the day, to the catastrophic, such as a hurricane, a bomb threat, or a power outage caused by the weather. There is no disaster too small for you not to have a plan. Do your support staff and paralegals know what to do if your internet shuts down?

My blog post was inspired by this very question. A few days ago, I was in my office working when a friend called and asked if I could do some legal research for her firm. Her answer stunned me. Her office suffered a long-term power outage due to a storm. As a result of the power outage, she asked her paralegal to conduct manual research at the local law library. She was shocked to discover that her paralegal knew nothing about doing legal research with books. She had no choice but to turn to me.

After completing the research, I called my friend to help her develop a disaster plan. Had my friend implemented a disaster plan before the power outage, her office and clients would have been prepared for the unforeseen disaster and remained productive.

In conclusion, if your office does not have a disaster plan in place, can you see why it is so imperative to have one? In addition to being a virtual paralegal, I also serve as a consultant for law firms at times. Not only do I assist attorneys and law firms in becoming more productive by preparing their case documents and contacting their clients, but I also help train their staff on how to be more tech-savvy and assist them in developing disaster plans. We strive to be the go-to service for all attorneys and law firms.

Jennifer and I will share tips for putting together a disaster plan with you and your staff in future posts.

Thank you for reading! It was our pleasure to write it! Don't forget to share this post!

The ACE up our sleeve in 2022

Sun, 06 Feb 2022 15:16:54 GMT

Company, Community, & Culture

Best Virtual Paralegal—First Quarter Update 2022

It is an unpredictable time for the legal profession. On one day, courts are open, but the next day they are closed or all working remotely. On one hand, Best Virtual Paralegal is all over the moon that the world finally caught up to us. Holly Sheriff has worked remotely as a paralegal since the early 1990s. We understand your pain points because we have been in your shoes. Our team of Best Virtual Paralegals can help!

At Best Virtual Paralegal, we believe we are living in extraordinary times. Technology empowers people, and technology has shaped Best Virtual Paralegal’s products and services. The cycle has begun again! Yet, one thing is true, through the years, as paralegals, consultants, coaches, & digital marketers, we can’t be successful alone. Your success is our success!

As clients and communities, we understand you are facing new challenges. To succeed, we must consistently perform in a way that fosters trust and quality. This has been at the core of our client commitment since we opened back in 1990, operating under Holly’s name (1990 to 1991), and then later HAT’S Paralegal & Secretarial Services (1991 to 2011).

Here we are in 2022, and Best Virtual Paralegal is going back to our core commitment, by focusing on these primary principles: A lignment, C lient Focus, & Excellent E xecution. This is more than an acronym. It is how Best Virtual Paralegal, as individuals and collectively as a community dive toward a positive impact and journey for our clients.

Together, Our Future is Bright

Best Virtual Paralegal has made progress toward offering robust services and streamlining operations, but we must always strive to improve. Plans are already in motion!

Here’s what you can expect:

Continue development of solutions that extend the value of our award-winning paralegal services & attorney support.
Scrutinizing processes and structures and assessing the ways we can become more efficient while driving toward performance for paralegal services, consulting, services, coaching services, & digital marketing services.
Providing tools and new approaches that deepen the client relationship.

Best Virtual Paralegals have always been thought leaders! In addition, we are always learning and improving. To achieve our goals, we will measure our progress against the highest standards and maintain a deep commitment to addressing our challenges in a transparent and ethical manner. Our focus will always be on you, your clients, communities, & your evolving goals!

As we move into 2022, Best Virtual Paralegal will continue to adapt, staying at the forefront of industry trends and client needs. We will bring you more innovative ways to deliver outstanding legal services to your clientele. We’re humbled and honored to be part of your journey. Thank you for being a client, supporter, follower, & friend. We are looking forward to a bright future ahead!

Sincerely,

Holly, Marc, Kate, Cheryl, Jay, Cheryl, & the Part-time Staff

The narration for this article was provided by a paid voiceover artist as a part of Best Virtual Paralegal LLC’s commitment to EDI (Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion) at work & public spaces. The narrator’s voice is not that of the owner of Best Virtual Paralegal or her spouse. It is that of a paid artist on staff with the Best Virtual Paralegal LLC.

Have Fun at Work Day

Thu, 27 Jan 2022 11:58:12 GMT

Team building start with fun

January 28th, 2022, is #havefunatworkday, according to National Day Today. Have Fun at Work Day encourages employees to have fun at work. It is a day where people can indulge in activities that they enjoy. It's a great idea to have fun at work, and a friendly work environment and friendly colleagues can help you do that. As a work culture consultant & social media manager, this is one made-up day I can support. This day can be used by law firms and other legal sector professionals to bond with 9-W employees, 1099 employees, and clients if appropriately used.

Recommendations

Here are a few of recommendations for making the most of have fun at work day in 2022.

Invite your clients to share their compliments about your staff on your social media channels. Create a fun trivia game based on the comments. You can use this strategy to boost your community on social media and boost the confidence of your staff.
As part of having fun at work, ditch the suit, tie, and dress casually on Friday.
Create an office team or club surrounding a game or sport. Implement it on the same day every week or month. Stick with it.

Generally, if your office lacks energy, productivity will suffer. You probably have experience with this if you work in a dysfunctional office. Having fun at work isn't just about having fun; it's also about understanding that employees are human, with a variety of personal struggles. When a workplace combines fun, camaraderie, and humor, it conveys that management cares about employees' and employers' well-being and ensures efficiency and productivity.

The dream job does not exist. People create dream jobs. To create our dream jobs, some of us become bosses. Some people shape the work environment and culture to suit their needs. The point of the #nationalhavefunatworkday is to remind us that work does not have to be all business all the time. Let's face it, work shouldn't be all business all the time. If you are meeting deadlines and a conscientious employee, you should be able to inject some fun into the office.

Don't miss an opporunity to be fun at work

Don’t miss this prime opportunity to show your work community, you are not “ Karen ” all the time celebrate #havefunatworkday on Friday, January 28, 2022. If you need help fostering healthy work culture in your practice, Best Virtual Paralegal would love to help you! Schedule a Zoom Today!

I’ll Never Be a Juggler in the Circus

Sat, 22 Jan 2022 16:55:07 GMT

This article was original published 2015 . It's been revised in 2022.

God has a sense of humor; I am living proof. How else can you explain being born with a movement disorder like cerebral palsy? This makes it impossible for me to walk in a straight line, walk across a room without falling over at least once, wiggle my toes, or button my shirts! That’s right I have never wiggled my toes. It does not matter how many times I try. I can’t do it. Maintaining my balance, while I stand still is something I will never do. No amount of medicine will enable me to do these things. There is no quick fix to my body's inability to move on my command. It would take a miracle for me to do all of these things.

The jokes on me - I got my wish

How does a woman with a movement disorder like cerebral palsy become a professional juggler for attorneys, have the time to run a business, be available to homeschool her bonus kid or bonus grandkids, and keep a cheery outlook on life? I'd be lying if I said it is because I love to drink coffee. Although the coffee helps, it doesn't explain how a woman with no physical balance can balance everything I have going on in my life. The only answer I believe is I must experience divine intervention every day. I may never become a dancer, a juggler in a circus, or be able to wiggle my toes in the sand. I may never drive a car, either. But, even with a list a mile long of things cerebral palsy takes from my life, there are millions of things I can do and become just by being who I am.

In the past .......

In the past, I focused on what my cerebral palsy prevented me from doing. For many years, I was too afraid to tell employers, coworkers, and business associates that I have cerebral palsy. Because I feared being fired or suffering from some other forms of job discrimination, or some form of a hate crime. All of which have happened to me at one time or another.

And back in the day, I did everything possible to blend in (and appear normal). My physical impairment was a secret. Yet, all I have ever wanted to do is for every step I take, every word I write to mean something to someone else. I want to be that person who changed someone's life. It is not for fame or fortune, but to show each and every person that even in the face of their greatest failure, everyone is destined for greatness.

Then I figured it out.....

After that, I realized that I needed to embrace my cerebral palsy to succeed professionally and personally. Once I embraced my authentic self, something happened. Suddenly, I realized that juggling the demands of being a full-time entrepreneur, a case-juggling paralegal, a coffee-loving Christian, and a bonus mom was easy for me since I genuinely enjoyed all these things. I cherish and enjoy every minute of every day.

I am grateful for the opportunities my career as a paralegal, legal consultant, and coach has provided. My family and I love helping legal professionals achieve the work-life balance they deserve.

Sure, some days are better than others. Clients may come and go. While some clients disappear without a word, others stay, fade, and then return. The foundation for my business's success is forming relationships and networking, but some of my clients do not take the time to get to know me, my family, and my business the way they should.

Some days, homeschooling a kid with Autism makes me feel like I am Ann Sullivan meeting Helen Keller for the first time. Some days running a business can feel like I am the captain of the Titanic. When you add my role as a full-time coffee-loving Christian to the day, well, you've got yourself one hot mess.

Nevertheless, it is my life, and it works for me. I may not be financially wealthy, but to take the words of one of my dearest friends, "I have never seen a U-Haul truck behind a hearse" so why not do what I love instead of focusing on the things I can't change or the things I can't do. I can't take the money with me when I die, so why focus on money? It wasn't until I realized I was focusing on all the wrong things that balancing my roles as a full-time entrepreneur, a Bonus mom, and a coffee-loving Christian became a joyous daily event.

God may not have given me the ability to be a famous ballerina juggler in the circus, or drive a car, walk up and downstairs, button my own shirt, walk straight, or maintain my balance walking or standing still. But for everything God didn't give me, I was provided with divine gifts. I have compassion, understanding, a strong soul, and enough determination to master juggling my life's path. Despite my mixed hemiplegia cerebral palsy, God has made me a serendipitous, sometimes hilarious, entrepreneur, bonus mom, and coffee-loving Christian. He has made me a powerful woman who can fall over while standing still by tripping over her own feet. He has seen that I can randomly hug floors in public and make people laugh until they cry just by walking across a room. He has seen that I use all his gifts to be a paralegal who works side-by-side with the most fantastic attorneys in the United States and still have time to be a wife, a bonus mom, a successful sought after paralegal, an entrepreneur, a coffee-loving Christian & anything else I want to be!

The secret of balancing being an entrepreneur, a bonus mom, and a coffee-loving Christian is embracing and inviting divine intervention into your life. So, the next time you're stressed or struggling to understand what you are doing in life, take a moment and find the joy in who you are and the things you are doing in your life. When the stress of your day becomes too much, remember me because I am living proof God has a sense of humor and a plan. Sometimes, to see God's humorous plan for your life, you need to look at what you are doing and change your direction. Do what you love to do, laugh at the things you can't do. If you fall, own it! Remember, you are not the only person to ever fall smackdown on your face; shake it off and get back up! You only get one life; don't waste it packing a U-Haul truck for your hearse.

If you want to make positive changes in your business, career, or your life Best Virtual Paralegal LLC wants to help you! Let’s chat – we will take a deep dive to find the strategies and tools that will catapult your business, career, or life! Schedule an appointment today!

Update!!

For those of you who enjoyed our posts about homeschooling like Ann Sullivan meeting Helen Keller, it's bittersweet to report.

The original version of this article was published in 2015 when our daughter was still living at home and homeschooling full-time. A lot has changed since then. Bethany, our daughter, works full-time, got married in 2018, and lives in Arkansas with her husband and two children. We are so proud of her. She is now out of the nest and doing well, using all the life skills we taught her, and that is the inspiration for this article. The voiceover for this article and podcast episode is not that of the author. Closed captioning and communication aid software provided the voiceover for this publication.

8 Goals-Setting Strategies to Help You Succeed!

Mon, 03 Jan 2022 14:11:31 GMT

“A goal without a plan is just a dream.”

Goal setting in 2022 is a hot topic. This is because goal setting can be beneficial for achieving a deeper level of success. However, it can also prove ineffective if you don't understand a goal-setting process that works for you.

In 2022, here are 8 goals-setting strategies to help you succeed!

Make Sure Your Goals Motivate You - If you can't motivate yourself with the goal itself, try focusing on the benefits of reaching the goal instead. It would be helpful to find a way to motivate yourself to keep striving towards your goals. You can look at small steps or dream about the big picture. Keep working toward the goal in small, daily actions.
Set SMART Goals - Many people do not know how to create goals that work. Learn how to set SMART goals. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable (or Actionable), Realistic, and Timely. Making sure your plans meet these criteria will help you achieve them.
Don't rely on yourself to remember your goals - Write them down. Take notes every single time. Then, plan what you will do each day to work toward your goal on a calendar in chronological order.
You won't be successful if you don't take action on your plans. Let's face it. If you want to set goals that work for you, you need a plan of action to reach those goals. It won't happen without a plan because it's only a dream until you follow it.
Focus on what you can control - There are so many things in life that you cannot control.
Knowing yourself can help you leverage your strengths and practice skills to improve your weaknesses. A convenient way to accomplish this is to take a free personality test. This is based on the Myers Briggs Type Personality Indicator, which has a long history of effectiveness.
Understanding how to write long and short term goals that will support each other. Attaining a client satisfaction rate of at least 95 percent would be an example of a long-term goal. A supporting short-term goal might be to redesign the client service research process to include updated questionnaires and incentives, such as monthly drawings for free products or discounts on future purchases for those who respond to the questionnaires.
It's essential to evaluate continually - Just because you create steps to reach a goal, it doesn't mean that it's going to work. It's wise to evaluate whether or not you are actually moving toward your goals every day so you can adjust if necessary. You did not fail; it simply means that your steps need to be adjusted.

Setting goals is a very effective way to ensure you experience the success you want. Goals can be set for both your personal and professional lives. To begin, you must first identify your goals and make a plan that works for you.

Healthy Gingerbread: Banana Bread

Thu, 04 Nov 2021 20:00:02 GMT

Seasonal Holiday Favorites | Tasty Wellness | Mindfulness

With Christmas cookie season right around the corner Marc wanted to share a new family favorite. Marc found these gems as a healthy alternative to my gingerbread and banana bread obsession. Truth be told I was skeptic because I had never used coconut flour – usually I am not fan of coconut – but this a winner!

Ingredients

3 brown bananas, mashed

2 tbsp. maple syrup

2 tbsp. molasses

1 tsp. vanilla extract

3 eggs

½ cup cashew butter (or other nut/seed butter)

¼ cup coconut flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. powdered ginger

1 tsp. cinnamon

½ tsp. nutmeg

1 pinch of salt

Mindfulness Through Baking | Bonus Content

A 2016 study published in the Journal of Positive Psychology showed that everyday creativity makes life feel more expansive and bright. This study outlines how setting creative goals and keeping them cultivates positive psychological effects. How can we apply this study to reap the benefits of baking?

Exercise your mind by choosing a new recipe or by baking something you’ve never made before. The act of setting a specific goal will challenge you and give you a sense of accomplishment when it’s fulfilled. Baking is a great example of a creative, mindful activity. The 2016 study also emphasizes the importance of creativity, so make sure you’re having some fun with your recipe and don’t be afraid to try something new.

4 Reasons You Shouldn’t Quit Your Job

Sat, 23 Oct 2021 20:58:57 GMT

Originally published 9/9/2009 Updated: 10/15/2021

A toxic job can be resigned at any time, but now might not be the right time, and where you are may not be the right place. Many compelling reasons exist for quitting your job. However, there are also several reasons to consider hanging on to your position before jumping ship. Best Virtual Paralegal has been asking its asked coaching clients in various areas of law, office size, and geographical region for decades, “how they know when not to quit a job,” many clients do not know.

Let’s be clear, no one here is telling you to stay in a toxic job. However, if your job is terrible for your health, you don’t have the fundamental things one should get from a job, i.e., security, growth, and value, then jump ship but do it wisely.

Here are the top 4 reasons for sticking with the job you have.

You don’t have a plan. Leaving a steady income without a plan is potentially more harmful than the toxic environment you’re leaving. Most experts agree you should leave a role with a plan about what you will do, where you’ll go next, and how you will provide for your income until you find your next role, or your self-employment generates revenue for both you and your business idea. Therefore, it’s essential to plan an office departure strategically.
You don’t have any savings. If you don’t have enough money in savings to hold you over until you find your next role, think twice about leaving. Let’s be clear, the only reason to stay in a job that toxic tear health and well-being are to save up enough living expenses for a certain number of months before you quit.
You’re not done learning from your journey. Each role you will have during your career journey will serve a purpose. You will either have the position for a reason and a season. Or you will have the role for a season for a reason. Either way, it’s essential to evaluate whether you learn what you were supposed to learn from a position before moving on.
The things you hate about your current role could change. Like I said earlier, if you want to quit, nobody is telling you to stay. However, if there is only one aspect of your current role you wish could change, then maybe that’s the universe telling you to be the one to stay and change it.

The bottom line is that work can be stressful. The best advice is to keep your cool, stay focused on your goals, and be willing to move forward. When making a career change, you should have a plan and alternate plans in case something unexpected happens. Making the decision to move on and succeeding at it is often a delicate balancing act.

About the Author

Disclaimer: This post does not provide legal or medical advice. It is intended for informational purposes only. It should not be construed as medical or legal advice pertaining to one specific person or situation. This post is not a substitute for professional licensed medical or legal advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never ignore seeking medical treatment or legal advice for a medical or legal issue because of something you have read on the Best Virtual Paralegal site. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911.

If you think you have a legal issue, you should consider seeking the advice of a licensed attorney of your own choosing. Read our privacy policy | Views and opinions expressed by Best Virtual Paralegal LLC employees, including any bloggers, are those of the employees and bloggers and do not necessarily reflect the view of Best Virtual Paralegal LLC any of its officials or any of its professional affiliations. If you have questions about this disclaimer, please contact us. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted by any means without prior written permission or without using the sharing widgets provided if any. Copyright 2009 -2021 Holly A. Sheriff | Best Virtual Paralegal LLC. All rights reserved.

Celebrating National Coffee Day

Mon, 27 Sep 2021 12:00:06 GMT

Mindfulness | Coffee | Social Media Holidays

Celebrating national coffee day is one of my favorite social media holidays. I love national coffee not only because I LOVE coffee but because it helps me to take a mindful break during my work week. If you don't know about national #coffeeday, you're not a true coffee lover. National Coffee Day in the United States is on September 29 annually. It is often confused with the #internationalcoffeeday in other parts of the world. International Coffee Day is typically celebrated on October 1 annually.

What is the Paralegal View™ Podcast?

Sun, 12 Sep 2021 17:57:42 GMT

Public Announcement | Coming Soon

The Paralegal View™ is a reboot & reinvention of the highly popular Best Virtual Paralegal Blog Talk Radio (Podcast Show), which aired from May 2008 – Jul 2012 on Best Virtual Paralegal’s Blog Talk Radio Channel. The Paralegal View™ - is an unapologetic candid view on life, love, and the legal industry. Through hot topics and real talk with legal professionals the change advocates at Best Virtual Paralegal will be sharing a new perspective on what it’s like working in the legal industry.

The Paralegal View™ is a safe space where legal professionals can build relationships, promote themselves, get visible, support each other, and create new personal, professional, and business opportunities. We’ll host weekly, quarterly, and monthly shows.

The podcast is for attorneys, paralegals, & the other professional leading thinkers who work in the legal industry to come and have frank conversations about #mindset #worklifebalance, #empowerment, #wheelchairs, #workflows, #unsolvedcrimes, #serialkillers, #wine, #champagne, #books, and more!

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Best Virtual Paralegal LLC (#bvparalegal @bvparalegal #theattorneypanicbutton) helps legal professionals change the way they work & live. Get the advice you need to start, grow, lead, and achieve the work-life balance you want!

Follow us on Instagram @bvparalegal to be the first to know when we launch our first episode!

HOW TO SHIFT YOUR MINDSET?

Sun, 12 Sep 2021 13:47:52 GMT

Ways to shift your thoughts

As a paralegal coach, I am constantly asked by clients, friends, and the paralegal community for tips on shifting mindset.

Ways to shift your thoughts

Commit to making a conscious effort to change the way you think by implementing all or a few of the suggestions listed below.
Learn to meditate or mindfulness.
Retrain your brain by noticing three positive changes per day.
Listen to trusted outside perspectives.
Make yourself vulnerable to others.
Whenever you find yourself in a negative state of mind, make the conscious decision to shift into a state of appreciation and gratitude.
Don't let fear guide your decision-making. Fear is temporary - regret, on the other hand, is permanent.

Digital Badges

Sat, 04 Sep 2021 12:00:05 GMT

Paralegals Tinkering with Tech™ | Technology

I recently read an article in a travel guide that said, “professional meetings are slowing returning to in-person events many organizations are seeking ways to make their audience feel safe.” Many professional associations are seeking sustainability and growth while still being mindful of Covid safety standards. I suspect that many in-person venues will be switching from paper name tag and badges to QR or radio frequency identification systems that have been around for a long time. Each has different purposes and price points. How can a venue know which digital badge is suitable for their events? This post will help you sort through the options. You’ll learn a few ways digital badges can enrich your next event.

Capabilities

At check-in, digital badges will reduce the number of shared surfaces, and they can shorten lines.

· Attendees can essentially self-check-in by holding up to a reader for breeze easy check-in.

· Quick and easy way to exchange paperless business cards

· Track the attendees’ journey across the events and exhibits

· Enhances sustainability programing.

Leverage Data

The most significant benefit of digital badges is the amount of data they can capture and store. It is vital to the survival of in-person events to provide a safe contactless way of gathering and capturing data. Using digital badges combined with live events can help you provide your vendors with a hybrid option for their portfolios.

It is best to understand how you’ll use tracking data and how much specificity you need when looking to leverage your data. Ask yourself — can a simple digital badge meet your needs? Or is a more robust QR code with a landing page be required?

Always choose technology that supports your overall event goals. For example, if you plan to develop new clients from the event, you might want a digital badge to help you cater and capture data for marketing purposes. On the other hand, if you already run email marketing campaigns in conjunction with your events, the “capturing” fields in the digital badge might be an overall kill.

Also, keep in mind, tracking tools aren’t mutually exclusive. Depending on how you plan to use and collect the data, you may overlap between your email marketing solution and your digital badge. Always choose a digital badge that will optimize your networking efforts. Look for platforms with features such as:

Artificial intelligence options to connect attendees with shared interests with vendors/exhibitors.
Allow Attendees to view profiles of exhibitors right on their cell phones.
Works with both Apple and Android devices.
Features allow your partners to tailor and shift their offering based on previous data collected at other events.

National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

holly@bestvirtualparalegal.com (Holly Sheriff) — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 12:00:05 GMT

Public Service Announcement | Mental Health Awareness | Resource

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. National Suicide Prevention Week is September 5 – 11, 2021, with World Suicide Prevention Day on the 10th. Throughout the month, and especially during the week of September 5, individuals and organizations around the country have plans to highlight the problem of suicide and advocate its prevention.

Suicide is a national health problem and currently ranks as the second leading cause of death for ages 10-45. Suicide is also one of the most preventable types of death in our nation. It’s one of the fastest-growing epidemics around the world — approximately 44,000 people in the U.S. alone commit suicide each year.

Originally established in 1979 as a support group by family members of individuals diagnosed with mental illness, the National Alliance on Mental Illness is a United States-based organization that serves as a resource on this highly taboo topic.

NAMI helps those affected by suicide, assists with sourcing effective treatment services, and raises awareness for educating others on its prevention.

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Disclaimer: This post does not provide legal or medical advice. It is intended informational purposes only. It should not be construed as medical or legal advice pertaining to one specific person or situation. This post is not a substitute for professional licensed medical or legal advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never ignore seeking medical treatment or legal advice for a medical or legal issue because of something you have read on the Best Virtual Paralegal site. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911. If you think you have a legal issue, you should consider seeking the advice of a licensed attorney of your own choosing.

Do You Need a Nudge—or a Nap?

Thu, 02 Sep 2021 12:30:02 GMT

Mental Health Awareness | Procrastination

Published initially 09/02/2006 | Last updated 08/31/2021

So many paralegals struggle with differentiating between knowing when they are tired of knowing whether they don’t want to do something. On the one hand, self-care and listening to our bodies when we’re tired are essential. But on the other hand, sometimes for some folks use self-care as an excuse to avoid crucial obligations. So how do we know when to push through versus when to rest? Sleep is not a thing that you can successfully skip. You might be able to move through a certain number of years in your younger life, but most people pay the price for this decision.

When you might need more rest

How do you know when it’s procrastination?

People procrastinate for different reasons. Some people procrastinate because they are addicted to the deadline panic attacks. Some people procrastinate because of fear. And in other people, it’s more medical such as a product of a more serious medical condition such as depression, ADHD, or social anxiety. Sometimes it is hard to tell why a person procrastinates. If you are unsure of the reason you have for being disinterested in things you used to love, you may want to consider seeking the advice of your family doctor — Never ignore seeking medical treatment.

Pros and Cons of Freelancing

Thu, 02 Sep 2021 00:19:48 GMT

Originally published on 08/30/2009 Updated: 08/30/2011 Latest Updated: 09/01/2021

No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted by any means without prior written permission or without using the sharing widgets provided, if any. Copyright 2009 Holly A. Sheriff. All rights reserved.

Many paralegals dream of freelancing, but they allow mind viruses, limiting beliefs, and other fears stop them from cultivating their dream into a reality. I could waste your time and give you stats regarding “the state of freelancing and list of boring stats that prove why you should go for it.” But, why? You already know you want to freelance, and you already know the benefits you want to achieve. So, why waste your time? I am not going to waste your time. What I am going to tell you is the hard truth:

Freelancing is not a cookie cutter job. There are many pros, cons, and other variables that make a great choice for some paralegals and not such a wonderful choice for others. The journey is different for everyone.

In all honesty the pros and cons can vary from person to person. Although most freelancer regardless of industry have the same pros and cons depending on their personal discipline with working from home or for themselves. As you can see from this list above there can be a pro for one and the same thing be a con for another person.

Final Words: "Friends don't let friends freelance alone.™"

Making the decision to go into freelance is a big decision. It can also be overwhelming, scary, and frustrating. BVP coaches can help. If you found this blog post a helpful roadmap but you need a cheerleader, give us a call – we would love to help you!

New Month New Opportunities

Wed, 01 Sep 2021 11:15:02 GMT

GROWTH MINDSET | FIXED MINDSET | Mini Mindset Check-In

A happy new month and new opportunities to you. If the months seem to fly by, leaving you wondering if you are ever going to reach your goals, you are not alone. At the beginning of each new month, many people are left wondering what you accomplished in the previous month.

Shifting

Last Chance for a Summer Experience

Tue, 31 Aug 2021 12:00:04 GMT

Tips for traveling more responsibly | Work-Life Balance | Road Tripping

Labor Day is the last chance for a summer experience. Marc and I love mini road trips on the weekends, and Labor Day is no exception! Whether it’s bingo and hayride at our local campground, a dip in the pool, or live music in the park Labor Day is a way we can support small local businesses! So, join us virtually and celebrate the achievements of the workers with a bunch of exciting activities and things to do in your local community.

Rebuilding Sustainable Travel

There are opportunities to rebuild the way we travel while being mindful of the sustainability of travel for people of all ages and physical abilities. Sustainability harmonizes environmental, economic, and social well-being. As many regions around the country are continually recovering from COVID-19, safety guidelines have been introduced at attractions, restaurants, shops, and hotels.

Many public parks, in the door, and other outdoor spaces require masks or proof of vaccination.
Call ahead and ask for the destination’s Covid-19 guidelines to avoid surprises with the kids.
Pack extra hand sanitizer and masks.
If you are vaccinated, carry your vaccination card.
Look but don’t touch and leave the destination as you found it.

Attend, Share & Influence!

Not feeling adventurous enough for a weekend jaunt around the world, get local and get in tune with the most relevant events happening around you. Look for a quintessential retreat in your own public city park or national forest. Whichever you decide, make sure to explore concerts, parties, adventure trips, and maybe a parade, and make the Labor Day weekend unforgettable!

About Author

Sharing Your Blog on Social Media

Mon, 30 Aug 2021 09:00:02 GMT

Marketing Minutes for Legal Professionals: Answering a Reader’s Question

Cindy: “How do you introduce a new blog on social media?”

Dear Reader,

Thank you for your question! How to share your new blog on social media is a frequently asked question for many new bloggers. Although all blogging experts agree to achieve the best result, posting regularly is vital. However, I am a realist, and this is real life, so the truthful answer is:

Be patient, kind, and authentic with yourself.
Do little soul search aimed to understanding “why you don’t post blogs on a regular basis.
Although most marketing experts agree, posting constantly is vital to the success of your blog, its not the end of the world if you must work up to posting on a regular basis. Blogging is hard work. It takes time to form good habits.
It’s ok, if you use your blog as a personal diary. But if you don’t share your blog with others your message will never be heard. Sharing your blog on social media will probably be the best way to promote and announce your blog.
Avoid over sharing your blog on your personal page. One of the mistakes made by new bloggers is they overshare their blog post on their personal pages. Unless you’re connected with a lot of clients on your personal page, you should avoid posting every blog post to your personal page.

LEVERAGING SOCIAL MEDIA TO PROMOTE YOUR BLOG

New Leveraging social media to promote your blog is easier than you think.

You should create intentional engaging posts that mention specific posts. For example, you can say something like, “Discover ways to announce your blog in our latest post”, followed by a shorten link to your post.

Conclusion

Sharing your blog posts to social media is a big step! You should pause a moment and celebrate a win: you have a blog! You did it! Social media is a great way to share blog content in a friendly way as well as engage with clients. Don’t forget to research when your readers are online and post a new article during those times!

What Is a Life Coach?

holly@bestvirtualparalegal.com (Holly Sheriff) — Fri, 27 Aug 2021 08:35:07 GMT

Self-Improvement | BVP Services | Coaching

A life coach (“lifestyle guru”) is frequently an unlicensed wellness professional who helps people make changes in their lives to achieve the most significant level of happiness. Life coaches help their clients with all aspects of their relationships, careers, and day-to-day lives. Life coaches can help people clarify goals, gather data such as pros and cons of situations and goals, help identify barriers that may be holding clients back, and then the coach helps strategize for defeating each obstacle. A great life coach will target each client’s unique gifts and help align the right skills and talents to develop a winning strategy to conquer life barriers.

How is a Life Coach Different from a Therapist?

Everyone needs a little help sometimes, especially when it comes to making significant life changes. Whether you have a goal to be more confident or find fulfillment in your career or business, it can be tough to figure out what steps to take to help overcome barriers. A life coach helps make sense of the steps necessary to achieve goals. Life coaches help identify current challenging behaviors that are holding you back and guide you through self-discovery. But, on the other hand, a therapist is a medical professional licensed to make diagnostics and prescribe treatment and medication. Therapists analyze past behavior to understand why certain behaviors or patterns happen.

During the journey of life, we all go through trials and situations that are too difficult for us to face alone. Life coaching is not right for you if you are suffering from mental illness or depression. If you are suffering from depression, you should consider seeking medical attention from your doctor or a licensed counselor. Also, if you want someone to tell you exactly what to do or exactly how they did something life, career, or business coaching may not be for you. It is a coach’s job help guide you so that you can make your own choices and decisions regarding how to move forward toward am agreed upon goal.

"If you or a loved one are struggling with depression or other mental health condition, National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255) | Crisis Text Line 741741

The Crisis Text Line serves anyone in the United States with this confidential and free 24/7 text line"

What to Expect During Your Session?

Many people are amazed by the clarity, insight and help they get from working with a coach. You can bring an infinite number of problems, questions, and topics during a coaching session. Sessions can take many forms, i.e., Telephone, Zoom, Skype, in person (one on one) and group sessions.

Don’t expect immediate results. You have to be committed to change and remember change take time.
Not all coaches take the same approach to problems. What you get out of the process is what you put into the process.
Expect to answer questions about your life, business, career, and professional development. If you don’t actively participate in your session and if you do not communicate with your coach, you may not achieve the result you want.

Take Away

In conclusion, life coaches can offer advice that can improve your well-being, but that does not mean they can provide medical advice. Many people work with a coach to bridge gaps between their current situation and their goals.

Your journey starts now. How would you like to proceed? Contact us today!

Disclaimer: This post does not provide legal or medical advice. It is intended informational purposes only. It should not be construed as medical or legal advice pertaining to one specific person or situation. This post is not a substitute for professional licensed medical or legal advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never ignore seeking medical treatment or legal advice for a medical or legal issue because of something you have read on the Best Virtual Paralegal site. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911. If you think you have a legal issue, you should consider seeking the advice of a licensed attorney of your own choosing.

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About Author

How to Link Two Computers to One External Hard Drive

holly@bestvirtualparalegal.com (Holly Sheriff) — Tue, 24 Aug 2021 19:25:53 GMT

This week we answer a reader’s question about Linking Two Computer to One External Hard Drive.

Welcome to the latest installment of our Q&A Tech column, where paralegals and lawyers come together to talk about using technology in and outside of the modern law office.

You can link a single external hard drive to two or more computers that are on the same network.

This allows you to access the drive from either computer, and it allows you and your employees to share documents to improve productivity. You cannot, however, connect two computers directly to the drive by Universal Serial Bus (USB), eSATA or Firewire. External hard drives can only be connected to one computer, and they can then be set up for sharing over a network.

On the First Computer

1. Connect the external hard drive to the computer and turn it on. Click the Windows "Start" button and select "Computer."

2. Right-click the name of the external hard drive that you want to share and select "Properties." Click the "Sharing" tab and select "Advanced Sharing." Approve the User Account Control window if prompted.

3. Enable the "Share this folder" option. Enter a Share name for the drive, which will be the name that appears on the network.

4. Click "Permissions" and select "Add." Type the username of a user on the computer that you are currently using, which will be used to access the drive on the second computer.

5. Click "OK." Select the "Allow" check box under Full Control.

6. Click "OK" three times to save the changes and close out of the open windows.

On the Second Computer

1. Click the Windows "Start" button and select "Computer." Click "Network" and double click the name of the first computer. When prompted, enter the username and password of the account you used on the first computer to set up sharing.

2. Right-click the Share name that you entered for the external drive and select "Map Network Drive." Enable "Reconnect at logon" and "Connect using different credentials."

3. Click "Finish."

4. Enter the username and password for the account you used for setting up sharing on the first computer and click "OK."

5. Access the drive by clicking the Windows "Start" button, selecting "Computer" and double clicking the Share name.

What’s Your Question?

Do you have a nagging question about tech & today’s modern law office? Send us your questions. We publish all questions anonymously. Send us your questions with the form below!

Eating Lunch at Your Desk

Mon, 23 Aug 2021 12:37:30 GMT

By: Holly A. Sheriff, MSLS

Eating lunch at your desk is bad for your health, your client relations, and your boss. Skipping lunch is worse for your health, your client relations, and your boss. Unfortunately, paralegals and attorneys are notorious for poor lunchtime etiquette. A 2010 survey conducted by Monster revealed U.S. workers don't often take lunch breaks away from their desks. At the end of 2018, we conducted a poll of 100 law firms that found that 22 percent of paralegals and attorneys skip lunch altogether, and 78 percent eat lunch but stay at their desks. It's no secret that working in a law firm can be stressful, but eating lunch at your desk or skipping lunch altogether is not helping your client relations or your health.

WHY IS EATING AT YOUR DESK BAD?

Eating a handful of trail mix at your desk could be one of the reasons you can't meet deadlines. Not taking breaks from a deadline-driven job can be deadly to your emotional, mental, and physical health. Moreover, all three of these areas of your health play a vital role in your ability to manage Ms. Negative Nelly. Just like a computer, your emotional, mental, and physical health should be optimized from time to time to remain a positive paralegal.

Eating lunch at your desk or skipping lunch causes:

• Sore joints;

• mental and physical exhaustion;

• social exhaustion;

• brain fog;

• overeating or under eating causing weight gain; and

• all of these things can slow us down.

The slowing down of your mind and body is not doing Ms. Negative Nelly any favors. You need to take time to reboot, recharge, and reenergize your body, which helps refocus your brain.

Eating at Your Desk and Skipping Lunch Is Bad for Your Boss

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) does not require employers to give meal or rest breaks to employees. However, plenty of states do. Roughly 21 out of 50 states mandate meal breaks for employees, nine of which mandate meal and rest breaks. And even if you choose to eat at your desk or skip lunch altogether, you are NOT doing your boss any favors. The consequences for your boss can be incredibly costly — and in more ways than one. Consequences for bosses failing to enforce lunch breaks and baring lunch breaks at desks may include:

1. Lawsuit for unpaid time;

2. suppressing positivity;

3. squishing creative;

4. causing more stress and

5. increasing sick days.

These potential consequences may not seem like a huge deal to you as an employee, but to the owner of a company, the financial implications of each of the above can be devastating to profits.

Take Away

Take away, if you want to be a positive, productive paralegal, take care of yourself during the workday. The deadlines, discovery, and depositions will still be on your desk when you return. Think of your lunch break as a midday reboot designed to reenergize the brain.

Let BVP Publish Your Work!

Sat, 12 Jun 2021 00:30:00 GMT

Let BVP publish your work! Best Virtual Paralegal LLC (BVP or BVP Services) publications want to host conversations among paralegals about the paralegal profession. We are accepting thoughtful, nonmarketing, nonpromotional articles and commentary by unpaid contributors.

Read the guidelines here .

Tips When You Write for BVP

BVP is frequently asked what happens if BVP expresses interest in your topic or inquiry?

As you write, ask yourself the following questions.

Publish Pitfalls to avoid

Where are the articles published?

BVP has several blogs, websites, and social channels through which its editorial team publishes its articles. When you write for BVP, your articles can appear on:

If you have any questions, please contact Holly at 717.747.3588 ext. 101. Contact Best Virtual Paralegal LLC. We look forward to speaking with you soon. Please take the next step and give us a call!

The post Let BVP Publish Your Work! appeared first on Best Virtual Paralegal, LLC .

Costly Compromised Clouds

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 19:38:00 GMT

In its annual report, Ponemon Institute found that compromised cloud systems such as Google Workspaces and Microsoft 365 cost companies an average of $6.2 million each year (2021, pp.17-18). That’s a staggering number. However, what is even more alarming is the way it happens. For example, 51% of the companies surveyed say phishing is still the most popular method of attack used.

What’s the law firm takeaway?

As much as lawyers love to email clients, staff, and contractors, firms must embrace the idea of offering email training. Email and cloud safety is essential for working virtually. If you do not, you could be putting your law firm at unnecessary risk. In addition, the issue is complicated by apps. IT professionals warn that each time you or your employees use an unauthorized app, the chances of your law firm being breached increase.

Bottom line: The weakest link in your cloud is the people on your team using poor email security hygiene. The weakest link in email safety is untrained end-users. So, ironically, the first defense against compromised cloud systems and email security is training your people. Cloud computing and email communications are here to stay. Generally, working in the clouds can be affordable, safe, and efficient. Yet, it only takes one email to bankrupt a solo firm.

What can law firms do to reduce their risks?

The most affordable and the most effective way to mitigate your law firm’s risk of costly compromised cloud systems is by facilitating an honesty, open, and two-way (H.O.T.) conversation. It would help if you had a conversation with your in-house staff, remote staff, and contractors (“team”). By engaging your team in open conversations, you are one step closer to finding a training solution that will help you bridge the gaps.

For more information about creating an engaging educational email and cloud safety awareness kit, please feel free to contact us! We are happy to help!

None of the information on any of Best Virtual Paralegal LLC’s blogs, websites, on-demand, or digital materials or seminars should be deemed legal advice. None of the information Best Virtual Paralegal LLC shares should be acted upon without prior consultation with appropriate professional advisors such as a licensed lawyer or CPA familiar with your personal situation. Best Virtual Paralegal LLC’s blog, digital downloads, courses, and recorded seminars are for educational purposes only. Best Virtual Paralegal LLC is not a law firm.

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Help Your Employees Feel Comfortable Returning To The Office

Tue, 18 May 2021 12:49:00 GMT

Legal leaders: Are your workers ready for office life again?
10 WAYS TO HELP EMPLOYEES FEEL COMFORTABLE RETURNING TO THE OFFICE
BVP LLC BLOG

We are now entering into the post-pandemic era. With rising numbers of people being vaccinated, law firms have started calling their employees back to the office. Unfortunately, the global pandemic altered work-life expectations in both the employer and employee. Some employees may be anxious about returning to the office.

10 WAYS TO HELP EMPLOYEES FEEL COMFORTABLE RETURNING TO THE OFFICE.

We here to support your workers too!

Best Virtual Paralegal LLC (“BVP”) understands the challenges of bringing people back to the law office after a year of working remotely. BVP’s experienced paralegal consultants and coaches can help your firm put people first by providing support and guidance in developing your return office schedule.

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How to Get Your First Job as a Paralegal with No Experience

Wed, 12 May 2021 01:58:32 GMT

By: Holly A. Sheriff, MSLS, MCC, CCC

For many aspiring paralegal students, the first “real view” of a paralegal’s job is at a law firm during an internship or externship. So how do you get a job or an internship in a law firm when you don’t have any experience? Many paralegal students have asked me this question in my capacity as their career coach or mentor. And while I do not have a magic answer or one answer that fits everyone, I do have some tips that may help you get your foot in the right door at the right time.

The good news is being a student in a paralegal program should help you. Once you have finished your first semester, you can use your gained knowledge to network with the legal community.

“Easier said than done,” you say. So, let’s break it down.

Find the Right Law Firm for You

How to find law firms to work for when you have no experience? There are several resources you can rely on that are already available to you:

Visit your school’s career services office. It is their job to help you land your first job—take advantage of this invaluable resource. The success rate of the college’s career center depends upon how well the institution networks within the legal community. Ask for a list of employers where prior students and recent graduates have landed internships or have gone to work. This will help you learn which law firms may be interested in hiring talent from your school.
Look up alumni from your school on LinkedIn. Try using the “people” and “all filters” search options to find alumni from your school in your desired city and state.
Try using a reputable legal search engine, such as Martindale, to search for law firms by practice area or location. Your school’s career services might suggest other search engines. This is a great way to find law firms that practice areas of law you want to gain experience.
Join a local or state paralegal association or other professional association. Paralegal associations are an excellent resource for networking with other people in the industry, finding job openings, and finding volunteer opportunities. Most paralegal associations will have a job bank. These job banks are usually a members-only perk.

Volunteer Your Services

When you have no real legal experience under your belt, it may be prudent to volunteer part-time with a nonprofit legal clinic. But, again, here’s where a paralegal association could help. Most paralegal associations have a pro bono committee, and they may have a list of organizations seeking legal professional volunteers. The American Bar Association (“ABA”) also has its own pro bono and volunteer opportunity list. It doesn’t hurt to contact the ABA to see if they have a list of opportunities. It would help if you approached volunteering as part of your practical legal training, like on-the-job training.

Conduct Targeted Outreach

Once you have a list of law firms you would like to work for, find someone at the law with hiring power. This would be someone who can make hiring decisions for the firm. Send the firm a well-written, tailored, and to-the-point letter in the mail, and don’t forget to include your resume. If you don’t hear back, don’t be afraid to send a respectful follow-up after a week. After that first follow-up, don’t contact them again.

This approach works well when targeting small law firms with less than 25 attorneys and or employees total. Often, the smaller law firms don’t have many paralegals or other legal professionals contacting them offering to intern. And they tend to appreciate a student that takes the initiative.

A word of caution about this approach: you should not email your resume to law firms you are not connected with. You would not want them to get the wrong impression and think you were spamming them. You want to adhere to proper email etiquette. If you want to learn more about Can-Spam Act, you read about it here.

Conclusion

Over the years, I have suggested this strategy to many paralegal students with no experience, and you may be surprised by how well it works! For example, I had a student land an internship at a law firm in London this way. She contacted seven law firms with international offices. Two responded to her, and one hired her!

I would love to hear how this strategy works for you. Or, if you need help with your career trajectory, please connect with me on LinkedIn . Good luck landing your first paralegal position!

—

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
For over 30 years, Holly A. Sheriff, ASPS, BBA, MSLS, MCC, CCC, has been a noteworthy leader and pioneer in the freelance paralegal industry. Mrs. Sheriff’s services help attorneys, paralegals, and freelance paralegals succeed in balancing business ownership and meeting the legal profession’s demands. Contact Holly at (717) 747.3588 | Email

Do You Have Pain Points You Need to Solve?

Sat, 01 May 2021 17:15:00 GMT

Do you have pain points you need to solve? Do you have a topic you find particularly interesting? Chances are if you want to learn something or have a struggle as an attorney, paralegal, paralegal student, or law student, so do other professionals.
Here is your chance not to hold back –tell us your biggest pain points! We want to hear what holds you back from achieving work-life balance, practice growth, and or career advancement?

We hate to vague but, how we’ll use your pain points will depend upon the complexity of the topic and other variables. Usually, we will post the answer right here on our blog and our newsletter as an advice column entry. Think of it as a “Dear Abby” entry for the legal industry.
We may create a seminar or on-demand course, ebook, or other publication for more complex topics or questions.

To submit your suggestion topic or pain point , send an email or post a comment to this post containing the following information:

If you provide the proper consent, we’ll give you credit as a contributor. Should you want complete anonymity, please let us know.

Best Virtual Paralegal LLC is all about focusing our content on pain point discovery so that we can present you with the best solutions possible! Whether you are a firm owner or an employee, we want to hear from you! Your pain points are our business. We will help you solve your biggest pain points with:

Take the next steps! Let’s connect and have a relaxed, insightful chat about where you are and where you want to grow!

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Self-care for Legal Professionals

Sun, 11 Apr 2021 12:48:00 GMT

Self- Care Tips for Attorneys and Paralegals From Best Virtual Paralegal LLC

Self-care for legal professionals is a new perspective for many of us. Legal professionals must approach self-care with the same drive and dedication as they do their cases. It is so easy to get in the “zone” or stuck in a rut. Give yourself a mental break. Give yourself a gift—work self-care into your daily dedication routine.

Here are some of my favorite self-care recommendations as a life coach for legal professionals:

Self-care does not only fit in on Saturday or Sunday

Self-care does not only fit in on Saturday or Sunday; it needs to put the dead center at the beginning, middle, and at the end of your day. To be dedicated to your client, you must take care of yourself. It would be best if you were as dedicated to self-care as much as you are committed to your clients.

Sometimes it is easy to feel obligated to stay connected with your office, clients, staff, and social media connection; you overwhelm yourself. We are so overwhelmed with ways to communicate. Technology was supposed to make our lives easier has through all the texts, emails, DMs, voicemails, PM, LinkedIn , Facebook, and Twitter notifications have us a slave to devices. Self-care for some people can be as simple as limiting how you allow other people to communicate with you. You set the tone for how people treat you. Treat yourself with love and kindness.

“Never be afraid to rest during the day.”

Final Thoughts

If you struggle with self-care, try changing the way you think about it. Self-care is the energy you need to continue to be devoted to your family, children, and clients. If you love your family, your career, and your client, then self-care is a must. Remember, you are not alone in your struggles to maintain self-care. Embrace editing out some harmful habits and prioritize self-care into your daily routine.

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Open Call: Now Accepting New Clients

Fri, 09 Apr 2021 16:43:00 GMT

Open call: Now Accepting New Clients! Calling all legal professionals who are wishing and dreaming of achieving work-life balance! When working with Best Virtual Paralegal LLC (“BVP,” “BVP Services,” and “The Attorney Panic Button℠”), the services and rates all depend on what your firm needs. Best Virtual Paralegal LLC – a pioneer in the virtual services industry – has been providing senior-level paralegal and admin support on a transactional (as needed) basis to small/solo to medium law firms nationwide for over 30 years. We have been providing quality coaching and consulting services, including but not limited to business and career coaching to legal professionals for over 28 years. We are not a staffing agency or temp agency.

Who we serve?

BVP’s ideal new clients are overworked, stressed out, yet driven legal professionals who crave and strive to build thriving practices and careers firmly built upon a solid foundation of work-life balance and positivity.

We love working with:

New Clients: How we help you

When you are a legal professional, and you need:

We added Zoom to our discovery call options in April 2021.

BVP has a 98% success rate assisting legal professionals with building thriving scalable businesses and careers by delivering unparallel harmonize client relations, back-office logistics, and business strategies. Our coaches are Master Certified Coaches (MCC) specializing in goal success, happiness, mindset, recovery, business, and career transformation strategies. Let us work together! Take the next steps; schedule a discovery call today !

Did you know: BVP Hosts Online Zoom EVENTS for New Clients & nonclients?

Virtual Events Are Here To Stay. Stream Live Keynotes, Panel Discussions, and Leadership Seminars.

Topics include:

View our event calendar here .

The investment you can expect will vary. We offer a variety of event levels. The rates range from $0.00 and up. Most events are charged per attendee per event, depending on the size of your organization, the scope of work that needs to be completed, and the topic selected.

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Facebook Data Breach

Mon, 05 Apr 2021 21:04:00 GMT

Facebook suffers a data breach leaking the personal information of over 500 million users in April 2021. Personal data from 533 million Facebook accounts have reportedly been leaked online for free. 32 million United States users have been affected.

Facebook Data Leaked

The Facebook data that was leaked was massive. The data includes:

In a statement, Facebook reports that this data breach was scrapped because of a fixed vulnerability in 2019.

Next Steps: Minimize the Damage

The next steps to help minimize the damage caused by this Facebook Data Breach include some best practices. Potentially affected users should:

LinkedIn All-Star Status

Mon, 05 Apr 2021 13:25:00 GMT

Originally Published January 2018

Updated 4/5/2021.

LinkedIn All-Star Status is what you should be aiming for when creating your profile; if you hire someone to help you with your profile, ask if they are an all-star. If you seek assistance from another member of your paralegal Association to help with your LinkedIn profile, ask if they are an all-star. LinkedIn algorithms prioritize users with complete profiles by ranking them higher in search results than users with incomplete profiles.

What is a LinkedIn All-Star Status?

LinkedIn All-Star Status is the best ranking you can achieve. There are five status levels, from least complete to highest completion: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Expert, and All-Star. When we originally published this article, January 2018, right beneath the section with your profile photo is “Profile Strength. ” When you reach All-Star rating, that means your profile is optimized for success. According to LinkedIn, profiles with an All-Star rating are “27 times more likely to be found in recruiter searches. LinkedIn has a base of over 500 million users”.

Achieving All-Star Status

LinkedIn All-Star Status is easy to achieve. It’s easier than most people think. Doing so will include basic things to strengthen your profile, such as adding a professional picture, filling out your work experience, writing a catchy headline, and writing a compelling headline. You’re allowed a maximum of 120 characters for your headline, so use them wisely. Don’t just list your job title and company – use the headline as an opportunity to highlight your expertise and individuality. When choosing a headshot, the image should be a headshot where your face occupies about 50% to 60% of the screen. The picture should be a recent one – not from high school in 1980.

After your profile picture is set, fill out your work experience. If you are seeking a job, your LinkedIn profile should relate to the job you are seeking. It would be best if you listed all present and past positions held. Optimize your profile by adding a well-drafted summary of responsibilities and achievements for each position held.

Experts agree you should include relevant keywords in your experience summaries. Doing so will help your profile show up in relevant search results. Remember to use strong action verbs in your summaries. The summary should encapsulate your experience, strengths, skills, and vision for your career. They can be a maximum of 2,000 words. Keep the writing clear and concise, and always check for spelling and grammar errors when you’re done.

List of Skills

After your experience, list skills & get endorsements. The skills and endorsement sections are where creditability is built. Experts agree that setting your skills and obtaining endorsements for each is vital to increasing your visibility on the site. Adding education isn’t very difficult on LinkedIn, but it’s necessary to achieve All-Star status. And while listing the university you attended, and the degree you earned is simple, there are ways to make the most out of this section.

Link up with Best Virtual Paralegal LLC https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-virtual-paralegal-llc/

Achieving LinkedIn All-Star Status isn’t rocket science. The more effort you put into creating your profile, the better your chances of landing the job of your dreams. For more insights on optimizing your LinkedIn profile, contact us today ! Keep tabs on Best Virtual Paralegal’s Blog for all your paralegal service, career coaching, work-life balance needs, and much more. Best Virtual Paralegal LLC is now accepting new clients wanting to advance their businesses and careers.

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Working with “BVP” Best Virtual Paralegal LLC

Sun, 04 Apr 2021 21:34:00 GMT

Originally published 12/11/11 Last updated 4/04/2021 to include Zoom.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

12/11/11 | LAST UPDATED: 04/04/2021

When working with Best Virtual Paralegal LLC (“BVP,” “BVP Services,” and “The Attorney Panic Button℠”), the services and rates all depend on what your firm needs. BVP pioneered nationwide Virtual Senior Paralegal Support on a transactional basis serving Small/Solo to Medium Law Firms over 30 years ago.

BVP recognizes your firm is unique. Your needs and desires for your practice differ from anyone else’s. BVP is an extension of your dream practice. We’ve taken steps to address confidential, financial, HIPAA, and malpractice concerns.

Intake

Your first intake session will be with our founder, Holly A. Sheriff, MSLS, to explore, discover, and uncover what you want, need, and desire for your practice. A typical intake call can last between 10 to 30 minutes. For some law firms, the intake process is similar to a coaching call. And for other firms, the intake process is identical to a consulting call.

BVP will gather pertinent information from you regarding your business goals, budget, workflow processes, and clients.

“Best Virtual Paralegal LLC determines your rate bases on where you are and where you want to grow.”

Determining Rates With BVP

BVP determines the rate in comparison to your needs, wants, desires, and the work involved in helping you reach the work-life balance you desire. BVP knows how impractical the one size fits all price model can be. The fee you pay should be as unique as your practice.

We’ll make every effort to develop a fee schedule for the services you will be receiving. Our paralegal fees are structured to give the best profit margin possible. BVP’s coaching and consulting fees are designed to provide you with the best return on investment (“ROI”) potential at the most competitive pricing within the coaching and consulting industries.

BVP offers a variety of competitive fee structures such as:

Most of BVP’s billing plans are offered with no long-term commitment and no minimum hours or projects necessary.

And BVP has an open-door policy, where we invite clients to have honest, open, two-way conversations (“HOT”) with us at any time to discuss their services, business, and life goals, so BVP can help them succeed and achieve great things.

Find the support you need

BVP makes finding the support you need and desire for your practice seamless and panic-free. BVP’s services offer you the capacity, quality, and economic efficiency you expect and yearn for. Take the next steps and schedule an intake call today!

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Burnout – Strategies for Overcoming

Sat, 03 Apr 2021 20:06:00 GMT

Burnout and Change

Burnout and change go hand in hand for most professionals. As discussed in the article “ Career Burnout ,” burnout can affect anyone at any time for various reasons. And unfortunately, burnout is on the rise in this pandemic era we live in. What triggers your burnout, and what you can do about it work together. It is hard work; it is personal and eye-opening work. Some professionals can buy self-help books and other retail store aid to overcome burnout. Other people need more support than what books can provide.

Burnout suffers who elect to work with either a mentor or a coach do so because they need or desire an accountability partner. Any time you are in a rut, even if it is temporary, having an accountability partner may be just what you need. A coach or mentor can help burnout suffers:

Staying committed to change is the most challenging aspect of burnout. An accountability partner is often a peer or other professional who has been there. Other times, accountability partners are mentors and coaches experienced in helping people change their mindset so that results are most likely achieved. Burnout cannot be overcome without commitment to doing something about it. Change is inevitable. Life is full of changes. The most effective and positive changes in life happen when you choose to change. Committing to change shouldn’t be as hard as it, but it is a struggle for many people. Think of change as taking power back over your life. You may be thinking, “if I am burnt out, then wouldn’t it be impossible to take power back?” Therefore, you must commit to doing it.

How to Commit to Change

How to commit to change is shifting our mindset from thinking of an idea to put that idea into action. Mindset shifting is the power behind committing to change. People have a habit of getting in their own way. People procrastinate and put things off, setting themselves up for failure, and they let self-doubt set in.
Usually, when people have something they want to achieve, there are two parts, the hard work to get to the second part, the “results.” If we’re honest, if it is something we truly want, there is no aspect of the journey we’re unwilling to do for the result. Unfortunately, for most people, burnout doesn’t always work out that way. There may be aspects of the process they don’t care for, but they do it anyway because the results far outweigh the sacrifice and hard work.
When people struggle with committing to a goal and struggle with seeing the goal through to completion, nine times out of 10, it is due to inner conflict. Therefore, what people really should be asking is how to deal with ambivalence? How do people deal with “I want, and I don’t want so that the I don’t want” doesn’t stop them from being their best selves? That’s right, they commit! It is that simple people do what it takes to find the motivation, or they don’t.

With that said, this does not mean it’s all hard or all easy, it’s neither, and it’s both. What’s helps is to reduce the effort required to meet the short-term objectives without making people feel bad. Bottom line, if something deeply matters to people, that’s reason enough to pursue it. And they typically do it.

Team Burnout

Remember: Burnout isn’t Always Depression

Remember, burnout does not always appear as painful as Depression warranting seeking treatment from a doctor. Although if your symptoms are severe enough, I urge you to seek emergency medical attention, I am not stating anything to the contrary. Sometimes, the best treatment for burnout is realigning your values and increasing the reward to achieve what is important to you.
Wouldn’t it be nice to find a challenging, engaging job so you can finally breathe? Let’s work together to find your dream career. Identify your ideal career! We have been in business for over 20 years with a 98% satisfaction rating, helping professionals determine their career direction.
If you could use an experienced coach who can help you on the journey to finding more fulfilling work, a better fit, a faster job search, or overcoming burnout please feel free to reach out for a free 30-minute session to learn more.

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Career Burnout

Fri, 02 Apr 2021 06:00:00 GMT

Career burnout happens to the best legal professionals; the causes may include being in one job too long; being in the same role too long; not feeling satisfied in your role because of high turnover with your co-workers, major changes in your personal life that have changed your values, or you are simply overwhelmed by working too much. As a result, you are less engaged and less invested in your success to the point your productivity suffers.

The good news is career burnout is treatable, and you don’t need to see a doctor or a therapist—career burnout one of those things that can be overcome with help from a coach or mentor. There is no medical degree needed to get your career back on track.

Career Burnout Can Be Overcome

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Stress Awareness Relief Strategies

Thu, 01 Apr 2021 06:44:00 GMT

Helping Legal Professional Handle Stress

Stress Awareness Month has been recognized every April since 1992, but this year as with last year, it seems important. Learning to cope with our anxiety and finding healthy ways to deal with these unpredictable times can go a long way in living a healthy and positive life.

As a certified happiness coach, I love helping legal professionals avoid burnout, stress, and anxiety in the workplace – that’s one reason our logo is a “panic button.” April is helpful in that department. Because it gives me a reason to focus on ways Best Virtual Paralegal LLC helps legal professionals reduce stress in their lives. Not just their professional lives but their personal lives too.

From minor challenges to significant crises, legal professionals are thrown into stressful situations daily. Stress is a part of life. While you can’t always control your circumstances, you can control how you respond to frustration.

Short Term Stress Relief Strategies

Whether you have a discovery deadline glooming or you’re feeling overwhelmed by your immediate caseload, it is vital to have some stress reduction tools you can use immediately to reduce your tensions at work right now.

Frustration is an expected component of every legal professionals’ day. We’re problem solvers. Stress comes along with problems, but no rule says, “legal professionals have to let the tensions of solving other people’s problems ruin their day.”

If you need help managing your office’s stress, contact us for more information about our work-life balance services!

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Egg-Cited Career Coaching

Sun, 28 Mar 2021 22:20:00 GMT

Are you at a crossroad? Do you need a change? Take proactive steps to get in the driver’s seat of your career and architect a successful job search, a new career direction, an exciting career advancement plan, a portfolio career, or a fulfilling retirement.

Going to work should not hurt. You should not work during your lunch break. Isn’t time your career brings joy? You love being a legal professional! So, shouldn’t your job be a source of happiness?

SPRING INTO ACTION THIS SPRING AND WATCH YOUR PRACTICE BLOOM

Spring into Action: There is a better way to work

There is a better way to work! Best Virtual Paralegal’s experienced certified goal success & happiness coaches can help you amplify your career! We’ve helped thousands of legal professionals:

Wouldn’t it be nice to find a challenging, engaging job so you can finally breathe? Let’s work together to find your dream career. Identify your ideal career! We have been in business for over 20 years with a 98% satisfaction rating, helping professionals determine their career direction.

If you could use an experienced career coach who can help you on the journey to finding more fulfilling work, a better fit, or a faster job search, please feel free to reach out for a free 30-minute session to learn more.

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CALLING CONTRIBUTORS

Wed, 30 Sep 2020 05:15:00 GMT

Are you looking for an opportunity to contribute to a popular blog and legal publication? Do you love to write? The nation’s leading paralegal and consulting company, Best Virtual Paralegal LLC, is looking for experienced contributors who are great writers and influencers. We’re seeking contributors to write articles for the Company’s publications, including but not limited to the Company’s blogs, newsletters, LinkedIn pages, and podcasts.

Best Virtual Paralegal LLC loves to introduce new authors, contributors, and leaders to its community. Joining us is a great way to share information, reach new audiences, strengthen new relationships, and gain new connections. This is a fantastic opportunity for any legal professional wanting to develop and sharpen his or her own dynamic personal or professional brand while nurturing, educating, and inspiring other like-minded legal professionals.

Contributor’s Qualifications

All potential Contributors must possess:

Contributor’s Responsibilities

Contributor’s Article and Content guidelines

When writing articles and posts for an online publication, it is vital to comply with Google’s SEO best practices. Additionally, Contributors should follow all best practices for images and graphics. As a best practice for SEO, include at least one image or graphic on a page. An image shows search engines that the page is valuable and engaging and will be useful to searchers. Contributors can provide his or her own images and graphics by following these guidelines:

Contributor’s Bio and Headshot

If you have any questions, please contact Holly at 717.747.3588 ext. 101. Contact Best Virtual Paralegal, LLC . We look forward to speaking with you soon. Let’s work together! Please take the next step and give us a call!

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The perfect sales pitch

Sun, 19 Jul 2020 18:44:00 GMT

For Freelance Paralegals

The Perfect Sales Pitch – Follow us on Facebook @bvparalegalcoach

The perfect sales pitch is more than write a compelling copy on paper. Writing a persuasive pitch is less than half the battle. You can have an impressive pitch on paper and still fail at converting your prospect into a buying client.

Here are our favorite tips for developing and delivering the perfect sales pitch.

1. Tell a story. Hook your prospective client by telling them a compelling story about what you do, why you do it, and what is in it for them.
2. Make sure your pitch clearly defines a problem your services solve.
3. Back your solution up with facts – past successes.
4. Prospects expect sales pitches to be highly personalized, too. Take the time to learn what your ideal client wants from you. Include key solutions in your pitch.
5. Don’t just have one pitch. Create multiple pitches based on your ideal clients, your most popular services, your generic client base.
6. Keep your overall pitch short —30-seconds or less.
7. Less pitching. More conversations. A winning sale pitch is a dialog, not a speech.
8. Practice, practice, practice. – Memorize your pitch – Build up your confidence by practicing your pitch in front of the mirror.
9. Don’t be shy to ask for the sale. Ask for the business with a creative call to action!
10. Don’t forget to follow-up. Do more here. Go above and beyond your competition.

At the end of the day, the perfect freelance paralegal sales pitch needs to focus on the solution you are offering. The entire conversation from beginning to end needs to be client-focused, not “you-focused.”

Need help with your sales pitch? Got questions or comments? Contact Us , we would love to hear from you! Call Holly @717.747.3588 for a free consultation!

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Be a leader in unpredictable times

Tue, 30 Jun 2020 17:17:00 GMT

Photo Credit: Story Blocks

Being a leader in the unpredictable times we live in is hard work. With the COVID-19 pandemic happening, our priority is to stay safe. We want to ensure our family, friends, and employees stay healthy. As business leaders, we’re all scared, we’re feeling out of touch with our clients, followers, and family members. Many of us are afraid our door must close in the months to come.

And we’re all afraid to promote our services because we don’t want to appear insensitive to what people are going through. The last thing we want to do is add to the panic of the pandemic. News flash being a leader is hard work even under the best of circumstances.

In times of uncertainty, something happens inside the brains of leaders. Leaders can either freeze and put a halt to actionable items or they can transform the climate of their surroundings into engaging excellence. Which type of leader are you?

Be the leader your kids in your life want you to be

I urge you to be the leader the kids in your life want you to be. Use this time to make a difference in people’s lives. Instead of looking at what other people in your industry are doing or not doing, remember everyone is scared, unmotivated, overwhelmed, or lost in their own fears. People are waiting for you to be the leader, the children in your life want to be.
Seriously, people of all ages, sometimes need other people to step up and promote hope, happiness, joy, and expertise. Fear can be paralyzing to even the best leaders.

Emerging as an exceptional leader in unpredictable times is easier than you think. Do what you do well, guide your friends, family, employees, clients, and followers to the next destination – recovery after the storm.

Therefore, strap on your thinking cap! It is time to get to work. Stop wondering about what you can do and just do what all influential leaders do. Listen, transform, and be kind .

Need more leadership inspiration? Call or text Best Virtual Paralegal LLC (717) 747-3588, we’d be happy to help!

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HOW TO WRITE A GREAT BLOG POST

Mon, 11 May 2020 09:23:00 GMT

Have you ever read a blog post that had a real impact on you? Did it leave you wondering how the author was able to write an excellent copy? Page ranking and blog popularity depend upon a variety of factors. These factors can vary by industry, market size, audience size, and amongst other things. It is a popularity soup test that changes over time based on several algorithms.

In today’s post, I will tell you what I have found makes an excellent copy. I will share some actionable tips to help you redefine your writing style for a great blog post So, let us begin.

WHAT MAKES A GREAT BLOG POST?

If you think finding the right keywords is the backbone of a great blog post – think again. Sure, having a high-ranking keyword will help your post, but it will not ensure success. A successful blog post depends upon several factors. The keywords you use are only a small fraction of the test. Apart from the words themselves, you should also consider:

To help you publish a fantastic blog post, I will share with you a few tips that will help you answer these three questions and more. Are you ready? Let us get started!

WRITING A GREAT BLOG POST

All lawyers and paralegals are great writers. Writing is what we do every day. Yet, being a great writer is not enough when blogging. It is your writing style that might be killing your blog’s popularity with your key audience. So, what can you do today to help your blog posts?

Use the tips mentioned above to redefine your writing style to level up your blog. However, avoid writing to sell your service to people. Write to simply have meaningful conversations with people who need to hear what you have to say.

LEVEL UP YOUR BLOG POSTS AND TAKEAWAY

Level up your blog posts by thinking like your audience. Before you publish your blog posts, ask a friend or spouse to read it. Pay close attention to your post’s readability score. Readability is a measure of how enjoyable and comfortable your blog post is to read. Among different kinds of readability measures, Flesch–Kincaid readability level is the popular and accurate one.

Flesch–Kincaid readability score of 60.0–70.0 or above is desirable. There’s always a suitable synonym for a word or set of words. Replacing a set of words with a single appropriate word helps a lot in increasing the readability level. Additionally, ditching unnecessary words will significantly improve your readability score. The next time you sit down to write a blog post, consider creating a level up writing checklist by incorporating my tips. More likely than not, these tips will help you write a great blog post!

Need more support? Contact me any time – I’m happy to help lawyers and paralegals level up their engagement with their connections!

The post HOW TO WRITE A GREAT BLOG POST appeared first on Best Virtual Paralegal, LLC .

World Password Day 20 Best Practices

Thu, 07 May 2020 05:58:00 GMT

To celebrate World Password Day May 7, 2020, we’ve put together best practices for legal professionals. Protecting your client’s digital identity is more important than ever with working from home on the rise.

Conclusion – Password Protection is vital

Password protection is vital to preserving and protecting your client digital identity. It’s the first line of defense and the first weakness. Help your clients by training your staff to use these 20 best practices. Remember to use these tips whenever you create a password to keep your client’s information safe and secure.

Need more support? Contact us anytime , we are glad to help! Talk soon!

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Response to COVID – 19 (Corobavirus)

Mon, 06 Apr 2020 17:49:00 GMT

We realize COVID – 19 (Corobavirus) is impacting many businesses and individuals throughout the world; Best Virtual Paralegal LLC is not exempt. We are doing what we can in order to protect our clients’ interests and ensure they still have access to our paralegal and consulting services during this time of uncertainty.

To help our clients through this time of uncertainty, we will be offering more evening and weekend hours and waving the attorney panic button emergency fee, to these services. We have always offered video conferencing via GoToMeeting, Skype for Business, and occasional ZOOM. And we will continue to offer these conferencing options.

We are all in this together. We will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation and will follow guidance from public health officials and government agencies, so we can continue to support our clients and communities as always.

We Care

We care about your health, so here are a few recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control:

For more information about COVD-19 and what you can do to keep healthy and safe, visit the Centers for Disease Control at cdc.gov or your local health department’s website.

Best Virtual Paralegal LLC will continue to provide stellar paralegal and consulting services to attorneys and other legal professionals through out the United States. Contact us to learn more about how we can help your office continue to assist your clients.

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LGBTQ Family Law – Paralegal Services

Sun, 08 Mar 2020 01:13:00 GMT

Best Virtual Paralegal offers LGBTQ Family Law – Paralegal Services to attorneys who are committed to helping same sex couples navigating through matrimonial and family law issues that threaten LGBTQ family equality.

Best Virtual Paralegal understands that LGBTQ couples face the same legal issues and concerns as other families. Unfortunately, even with the recognition of same sex marriage in the United States, some state laws still treat LGBTQ and straight families differently when it comes to child custody, divorce, surrogacy, adoption, prenuptial agreements, postnuptial agreements.

Our paralegals are passionate about helping busy lawyers ensure that LGBTQ people are treated with respect, dignity, and fairness in family court.

LGBTQ Family Law – Services

LGBTQ Family law services offered by Best Virtual Paralegal are designed to help attorneys build more diverse practices, which are stronger advocates for LGBTQ families. Our services include:

Does your law practice want to learn what it can do to be a better ALLY to LGBTQ clients? Best Virtual Paralegal, LLC can help! Contact us today “We’d love to schedule a time to talk more about some of your delegation and team challenges and explore how we can work together!”

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Out of Pocket Expenses

Thu, 23 Jan 2020 10:49:00 GMT

Personal Injury – Tracking Out of Pocket Expenses for Lawyers BVP LLC

North Carolina – Personal Injury

In North Carolina and many other states, one of the primary tasks your law firm should assign to a paralegal is gathering, compiling, and calculating your injured parties’ out of pocket expenses.

Out of pocket expenses are the most overlooked damages by clients. It should be your paralegal’s job to ensure these catch-all expenses are not overlooked. With that said, it should be your job as the supervising lawyer to ultimately decide whether these expenses are included in your demand.

Depending on the extent of the injuries and the type of case, out of pocket expenses may not be a medical expense. A well-trained paralegal should know what types of expenses are included in this catch-all category of damages.

So, what are some of the expenses a paralegal would gather for a North Carolina, personal injury lawyer?

Out of pocket expenses, which might include

Sample of an Out of Pocket spreadsheet – Style One of 3 -This sample should not be used as a substitute for competent licensed professional advice such as a lawyer, CPA, or doctor. Work Product Sample of Best Virtual Paralegal LLC For Information Only

Best Practices for Tracking Out of Pocket Expenses

Finding all the possible expenses is the hard part. The tracking method is relatively easy. Your paralegal can use a Word Document, WordPerfect or Excel Sheet. The data collected on the tracking sheet may vary slightly by law firm, lawyer preferences, and by case, but generally, it should include a few standard items:

Remember, it’s your responsibility as the lawyer to decide which out of pocket, but wouldn’t be nice to have all the expenses for each client captured in an easy to read and digest format from the onset of representation? Schedule an intake call with us to help start tracking your client’s expenses.

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HOW TO DELETE EXTRA SPACES IN WORD

Tue, 14 Jan 2020 14:18:00 GMT

Fig.1 file BVP LLC Extra Spaces in Word

At the end of 2019, there was a lot of extra buzz spaces in Word. Many Word users over a certain age endured a typing class in high school on a real typewriter. Between the timed speed tests and the endless paper jams, we were taught to put two spaces after periods. The theory was the two spaces made the individual sentences easier to identify.

Today, the extra space is frowned upon; if you are anything like me, you probably struggle with breaking the two-space habit.

Quick Tutorial BVP LLC BLOG

A quick tutorial on how to find and delete extra spaces in Word

1. Click CTRL+A to select all the text in the document.
2. Hit CTRL+H to open the Find and Replace window.
3. Type two spaces in the Find what field.

Fig 2 Find and Replace Extra Spaces in Word

That’s all there is to it. Word will change all the double spaces to single spaces. And Word will also tell you how many replacements were made.

Thanks for reading, folks! Panic Less & Practice Your Purpose!℠ Check back soon for another. How Does Holly Do That? A Building Business Blog. Want More Microsoft Tips Check-Out: Excel Shortcuts, Word Shortcuts , and Word Formatting

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STOP MICROSOFT WORD FROM CALLING YOU AUTHOR

Thu, 09 Jan 2020 13:16:00 GMT

Best Virtual Paralegal LLC Blog Title Image

Stoping Microsoft Word from calling you “author” in comments is easier than you think. If Track Changes identifies you as “Author” instead of your username when you are inserting comments and edits, this means someone has used the Document Inspector to remove hidden data from the document.

There are two ways to fix Word from identifying you as the author of a comment or an edit the primary way under “file” in the ribbon and the more advanced way under the “trust” center.

STOP MS WORD FROM CALLING YOU AUTHOR – The Basic Method

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

There are a few reasons an end-user would have for wanting to remove hidden data and metadata from documents. To learn more about removing hidden data from your docs

Stop MS WORD From Calling You “Author” THE ADVANCED METHOD

Warning: Proceed With Caution

Before we jump into the advance method for putting a stop to MS Word calling you author, there some words of caution. Incidentally, some MS Word tenants may not have access to the Trust Center. Your network administrator may control the Trust Center. Please proceed with caution; it may be wise to complete these steps on a secondary copy of your document rather than the firm’s original.

Time to sign off

There you have it – two ways to stop MS Word from calling you “author” when you are inserting comments into a document. We hope you have found this article useful. Post your comments and questions below – we’ll answer!

That’s a wrap, thank for reading! Contact us any time for a free appointment to chat about your goals and objectives for your practice or paralegal firm – we’ll be glad to help!

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OBJECTIVES VS GOALS

Tue, 07 Jan 2020 11:08:00 GMT

Objectives and goals are two words many attorneys and paralegals use interchangeably when it comes to outlining business strategies. To ensure success with your business, it is vital you, and your staff understands the differences between objectives and goals. And you may be thinking, you already know the difference, but sometimes it is not you, it’s your staff you get lost. Don’t feel bad. It’s easy to confuse these two terms when you’re hyper-focused on the end game.

As you’re gearing up to write your objectives and goals for your business for 2020, let’s have a refresher.

OBJECTIVES

An objective is a specific, measurable action you must take to achieve your desired outcome.

Objectives are:
• Actionable;
• Operational;
• Observable;
• Narrow in scope (broad and general);
• Tactical;
• Measurable;
• Precise intentions;
• Based on fact;
• Tangible, and
• Short term.

GOALS

Goals are the desired outcome you want to achieve.
Unlike objectives goals are:
• Abstract;
• General;
• Intangible;
• Based on an idea;
• Vague;
• Strategic; and
• Long term.

That’s a wrap, thank you for reading! Contact us any time for a free appointment to chat about your goals and objectives for your practice or paralegal firm – we’ll be glad to help!

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Federal Holidays and Observances in 2020

Wed, 01 Jan 2020 17:08:00 GMT

The federal holidays and observances in 2020 you can expect Best Virtual Paralegal, LLC, to be closed are listed below. Therefore, some of the dates may include some of the United States federal holidays and observances as established by federal law (5 U.S.C. 6103). Additionally, some of the stated days are our company’s personal religious and administrative observances.

Remember, specific information about how we will be handling, monitoring, and responding to emergencies and appointment schedules during each holiday or office closure will be be sent out to clients a week to two weeks before each holiday.

Why we publish this list

We have published this list to aid you in managing your time, cases, and your services with us. For your convenience, the above holiday schedule is from January 1, 2020, to December 25, 2020! The list may not include office closures for day-to-day trials, client appointments, CLEs, unique events, or continuing legal education events.

Thank you for choosing Best Virtual Paralegal, LLC, and we look forward to providing a smooth and seamless support experience for you all year long. If you have any questions about our holidays and observances schedule in 2020, please contact us .

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Suck it up buttercup and set goals

Tue, 31 Dec 2019 12:33:00 GMT

Setting goals for the coming year you can accomplish is hard for a lot of people. In all honesty, attorneys and paralegals struggle setting goals and objectives more than any other professionals I know. I, myself, hate setting goals, but I love achieving great things, so I set new goals all the time.

Here are some tips to help you plan your business goals for the new year.

I stumbled across a groove blog titled Daring to Live Fully . It’s a well-written blog – written by a lawyer and fellow entrepreneur. The author lists about 36 prompts to help people with goal setting. Although I don’t know the author, I wish I did! Her blog articles are informative and funny.

If writing prompts aren’t your cup tea, try not setting goals and ask a friend, spouse, life partner, or assistant to help you stay focus towards one change you’d like to make in the new year. I call this goal-setting approach starting small.

Remove the word “goal” from your mindset. Switch your focus to one small thing you would like to change and ask a buddy to help you stay accountable. A lot of people get to catch up on the details of goal setting. Don’t get lost, and don’t freak yourself out by calling it a goal – focus on the outcome you want to achieve. And make sure you stay the course by being accountable to another person if you fail. This is always my go-to suggestion for people who get distracted from their original goal.

The most common reason people fail at achieving goals is that they set the same goal year after year. A goal with no plan is a wish. Some goals require you to dig deep to achieve them. Think outside your comfort zone, narrow your scope, and examine why the same old goal is still your goal before reusing it.

Setting goals is not for everyone. Nevertheless, if you are a successful business owner, attorney, or paralegal undoubtfully, you understand setting achievable goals for your business in the new year is an essential part of owning a thriving business. It would help if you saw how your business is doing and what your competitors are doing and not doing to stay in the game.

Many attorneys and paralegals fail to achieve their annual goals because they can’t control the initial target. If you are aiming for something you can’t control – take the necessary time to reframe your goal. Often, you’ll need to do a little soul searching to decide if you even want to put the effort in to achieve the initial goal. Setting a goal that can be controlled is often the ticket to success.

Sometimes to achieve the unattainable, you need to roll up your sleeves and dig deep. Moreover, If that still does not work, ask for help, and don’t give up. Setting annual goals and accomplishing the path to success is not always about learning something new. More times than not, a yearly goal setting is a lesson in perseverance and grit. So, suck it up buttercup and set new goals for the new year.

Still there? Ready set GOAL setting time! Schedule a complimentary appointment with us, and we’ll help you achieve great things in 2020!

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MICROSOFT WORD: BUSINESS BUILDING SKILLS FOR SOLOPRENEUR ATTORNEYS & PARALEGALS

Sun, 29 Dec 2019 10:36:00 GMT

How Does Holly Do That? A Building Business Blog

Whether you think Microsoft Word is a great word processing tool or a necessary evil, you need to know how to use it to be a great legal professional. You’ll enjoy your life as a solopreneur attorney or paralegal more if you would face reality: nobody uses Word Perfect anymore, and please don’t get me started on Google Docs. Although I am not going to dismiss Google Doc as a word processing option for the law office. My luck by the time I finish writing this blog post, Google will have turned on some super great formatting features. Ok, you can stop laughing, it could happen.

Nonetheless, in my reality, MS Word is king for drafting and formatting legal documents. There are days, like today, I wish I still owned a copy of Word Perfect because I am working on a document from a client that needs to be formatted for filing. Can you tell; where I am going with this post? You guessed it: a client sent me an awful document and requested I fix all the mixed-up fonts, crappy spacing, and missing numbers. Not to mention his document keeps crashing every time he opens it.
If this sounds like problems you have experienced, you are in luck; I have the answer. Don’t panic; there is a solution. In this post, I’ll cover the problems with MS Word Docs and some indispensable skill-building tips for formatting Microsoft Word Documents.

PROBLEMS WITH MS WORD

And how to avoid them

Problems with MS Word are usually caused by the end-user not knowing how to use the software. Problems such as disappearing text, forming errors, and font disasters are usually all caused by an end-user manually adding text and numbering without using the predefined features inside the software.

Here are a few key things to remember to AVOID problems with MS Word:

Please keep in mind, even if you do all the above-mentioned tips, your files can still become corrupt. Software is not infallible, it can be glitchy for no reason. Now, that we’ve covered the problems with MS Word let’s get to the problem at hand, fixing funky documents.

Quick steps

Microsoft Word: Fixing Funky Formatted Documents

Microsoft Word makes it hard to fix funky formatting. Unlike WordPerfect, MS Word does not give us access to the underlying codes of our documents. This can make fixing the formatting of your documents rough. When your document formatting gets funky it can be very hard to get the document back in line.

Here’s how you can fix invisible tables, multiple fonts, and weird page layouts that will not stop coming back to life, even after you have changed them. SOLUTION: RESET YOUR FORMAT .
Resetting your format will fix all these problems:

After completing these four steps you will have a clean MS Word for formatting. Whatever hiccups the software was having with the formatting should be gone. Notepad does not recognize formatting. All the formatting was stripped from the text when it was pasted into notepad.

If using your clipboard and notepad is too time-consuming, give the clear formatting option in the ribbon a try:

The Clear Formatting option is tricky, (it does not always work). If your document is truly corrupt you will have no choice but to use your notepad to strip the formating as explained above.

COPYING AND PASTING IN MICROSOFT WORD

Now, that we know notepad will strip the formatting from funky documents and you’ve learned to embrace the ribbon; these fun facts have reminded me of a few copying and pasting tips.

We’re all guilty of copying and pasting information from one document to another. There is nothing to be ashamed of by wanting to save a little time. However, if you are going to copy and paste from one document to another, please do everyone in your office a favor and do it right.

Yes, you heard me: there is a right and wrong way to copy and paste text between Microsoft Word documents.

Here are a few tips:

Never paste the text into Word by keeping the formatting

If you must copy & paste text, you need to choose “keep text only”.

Or use Notepad to strip all the formatting of your text first.

Pasting text directly from one Word document to another can corrupt your document.

Finally, this goes without saying, you don’t have to recreate the paper mill each time you start a new document. There are many ways inside Microsoft Word an end-user can implement to customize and create styles & fonts, save the document as a template and use it as your base document.

Thanks for reading folks! Panic Less & Practice Your Purpose! Check back soon for another How Does Holly Do That? A Building Business Blog. Want More Microsoft Tips Check-Out: Excel Shortcuts and Word Shortcuts Need help setting up your documents, contact us anytime!

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Here are a few tips:

Finally, this goes without saying, you don’t have to recreate the paper mill each time you start a new document. There are many ways inside Microsoft Word an end-user can implement to customize and create styles & fonts, save the document as a template and use it as your base document.

Thanks for reading folks! Panic Less & Practice Your Purpose! Check back soon for another How Does Holly Do That? A Building Business Blog. Want More Microsoft Tips Check-Out: Excel Shortcuts and Word Shortcuts Need help setting up your documents, contact us anytime!

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How to Start a Blog

Thu, 26 Dec 2019 10:53:00 GMT

How to Start A Blog – Best Virtual Paralegal Business Building Month 2019 -2020

Starting a blog can intimidate and overwhelm beginners. As part of our building business theme for the last week of December and the entire month of January, we’ve answered a question from a client. In this quick post, we’ll explain what a blog is, how it can help your overall marketing strategy, and how easy to start a blog.

What is a blog?

A blog is a website or a page of a website that focuses on providing your visitors with written content. Posts are usually short easy reads aimed at sharing your knowledge on an issue or theme of topics in your industry.

How a blog can help your marketing efforts

Here are a few of our favorite ways a blog can help your marketing efforts:

An excellent blog is a great way to keep your current and prospective clients up to date with what is happening with your firm.

How to start a blog

Learn how to add a blog to your website following these steps:

Planning

Write Your Posts

After you have a solid publishing plan, a keyword list, and a list of solid topics, start writing your posts and articles. Here are a few writing tips:

Add your Blog to website – Final Step

The final step to adding your posts to an existing website can be the most challenging for beginners.

Adding a blog to an existing site depends on the platform you used to build your site. Most platforms allow the end-user to simply add a “Posts page”.

Thanks for reading today’s brief How-To post. If you still need help getting your creative juices flowing contact us , we’ll be happy to help you! Until next time, blog more panic less!

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Affiliate Programs vs. Sponsorships

Wed, 27 Nov 2019 18:15:00 GMT

Affiliate Programs vs. Sponsorships – Should you pay, or should you get paid?

Affiliate Programs vs Sponsorships – Should you pay, or should you get paid? These are the frequent questions new Markers have. Additionally, many people get sponsor programs and affiliate programs confused. The answer to all these questions is it depends. Both affiliate and sponsorships can help your streaming business grow. However, they’re very different opportunities.

Affiliate Programs

Most affiliate programs will be free to join but others have extensive training or offered programs attached that will cost you money. If an affiliate program offers you advertising space or blog space for a fee it is more likely a sponsor program rather than an affiliate program. Despite the recent hype and spike in affiliate marketing, it has been around since the beginning of content marketing. So, how do they work?

How Affiliate Programs Work?

True affiliate programs at their core, amazingly simple:

An Affiliate’s percentage can range anywhere between 5% to up towards as high as 50% per sale. Earnings can vary from program, product, service, and type of referral used to obtain the sale. So, now you know the basics of Affiliate Links what’s up with sponsorships?

Sponsorships

Sponsorships on the other hand, the owner of a product or services creates a link, advertising space, and occasionally blogging opportunities for its sponsor to buy into its product or service. Typically, under a sponsorship there is no revenue sharing or percentage shared. One party pays the other for ad space, a feature piece on a blog, Facebook Group, or website.

Sponsorships are usually a more expensive investment for the sponsoring party. And there is no simple way to explain how they work. Sponsorships can vary by company, brand, and website. The size of advertising space for the price can vary. There does not appear to be a standard rate or going price per space.

Sponsor Affiliate Program

Additionally, in recent years, some products, brands, and blogs have combined the true affiliate program and sponsorships to form Sponsor Affiliate program.

Sponsor Affiliate means an entity that joins with, or is an affiliate of, a sponsor and that participates in the investment in, or financing of, another service or product The two entities then spit or share in the percentage of sales generated from a shared link, blog or other pay-per-click ad. Occasionally, there is no sharing of the sales or revenue from the shared sale. The sponsor keeps all its sale profits.

Affiliate Programs vs Sponsorships – Should you pay, or should you get paid

Should you pay, or should you get paid really depends on your goals. The biggest difference between a sponsorship and an affiliate in the way they pay out. Affiliate links can generate immediate monetary benefits, but it can be slow growing profits.

Sponsorships on the other hand can generate a brand following, social buzz, and monetary stream. Take away: Affiliate Programs vs Sponsorships are both opportunities for more revenue which can help your business grow.

The post Affiliate Programs vs. Sponsorships appeared first on Best Virtual Paralegal, LLC .

Family law during the holidays

Mon, 25 Nov 2019 17:31:00 GMT

Holly’s tips for lawyers Family Law during the holidays

Family law during the holidays may seem to slow down because of all the holidays and court closures. But many law firms struggle to meet the emotional demands of their clients. As legal professional we forget how emotionally draining the holidays can be for clients dealing with divorce, separation, and children exchanges.

Tips for managing client emotions and expectations for family law during the holidays.

The purpose of our tips

The purpose of our tips are to help you predict your clients’ questions, emotional triggers, and your best answers. After implementing our tips, you will be able to manage a lot of the common issues, which come up in family law during the holidays.

If you need help managing family law cases this holiday season, please do not hesitate to contact our paralegal team at Best Virtual Paralegal, LLC.

We are here to provide you with paralegal help for a wide range of family law matters, including child custody and child support payments. Reach out to us by phone or text to set up your free consultation! Call (717) 747-3588 to set up a free consultation . We offer both hourly and flat fee billing options.

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SELF-ASSESSMENT FOR STARTING A BUSINESS

Mon, 25 Nov 2019 00:08:00 GMT

Aconducting should be the first step for a lawyer or paralegal wanting to venture out on his or her own. Regardless, whether you want to start a firm or moonlighting as a freelancer you are starting a business.

Your self-assessment is a tool designed to help evaluate your personal traits. A business is more likely to succeed if you have an independent spirit and entrepreneurial traits, such as patience for uncertainty and risks associated with the pressures of constant professional and personal with starting a business.

COMPONENTS OF A SELF-ASSESSMENT FOR STARTING A BUSINESS

Your self-assessment should consist of an in-depth evaluation of several personality traits and other skills you will need for starting a business. The foregoing list is not meant to be all-inclusive – it is meant to be a starting guide.

Your self-assessment will only be effective if you are open, honest, and on point with your current abilities and knowledge. Keep in mind, everyone has some self-doubts, at some point. However, by completing an honest, open topic-driven skill assessment, you will have the knowledge you need to regain the confidence to keep moving towards your goal of owning a business.

Thanks for reading ! If you found this article helpful but need a little more information about how to start a law practice or freelance paralegal biz contact us , we can help!

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10 Best Office Closed for Holiday Messages

Wed, 20 Nov 2019 02:21:00 GMT

10 best office closed for holiday messages. These messages are suitable for autoresponders, emails, text messages, and in-office posters.

Our office will remain closed until the end of this week for Thanksgiving Holidays. We assure you that all your emails will be answered in the order they are received as soon as we return to the office. Happy Thanksgiving!

You can expect to hear back from me by [date]. Hope you have a great holiday!

Please note that [date], is [holiday name]. The office will be closed all day and will open again at [time] on [date]. We hope you will enjoy the holiday with your family and friends.

Greetings Client,

Thank you for your email, but our company is out of the office, celebrating [HOLIDAY]. Unfortunately, it means we will not be able to send you any reply until [DATE]. We apologize for the delay but wish you a wonderful holiday season.

Best regards.

Please note that all [company name] offices will be closed [date] to [date]. We will reopen [date], and close again for [date] and [date]. We wish you all the warmest of holiday cheer!

Best regards.

Hi, and thank you for your message. I’ll be out of the office on [DATE]. Please contact my manager [EMAIL] for assistance.

Best regards.

Hi,

Happy holidays, and thanks for your email! I’m taking a few days off to spend time with my family and friends so that I won’t be answering emails as quickly as usual.

Hello!

Thank you for your message. I am currently out of the office, with no email access. I will be returning on [date]. If you need immediate assistance before then, you may reach me at my mobile – [mobile number].

Thanks!

I’ll be enjoying this year’s holiday season from [DATE] until [DATE]. For general inquiries about [DEPARTMENT/ROLE], please email [CONTACT NAME]. If this isn’t time-sensitive, feel free to resend this email in [MONTH] once I’m regularly checking emails again.

All the best,

Hi, I am out of the office for my annual year-end vacation and will not be able to check my mail until after the New Year. Have a Happy New Year!

——

Need more help drafting – Closed for Holiday Messages – for your team? Contact Best Virtual Paralegal, LLC ; we can help!

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National Entrepreneur’s Day

Mon, 18 Nov 2019 16:43:00 GMT

National Entrepreneur’s Day is yearly event occurring on the third Tuesday of November (November 19, 2019) that honors people who have built businesses from no more than an idea. Entrepreneur take risks to help shape industries. Their brilliant ideas often revolutionize the way people work, shop, and think about industries.

Celebrating National Entrepreneur’s Day

Six ways you can celebrate National Entrepreneur’s Day:

Five things beginning Entrepreneur should do

So, here’s five things you should do when becoming an Entrepreneur:

Let us help you – National Entrepreneur’s Day BVParalegal

Kick Off Entrepreneur’s Day – Start your own business

If you are contemplating starting your own business, your time is now! Roll up your sleeves and start writing your business plan. Don’t know how to get started?

We’re here to help! Contact us to learn more about our consulting service specifically designed for business owners and freelance paralegals!

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How to determine your rates

Wed, 13 Nov 2019 03:42:00 GMT

Do you know how to determine rates for your freelance or virtual paralegal business?

You’re cordially invited to an exclusive video conference for Virtual Paralegals who want to build their business dramatically!

Join us and learn:

WARNING: SPACE IS LIMITED, AND THESE LIVE INTERACTIVE TRAINING SESSIONS ALWAYS FILL UP FAST!

THIS EVENT WILL BE NO EXCEPTION. CLAIM YOUR SPOT TODAY!

Attendees who join via their computer should have a webcam and microphone. Video conference is an interactive session some attendees may be able to interact with the presenter. Attendees may also be given the choice to join by phone. Call-in attendees will not be able to view presentation.

The event may be recorded. By attending Best Virtual Paralegal events guests and attendees are consenting to being filmed and recorded.

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Calling All Speakers!

Mon, 11 Nov 2019 20:12:00 GMT

Calling All Speakers!

Calling all Speakers – Are you interested in sharing your knowledge with legal colleagues around the country? Best Virtual Paralegal is always seeking qualified guest speakers to present at our webinars, live seminars, podcasts, other CLE & general events. Interested parties should send a written proposal to us, if you meet our requirements.

Requirements

CLE Event Applicants

To qualify as a guest speaker for CLE events applicants must possess:

General Interest Event Applicants

To qualify as a guest speaker for general interest events applicants must possess:

Speaker’s Written Proposal

All prospective speakers should send a written proposal for Best Virtual Paralegal’s planning and event committee for consideration. The written proposal should include:

If selected as a speaker, the information prospective speakers provide in each proposal will be used in the program brochure. Please be sure to use spelling correct, all relevant titles and degrees are included.

Proposal submission that do not have all the above information will not be selected for a presentation. Prior to sending your proposal please read our privacy policy, terms and conditions.

Also note, it may take up to 60 to 90 days for Best Virtual Paralegal’s planning committee to approve / review your proposal.

More information

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2019 Veterans Day Free Meals, & Discounts

Mon, 11 Nov 2019 01:49:00 GMT

2019 Veterans Day free meals & discounts. As Veterans Day approaches, we will continually update this list as restaurants and companies announce their Veteran’s Day specials. Generally, offers are announced just before Veteran’s Day in late October and early November.

Applebee’s
Veterans and Active Duty Military can select a free meal from a limited menu on Veteran’s Day. Provide proof of service required.

Baker’s Square
All veterans and active duty service members receive a free meal on Veterans Day (Nov. 11).

Best Virtual Paralegal, LLC

All veterans and active duty service member lawyers receive a discounted hourly rate. Provide proof of service required at the time of quote or intake.

BJ’s Restaurant
On Veterans Day, all service members can enjoy a complimentary entree up to $14.95, plus a free Dr Pepper, by presenting a military ID or proof of service.

Buffalo Wings & Rings
Veterans & Active Military Members will receive 5 Free Boneless Wings with choice of sauce and a free non-alcoholic beverage all day on Monday, November 11, 2019. Dine-in only. Military ID or proof of service required.

CentraArchy Restaurants
On Monday, November 11 CentraArchy Restaurants are showing their gratitude by honoring veterans and active duty military service members with a free entrée. Includes California Dreaming, New York Prime, Chophouse ’47, The Tavern at Phipps, Carolina Roadhouse, Joey D’s Oak Room, Gulfstream Cafe, Chophouse New Orleans.

Chili’s Grill & Bar
All veterans and active duty military personnel can choose a complimentary meal from a select menu on Veterans Day 2019.

The Chop House
On Mon., Nov. 11 ^th veterans with military ID or in uniform get 50% off any dine-in lunch or dinner entree.

Connors Steak & Seafood
On Monday November 11th, Connors Steak & Seafood locations in TN, AL, and FL are offering 50% off any dine-in lunch or dinner entree to all active duty and retired service members with military ID or in uniform.

Cotton Patch Cafe
Veterans and active duty may enjoy a free Chicken Fried Steak or Chicken Fried Chicken on Veteran’s Day.

Country Cookin
All active, reserve, retired, and honorably discharged members of the U.S. military are invited to dine on Veteran’s Day, November 11th.

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store
Veterans receive a complimentary Double Chocolate Fudge Coca-Cola® Cake dessert or Crafted Coffee beverage. Plus, an opportunity for guests to make purchases that support Operation Homefront. Veterans Day only.

Eat’n Park
All active and former United States military personnel will receive a special 10% discount for the entire month of November.

Famous Dave’s
On Nov. 11 in honor of Veteran’s Day all former and current military personnel will receive a free two meat Combo.

Golden Corral
On Monday, November 11th, 2019 from 5 PM to 9 PM, Golden Corral offers a free sit-in “thank you” dinner for Military veterans, retirees, and active duty members.

Grub Kitchen & Bar
Past and present military get a complimentary entree on 11.11.2019. Grub provides an ongoing year round discount for veterans by offering a 10% percent off any purchase with a valid military I.D. or uniform.

Houlihan’s
Receive a free entree from a select menu on Veteran’s Day 11/11 with proof of veteran status or active service in the military.

Joe’s Crab Shack
On November 11th, all veterans can enjoy 20% off.

Little Caesars Pizza
On Saturday, November 11, from 11am to 2pm, veterans and active military members can receive a free $5 HOT-N-READY® Lunch Combo.

Lucille’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que
On Veterans Day (Nov. 11), active and former military can enjoy a complimentary dessert, and a 20% discount with proof of service. Veterans receive 20% off the entire month of November for ‘Military Family Month.’

Manhattan Bagel Company
Monday, November 11, Manhattan Bagel will offer a free bagel and cream cheese to all veterans at participating locations. All active, former and retired military personnel are invited to visit their local store to take advantage of this one-day promotion.

Mission BBQ
Veterans and active duty will receive a free sandwich and slice of cake (while supplies lasts) on Veterans Day, 11/11/19.

O’Charley’s
All active and retired military service members are invited to enjoy a free meal from O’Charley’s. Veterans can choose from O’Charley’s “Veterans Thank You Menu” all day on November 11 simply by showing their military IDs. Restaurant participation may vary by location. O’Charley’s also offers military discount of 10 percent off all year long.

Red Robin
All Veterans and Active Duty Military get a free dine-in Red’s Tavern Double Burger and Bottomless Steak Fries on Veterans Day 11/11.

Village Inn
All veterans and active duty service members receive a free meal on Veterans Day (Nov. 11). Village Inn also offers military discount of 10 percent off all year long.

White Castle
Military veterans and active duty military who show proof of service can visit a participating White Castle location on Nov 11th and receive a free breakfast combo or castle combo meal #1-6.

Yard House
Veterans and active duty military will receive a complimentary appetizer on November 11 with valid military ID. Offer is valid for dine in only.

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Guest Speaker Guidelines

Thu, 07 Nov 2019 21:38:00 GMT

Guest Speaker Guidelines – 2019 –

Best Virtual Paralegal suggests the following guidelines to help guest speakers when providing a presentation at a Best Virtual Paralegal LLC meeting, teleconference, webinar or conference. These suggestions also work well as reminders for presentations sponsored by other companies and venues.

Presentation Decks – Slides

Guest Speaker Materials

The goal of offering the above guidelines is to aid us in satisfying the needs of our audience and to help our guest speakers keep their audience engaged in our educational programs and offerings.

For more information how you can become a guest speaker with Best Virtual Paralegal visit the Calling All Speakers post today!

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Proper Phone Etiquette in the Workplace

Tue, 29 Oct 2019 12:27:00 GMT

Proper telephone etiquette in the workplace is very important. Proper telephone etiquette can be ultimate keys to gain positive impression from clients. There is a right way of making or answering calls and you must adhere to the rules especially when you are representing a law firm. It is essential to ensure that every call is properly handled with professionalism and excellence.

Here are some proper phone etiquette tips that can help you

Proper telephone etiquette in the workplace is a vital skill for lawyers and paralegals to possess. Proper etiquette can help boost trust, productivity, and efficiency between co-workers and clients. Need help developing proper phone scripts for your office? Contact us – we can help !

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2019 Holiday Schedule – Holly’s Favorite Time of the Year

Mon, 28 Oct 2019 12:03:00 GMT

2019 Holiday Schedule – Holly’s favorite time of year, which means soon we’ll be out of the office chugging mugs of cocoa, singing Christmas carols, stuffing our faces with turkey, cornbread with a side of pie, and attempting to fulfill Holly’s life-long goal of memorizing every single line of A Christmas Carol .

To aid you with managing cases and the hustle and bustle of season here’s Best Virtual Paralegal, LLC’s 2019 Holiday Schedule from November 1, 2019 to January 20, 2020!

Specific information about how our staff will be handling, monitoring, and responding to emergencies and their individual appointment schedules will be posted in the client portal as we get closer to each holiday listed below.

Thank you for choosing Best Virtual Paralegal, LLC, and we look forward to providing a smooth and seamless support experience for you. If you have any questions about our 2019 holiday schedule, please contact us .

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Adobe Leaks 7.5 million Creative Cloud User Information

Sat, 26 Oct 2019 16:48:00 GMT

In Tech News – October 25, 2019

Adobe leaks nearly 7.5 million Adobe Creative Cloud user information. Accounts exposed on the internet when an employee left a database open to the internet without a password. Details leaked are said, not to include” passwords or financial information”.

Exposed information included: email addresses, member IDs, country of origin, products used, account creation date, the last date of member login. And whether the account belonged to an Adobe employee, subscription, and payment status.

In a security blog post , the cloud-based software company blamed the incident on a misconfiguration to one of its “prototype environments”. This led to the server becoming exposed on the internet. In its’ statement the company suggests creative cloud customers with any questions or concerns to contact them. The company secured the leak on the same day the incident was reported.

Adobe Suggests

Furthermore, the company suggests users should:

1. Heighten their guard against phishing scams;
2. Login to Adobe account and change password; and
3. Change user ID.

Come back next week, for more Tech News designed to help you protect your data online.

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What’s Your Firm’s Electronic Mail Policy

Sun, 21 Jul 2019 18:31:00 GMT

What’s your firm’s Electronic Mail Policy? Does your support staff and clients know what is acceptable to share via electronic mail? Does your firm have a written electronic mail policy for your staff to sign? No? Then this article is for you! In this quick tip of the month, we will share few reasons law firms should have a written electronic mail policy. We‘ve provided a sample policy to help your practice develop a great internal policy.

Why Law Firms Should Have An E-mail Policy

More than ever law firms rely on email as a primary way of communicating with staff, clients, courts, and opposing parties. As an owner or principal member, it is important to protect your practice from liability, data breaches, and bad public relations.In addition, believe or not, it is crucial that you nurture and foster positive and common sense. That is exactly what an electronic mail policy should do.

When writing your policy keep these four (4) main reasons in the back of your mind. You want a policy that will:

Sample

As cloud computing, electronic filing, and virtual law offices are gaining popularity, local courts and bar associations have enacted their own rules for electronic mail. And it should be understood, local court rules and professional rules of conduct and ethics may vary between jurisdictions. Your state may have its own guidelines and suggestions for using email in a law practice. Therefore, prior to drafting your policy you should consider reviewing all the guidelines outlined by your jurisdiction.

In conclusion, having Electronic Mail Policy is a great tool to help manage, nurture, and promote a work culture that will enhance your firm’s individual goals and brand.You email policy is a great training tool. Does your firm need help with preparing, assembling, and training new employees? We can help! Contact us today to start developing a training plan for your practice!

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LEADERSHIP IN A LAW PRACTICE

Sat, 13 Jul 2019 01:47:00 GMT

Leadership in a law practice does not rely on education, titles, job responsibilities, the ability to exert power, or seniority. Great leaders can emerge at any level in a law practice. Although, there are thousands of recommended qualities that make a good leader; to find your firm’s leader look for that one individual who possesses astounding social intelligence, a gusto for change, and above all, the ability to set his or her focus on the things that merit attention.

Attorneys are required to set the goals for the legal matters handled by the practice, but that does not necessarily make them the leaders. Leaders in law practices have special qualities that often outshine the mental legal work of the attorneys.

It’s the job of leaders to develop, cultivate, and nurture goals — establish what matters, articulate why it’s important, and inspire others to want to help him or her reach and achieve the desired outcome. Great law practice leaders nurture and spark positivity and a desire in those with whom he or she collaborates with to strive to achieve the goal of the legal matter.

TOP 3 SKILLS OF LAW FIRM LEADERSHIP

How to exercise the ability to predict the reactions of co-workers?

Use the observations to develop positive, upbeat responses to their negative Nelly attitude. This may not clean your space, but it will help you exercise how to read people. The better a leader is at reading their co-worker’s gloom and doom responses, the faster the leader can become at facilitating positive responses. Being able to respond with a positive thought quickly, the easier it is to rally the team to do what needs to be done.

Being a leader does not always mean you are the boss, owner, or the lawyer. Paralegals, file clerks, appointment setters, and administrative assistants can emerge as the leader of your law practice. Look for the person who – shines when it rains, sings when there is no music and emails like it will be read in a deposition one day.

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Be an ALLY for LGBTQ Clients

Sun, 02 Jun 2019 13:01:00 GMT

Top Three

Historically, society has not been a good ALLY towards the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, also known as Queer, (LGBTQ) community. Law firms are not exempt from the intolerance of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, also known as Queer, community. These negative attitudes may still affect how law firm staff unintentionally interact with LGBTQ clients.

As part of Best Virtual Paralegal, LLC commitment advocating for our friends, family, and colleagues within the LGBTQ Community here are some helpful tips to assist your law firm in becoming more of positive influence, a stronger advocate, and overall ALLY for LGBTQ clients.

1. Make your office space friendly to LGBTQ people.

Due to the years of intolerance and discrimination faced by many LGBTQ people, an LGBTQ client still may assume that a law office is unfriendly towards the LGBTQ community until he or she receives a clear, direct indication otherwise. Use visual cues to indicate your office is a safe and welcoming legal services provider towards the LGBTQ community. Here are a few ways to transform your reception area and your website to nurture a healthy relationship with LGBTQ clients:

2. Train your staff to use language that does not implicitly assume or state a client’s sexual orientation or gender.

This can be hard for some employees to grasp or understand; therefore it’s recommended that you train your staff to form a habit to use inclusive language that does not assume the gender of a client or a significant other or spouse of a client. Here are a few tips and recommendations to help reinforce your firm’s all-inclusive language training:

3. Reach out to organizations, other law firms, and paralegal companies who have experience working with LGBTQ legal issues to help your firm build a co-op of resources for all clients.

The laws affecting the LGBTQ community are complicated and are continually changing. Don’t unintentionally add to the complexity of the legal process by failing to educate, guide, and help your staff in understanding the importance of reinforcing and nurturing positive interactions with the LGBTQ clients.

Help your law firm stand out and stand up for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, also known as Queer community by becoming a more positive influence and a stronger advocate for all clients.

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Mobile Signatures – Sent via my I-Device

Wed, 23 Jan 2019 05:36:00 GMT

Mobile Signatures

By Holly A. Sheriff, MSLS , Edited By Lawrence A. Constance, BME, AS

You’ve received plenty of emails that end with “sent from my iPhone or my iPad” or other mobile email signatures. But are you and your staff using them the right way? Is your law firm sending the message you want or need to your colleagues and clients?

Regardless of what your opinion is about generic mobile email signatures, these signatures do serve a purpose. When communicating with clients, courts, and your paralegals via a mobile device, you can end up sending messages with typos or formatting errors.

Another common and annoying problem is that your message may be brief, sound abrupt, and come across as unfriendly. Setting up an email signature for your mobile device can alert people as to the reasons your message sounds harsh or has typographical errors in it.

Blaming Smartphones, iPads, and Galaxy Books for being too smart.

Smartphones, iPads, and Galaxy Books with features such as autocorrect and voice recognition are meant to make communication easier. Unfortunately, most of the time these features do the opposite. Chances are your colleagues, clients, and support staff can relate to these issues.

You don’t necessarily need to tell folks what device you are using. Unless, of course, you have incorporated it into your workflow as a nugget of information. For example, in my office, my generic signature helps tell my staff what I am doing and where I am doing it from.

The moral of the story is that mobile devices are useful, but generic signatures get a bad rap. There are some simple and more effective ways to use your mobile signature which will give your recipients useful, welcomed information and still communicate that you are working on the go.

What should you include in your mobile generic signature?

Poking fun at technology may not be the best option for a law firm, although if sarcasm is your language of choice when communicating with colleagues, clients, and court personnel, adding a little humor to your already brief and stale message could add a little self-charisma to your message.

While there is no right or wrong answer as to what you should include in a mobile signature, be kind to your recipients and use the communication as a marketing opportunity and share information about your business or office.

Here are a few things you should include in your mobile signature

Yes, it would be easier to simply have a mobile signature that states, “sent from my iPhone or my iPad”, but if you are working on the go, isn’t it reasonable that the recipients of your messages are also working from the road? Do your contacts a favor and include a few extra lines with your complete contact information. That way if your message does become garbled by autocorrect or Suri tries speaking for you too much and misspeaks, the recipient has all the information needed to contact you for a redaction, correction, or clarification.

In today’s complicated and fast-paced world, it is easy to forget the personal touch that can win over the recipient of your email. While you need to be concise in the information that you provide, it never hurts to take a line or two and add a personal touch. Evoking a chuckle in your reader can sometimes make harsh news a bit easier to convey.

Find out what Best Virtual Paralegal, LLC can do for your firm contact us today !

~ Best Virtual Paralegal, LLC ~
Local Telephone (717) 747-3588 | Local Facsimile (717) 357-2443
Toll-Free (888) 497-6449 | Toll-Free Facsimile (877) 395-9437 | info@bestvirtualparalegal.com www.bestvirtualparalegal.com

Best Virtual Paralegal, LLC does not accept unsolicited fax advertisements. Best Virtual Paralegal, LLC does not accept unsolicited resumes through our contact us page.

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“REINVENTING THE WAY ATTORNEYS AND PARALEGALS WORK TOGETHER”

Sat, 19 Jan 2019 13:51:00 GMT

Best Virtual Paralegal, LLC’s Checklist for Attorneys wanting to hire a self-employed paralegal 2019

With the Latest Technology

By: Holly A. Sheriff, MSLS , Editor: Lawrence A. Constance, BME, AS

In the last decade, the legal community and technology have finally caught up with my vision for Best Virtual Paralegal. On February 2, 1991 over a year after I started freelancing, I set the original mission in motion when I drafted a small business plan on a napkin with the following phrase at the heart of my crazy idea:

Since 1998, technology has played a huge role in our small Mom and Pop enterprise. In fact, in the last 21 years, because there have been so many advances in technology, our company spares no expense when it comes to intergrading tools into our day-to-day operations. When you are searching for a virtual paralegal company to assist your firm you want to look for a company that has embraced technology without sacrificing safety, communications, mobilization features, and cost efficiency.

Stop throwing money away by supplying tools and legal research portals for paralegals

In the last few years, I have heard horror stories from colleagues and clients about what other freelance paralegals expect attorneys and law firms to provide to the “so-called virtual/freelance paralegal”; at the expense of the law firm. We don’t want to see any law firm fall victim to the “so-called freelance paralegals who do not cover his or her own business expenses”.

A reputable paralegal company will have business plans built on safety, communications, mobilization features, and cost efficiency.

INTERNET SAFETY

When it comes to shopping for a virtual paralegal, you need to ask the prospective company if they use paid versions of the following internet safety tools:

A top-notch virtual paralegal company should be well-trained in using and deploying all of the above internet safety tools. The company should not charge your law firm for its subscriptions and the cost of the deployment of these features.

Secure Mobile Features are important. Did you know there are affordable secure communication tools virtual paralegals should use?

Communication

When working with a virtual paralegal, communication is super important! You should anticipate that there are new challenges on the horizon that you never thought of before. When your firm is speaking with a virtual paralegal, you’ll want to ask if the paralegal:

Buyers beware; in recent years we have come to find there are many freelance paralegals out in social media land that think it is okay to use his or her employer’s software and phone lines to render services to other law firms. Virtual or freelance paralegals should not use any tools or equipment owned by another law firm or person.

Other questions you may want to ask

Nationwide paralegal companies should have all the same communication tools as your law firm. You should not have to pay or provide access to your phone systems. Virtual paralegals should pay for all the customary office communication tools they need to render services to you and your clients.

At Best Virtual Paralegal, LLC we believe cost efficiency should be at the core of our services. Therefore, we believe that when you are looking to retain or hire a self-employed paralegal, one of the rewards your law firm should enjoy is NOT paying for tools on behalf of a paralegal.

These tools include:

Exceptions to every rule……

It should be noted that there are a few exceptions to every rule. Depending on your type of law practice and the software you use to prepare documents, the Family Law Software, and BestCase Software does not typically sell their products to paralegal companies.

Therefore, these software companies typically provide a free virtual seat for you to share with your virtual paralegal, subject to the terms and conditions of your licensing agreements with each respective company. Free virtual seats may not be available in all markets. For more information, you should visit each company’s respective websites.

Additional Perks Your Law Practice Should Enjoy

In addition, during your search for a virtual or freelance paralegal, you should seek a company that supplies and pays for its own:

The only things you should expect to pay when working with a reputable virtual paralegal are:

All other business-related costs such as finance charges, interest fees, and credit card machine charges should be paid by the paralegal company as a cost of doing business. You and your clients should not have to pay or reimburse a paralegal his or her company’s customary business-related expenses.

Before you start looking for a paralegal service provider, sit down and calculate what you would expect to pay to have an office for an employee, then take a look at our list. By the time you finish your comparison, you should see substantial savings in operating costs.

Find out what Best Virtual Paralegal, LLC can do for your firm contact us today !

~ Best Virtual Paralegal, LLC ~
Local Telephone (717) 747-3588 | Local Facsimile (717) 357-2443
Toll-Free (888) 497-6449 | Toll-Free Facsimile (877) 395-9437 info@bestvirtualparalegal.com | www.bestvirtualparalegal.com*

Best Virtual Paralegal, LLC does not accept unsolicited fax advertisements . Best Virtual Paralegal, LLC does not accept unsolicited resumes through our contact us page .

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Two ways to jumpstart using a virtual paralegal in 2019

Tue, 15 Jan 2019 14:35:00 GMT

Jumpstart your practice in 2019 with Best Virtual Paralegal, LLC

By: Holly A. Sheriff, MSLS , Editor: Lawrence A. Constance, BME, AS

As we begin the New Year, many attorneys are looking for ways to reduce their overhead expenses in the coming months and have decided to add a virtual paralegal to their team.

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Client Contact Guidelines

Sat, 27 Oct 2018 03:04:00 GMT

Whether you retain the services of a virtual paralegal or your law practice employs a traditional paralegal it is extremely important that you train, educate, and set Client Contact Guidelines for your paralegal and other support staff to follow when they are tasked with dealing with difficult clients. After all, it is a paralegal’s primary function to help you build, nurture, and maintain a happy, positive, and productive rapport with clients.

Here are Best Virtual Paralegal’s essential guidelines for establishing, nurturing, and inspiring a positive rapport with difficult clients:

1. Be professional, but warm, friendly, and approachable at all times.
2. Give the client 100 % of your attention during the contact.
3. Remember ethical considerations— start the conversation off by explaining a paralegal’s role to the client.
4. Explain the client’s role to him/her. Tell the client what the firm expects from him/her.
5. Set an excellent team tone for the firm. Let the client know you are his/her team leader/cheerleader.
6. Be considerate of the client’s time, convenience, and emotions.
7. Follow-up on the client’s requests the same day the request is received within business hours.
8. Be fully prepared before each phone call, meeting, or contact with the client.
9. Return the client’s phone calls and emails promptly. Even if there is nothing to report to the client because you’re waiting on something from the attorney or other parties. Touch base with the client anyway.
10. Be mindful of the client’s apprehension and concerns.
11. Help the client keep track of the main case issues.
12. Educate the client on the litigation/matter process.
13. Maintain contact with the client on a regular basis; even if there is no activity on the file.
14. Learn the client’s personality/body language and respond accordingly/warm/friendly.
15. Ask permission to record interviews – explain to the client the benefits of recording all interviews.
16. Be responsive and accessible to the client.
17. Empathize; do not sympathize or patronize the client.
18. Turn off all phones, IMs, and instant chat applications.
19. Avoid making any assumptions. Ask-Clarifying-Probing Questions.
20. LISTEN — LOOK— LEAN IN – EXPRESS GRATITUDE for the client’s efforts.

Effective communication guidelines are the cornerstone of a great law practice. Attorneys and paralegals who build, nurture, and maintain a happy, positive, and productive rapport with clients have happy clients – even the most DIFFICULT CLIENT can be nurtured into a happy client.

Does your law practice need a client communication adjustment? Best Virtual Paralegal, LLC can help your law practice with everything from setting up effective guidelines to help your staff or we can assist you with returning calls, text messages, and more! Contact us today!

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Accepting New Attorney Clients

Sun, 02 Sep 2018 17:44:00 GMT

We are accepting New Attorney-Clients and Law Firm-Clients

If you are ready to improve your law firm’s productivity and efficiency, so are we.

Best Virtual Paralegal, LLC is a paralegal service provider exclusively for law firms and solo practitioners throughout the United States. Our experienced highly skilled and educated paralegals are ready to help you get started .

We offer our attorney-clients a unique exceptional, expertise and focused service. Our paralegals and administrative assistants are accomplished, have distinguished themselves through academic excellence, in-house experience, and have worked with leading law firms from coast to coast. Consequently, we are able to provide our attorney-clients with the experience and expertise plus the highest level of personal attention, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.

We welcome any size law firm and solo practitioner in good standing with its respective Bar Association, that wants to improve its law practice’s overall client experience. Whether you’re a new attorney, experienced attorney, a solo attorney, medium size firm, or a big city boutique, we are happy to speak with you about your law practice’s goals.

Dedicated Paralegals — Focused on your practice, clients, and providing you peace of mind

Our paralegals have extensive experience, knowledge, and hands-on practical skills in the following areas:

The foregoing list is not an all-inclusive list of the products and services we offer. If your law firm needs assistance with something not featured herein, please contact our office and our friendly staff will help you develop a plan to meet and exceed your law firm’s business goals.

Our attorney-clients – who are generally solo, small, medium-sized firms-face challenging issues on a daily basis, and they count on us for sound collaboration, fast turnaround, efficient paralegal assistance and reasonable fees. Our small family owned setting is ideal for our clients to achieve their business objectives and aid them in delivering winning results for their respective clientele.

Our team is available to handle emergency and after-hour situations on a case-by-case basis upon request. If you are in need of emergency or after-hour assistance, please call the office at (717) 747-3588. Some restrictions may apply based on the complexity of the matter.

In most situations, one of our emergency paralegals will be able to assist you the same day that you call. We always do our best to accommodate clients who are in a panic as soon as possible.

info@bestvirtualparalegal.com | www.bestvirtualparalegal.com

Paralegal Services Advertising. This publication in accordance with the laws and regulations of certain jurisdictions within the United States may be advertising materials. The author is not an attorney or law firm and she cannot give legal advice or practice law. Best Virtual Paralegal, LLC’s paralegal services are exclusive for attorneys and law firms licensed in the United States. Best Virtual Paralegal, LLC offers paralegal and educational training for attorneys and paralegals. All speaking engagements are for general information only. All Attorney-Clients are required to supervise, review, and approve all tasks.

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Proofreading tips for attorneys and paralegals

Sat, 11 Aug 2018 21:16:00 GMT

At the request of a reader, our editorial team has compiled a list of some of the legal industry’s best practices for proofreading and editing. Proofreading is tough to do unless you are a proofreading and editing someone else’s work. What do you do when you are the attorney or paralegal asked to not only draft a document, but you must proofread and edit the document too?

Believe it or not, this is often a common task for paralegals and attorneys. Quite often, Attorneys instruct paralegals to write, proofread, and edit the pleadings and motions produced by the law firm.

General Proofreading and Editing Tips

There are some very simple tips which can help you learn to proofread your own documents:

Listen for:

Proofreading is not a race

Proofreading and editing your documents should not be a fast process — slow down — take your time and try to:

Personalize the process of proofreading and editing your pleadings and motion

Some paralegals and attorney find it helpful to take a personalized approach to proofread and editing. Here are some of our favorite legal editing and proofreading tips:

Proofreading and Editing Tips: USING A COMPUTER

However, “spell check and grammar checking” software can give you a head start.

This is far from being a complete list of proofreading and editing tips, but I think you’ll agree whether you’re a newbie paralegal/attorney or a seasoned law firm warrior there are enough tips to form a solid proofreading and editing a best practices checklist.

We hope you have enjoyed this edition of the Writing Chronicles! See you next time.

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Career Opportunities Virtual Paralegals

Wed, 08 Aug 2018 16:57:00 GMT

Best Virtual Paralegal, LLC is looking to expand and grow its team with experienced, self-motivating paralegals who share in our enthusiasm for creating the BEST experience for our supervising attorney-clients.

Ideal Candidates

The ideal candidates for our paralegal positions require 5 or more years of experience working in-house paralegal coupled with 2 or more years of experience as an independent contractor. Must be available during regular business hours for client contact. All Applicants must be self-starters driven by integrity, fast-paced environments, highly organized, dependable and possess strong people and paralegal skills. All candidates must demonstrate the highest and strictest level of confidentiality and professionalism.

REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL APPLICANTS

RESPONSIBILITIES MAY INCLUDE

How to Apply

Interested Applicants should send:

Submissions are not accepted without a resume cover letter, a letter of interest, three professional references from attorneys and rate sheet for services. Best Virtual Paralegal may verify references before scheduling interviews.

******* BEST VIRTUAL PARALEGAL, LLC WILL NOT ACCEPT WORD DOCUMENTS, FAXES, OR PHONE CALLS ABOUT CAREER OPENINGS****

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Excel shortcuts to help your practice

Mon, 06 Aug 2018 22:51:00 GMT

As a paralegal, I use Microsoft Excel every day to create spreadsheets, graphics, and trial exhibits. Here are some of the most common shortcuts:

Function Key Shortcuts

Function keys may not be available on all devices.

CTRL Shortcuts (Used in Microsoft Excel & Word)

The CTRL Shortcuts may look similar because they are the same CTL shortcuts from Microsoft Word . These shortcuts may not be available in all versions of Excel and Word.

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Paralegal Entrepreneurs are more

Sun, 05 Aug 2018 17:54:00 GMT

By: Holly A. Sheriff, MSLS

Edited by: Jackie Van Dyke, MPS, CP – Legal Writing Trainer

Being a paralegal entrepreneur is rewarding, fun, and arduous work. Becoming a paralegal entrepreneur was easy. It’s operating a business; my competition finds to be hard. Some days are better than others. Sometimes you have one or two clients, who believe in what you are accomplishing as an entrepreneur. Other times, a client becomes your biggest fan not because he or she needs to, but because it’s the right thing to do. At the end of every week, there is always one attorney or paralegal who can’t understand that the entrepreneurial journey is the same for every person who takes risks to start his or her own business — this includes paralegal entrepreneurs.

The Struggle is Real for the Paralegal Entrepreneur

The struggles I face as a business owner are the same for the attorneys. There are times, and I am not going to lie, I must explain to prospective clients I have the same goals, needs, and wants for my business as they do for their law practices. Some of the attorneys who call my office don’t understand that I, too, have:

The copycat struggle is real

The struggles I face as a paralegal entrepreneur are slightly different than my solo attorney colleagues. I must deal with copycat paralegals, freelance or the moonlighting paralegals, who do not understand the first thing about being an independent contractor or a paralegal entrepreneur. And it is always cutting into my profit margin one way or another.

The profit margin struggles are affected by a wide array of problems caused by unqualified competition, who believe they would love to work from home. However, most of this competition want all the same benefits as a traditional employee. Believe it or not, this ideology cuts into my profit margin. I lose clients to freelancers and copycats because:

It’s not always about who has the lowest prices or hourly rates. The decision to hire a virtual, freelance, or entrepreneur paralegal should be a decision built upon which of these individuals or companies can provide:

Sometimes it takes looking at what you do as a solo attorney entrepreneur to see the value of hiring a virtual paralegal. Therefore, if you are a solo law firm entrepreneur and you genuinely want to make a difference in your practice, try looking for a paralegal solution, which embraces the entrepreneur spirit, despite the struggles that come with owning and operating a business.

Despite the struggles, being a paralegal entrepreneur is the best career for me. It’s satisfying for my marketing brain, it’s great for my work ethic (I work all the time), and it’s an opportunity to help likeminded attorneys build law practices as businesses too. Sure, some days, I feel like I am the captain of the Titanic, but that’s how I know that I am a paralegal entrepreneur.

If you find after reading this blog that you want to know more about how a paralegal entrepreneur can help not only your law practice but your business too, call me. I’m always working.

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Writing A Short Content Copy

Sun, 29 Jul 2018 16:18:00 GMT

However, as most content writers will tell you writing a short copy is hard. You have less space to convey and support your idea. Content writing, whether it is for a tweet, Facebook, website, blog or headline is different from legal writing. As an experienced content writer, I have learned a few invaluable tips.

Tips for writing short content copies

Write a more extended version of your content copy as the first draft. Writing a long piece of content is easier than a writing a short zinger piece. Your first draft of any content copy should be longer than the intended final draft.

Use your longer content copy

Use your larger content to:

Images are prime real estate with your content copy

Take advantage of the photos in all your content. Make sure your pictures speak to your audience. Well-selected images should be ones that draw attention to your content copy. Try to avoid busy, flashy, and complicated pictures.

The perfect images can:

Writing is hard. Writing a short copy is even harder. The next you want to sit down and work on developing a short content copy – stop over thinking – sit down and write. Don’t worry about the character limit when you are writing. Work on shorting your content in your final draft. The more you write, the better you will become at shortening and strengthen your content.

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Free Gmail and Lawyers

Mon, 23 Jul 2018 07:06:00 GMT

Free Gmail accounts and lawyers have been the topic of discussions and debates from coast to coast since Gmail’s inception on April 1, 2004. I ‘d been working as a freelancer for over ten years by the time Gmail launched. I can remember having conversations with colleges about safety issues with free email. To me, it seemed to be a no-brainer — there is no way a free product can give you the level of security your clients deserve.

I would love to write a well thought out article about how using free Gmail accounts go against the attorney’s professional code of conduct, confidentiality, and blah, blah, but I am not going too. I will leave the legal debate for the lawyers and the Bar Associations. What I am going to tell you are all reasons lawyers, law firms, and paralegals should not use free Gmail or any free web-based email accounts as a professional means of communication-based on business principals.

I am always looking for ways to reduce costs and increase profits. However, there are specific areas of my business I will not cut corners to reduce my overhead my email is one of those areas. Here’s why:

It’s likely free Gmail accounts and lawyers will remain a source of debate among law firms and Bar Associations for a long time to come. I think there’s enough information about how Gmail can and will hurt your brand it’s worth finding another professional way communicate.

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Microsoft Word Shortcuts

Wed, 18 Jul 2018 18:51:00 GMT

Keyboard shortcuts

As a paralegal, business coach, and entrepreneur Microsoft Word Shortcuts are my favorite productivity tool. It’s incredible how many paralegals and attorneys don’t use word shortcuts. I’m hoping this blog can help a few attorneys and paralegals start using a few word shortcuts.

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THINGS TO DO AFTER HIRING A VIRTUAL PARALEGAL

Tue, 17 Jul 2018 14:30:00 GMT

Today is the day you’ve gone virtual. You finally hired a virtual paralegal. You’ve signed a service agreement, and you’ve spoken to the virtual paralegal, now what? Even though the hiring or retaining process is over, your work is not complete. Adding a virtual paralegal to your practice is a fantastic idea! Learn the top 5 things you should do after you hire a virtual paralegal to help your law practice!

Review your service agreement and/or welcome letter.

The first thing you need to do is review the service agreement or welcome letter to make sure you and your receptionist or client relation team understand and comply with the terms of service.

Complying with the terms of service can include.

Sharing your style and back up information.

Remember all law firms are unique in the way they prefer to draft pleadings, letters, and memorandums. When you first hire a virtual paralegal it’s important you take the time to have a conversation about your style and grammar preferences.

For example, I love using the Oxford comma! The Oxford comma is optional among some lawyers and they don’t use it. This would be a style preference your virtual paralegal would need to know.

It ’s helpful to provide a copy of your calendar if you’re a solo or provide the contact information for your in-house staff as an alternative or back up contact person for assisting with answering questions.

The success of your relationship with your virtual paralegal relies on maintaining open communication.

Open communication is vital to the success of your new virtual relationship. Maintaining an open honest line of communication between you and your virtual paralegal can mean all the difference. Most new law firms struggle in this area because they get caught up on the idea that virtual paralegals are a vendor.

Taking care of these things can ensure you and your virtual paralegal hit the ground running. If you have any more questions about what to do after you hire a virtual paralegal contact us .

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HOW TO SCRUB YOUR WORD DOCUMENTS

Sun, 15 Jul 2018 05:40:00 GMT

DON’T SHARE YOUR DIRTY LAUNDRY

HOW TO SCRUB YOUR WORD DOCUMENTS

Original Publish date 2015 last updated 7/12/18

It’s amazing how many attorneys and paralegals still ask us “How to scrub a word document and a PDF document.” This is the #1 question asked at all our webinars and live seminars within the past three years, since first publishing this brief tutorial on one of our blogs. Seriously, folks if you are not scrubbing your documents, you are sharing your firm’s dirty laundry with every person who can read your documents.

Don’t share your dirty laundry: Why is scrubbing your documents important?

All word documents and most PDF documents contain hidden metadata, which includes information such as:

You never want your opposing counsel or a judge to see any comments in your document that were between you and your paralegals. You certainly do not want them to see a comment that may contain confidential information about your clients. In fact, you do not want to share any information that may seem harmless, such as the date, you created the document, or who last edited the document.

If you must share a document in Word, you will need to take some extra steps to “scrub” the hidden metadata from the document. Indeed, you might want to “scrub” your documents as a matter of routine before sharing them with anyone outside your office.

1. Click on the File tab
2. Select Options
3. Go to the Trust Center box
4. Click on Trust Center Settings
5. Click on Privacy Options on the right
6. Check Warn before printing, saving or sending a file that contains track changes or comments.

Next, you must scrub the paper of hidden metadata. Turning off Track Changes will not scrub your paper of comments. Instead, you must use the Document Inspector to remove the hidden metadata. Here is how:

The Document Inspector will not remove highlighting, so you must remove it yourself.

Since we first published this How to Blog, there was only truly one way to scrub your word documents. However, as with all technology things have improved. There are now several software aids you can use to automatically scrub your word documents. Arguably, scrubbing document manually is the best option, because you can control what data is removed from your document.

If you need to share a document with the other side or the court, you should always share a PDF document. However, PDF documents can also have unwanted metadata. Therefore, you should consider sanitizing all outgoing PDF(s). Visit us again for a tutorial on sanitizing your PDF Documents.

We hope these instructions will help you become the best paralegals and lawyers you can be! Thank you for reading!

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Requesting Medical Records

Mon, 28 May 2018 21:00:00 GMT

Medical records

For Lawyers and Paralegals

Originally published in 2014 – last updated May 26, 2018

When your law practice involves working with clients who are injured in the workplace or injured due to medical negligence, medical product defect, slips, and falls or car accidents, you will have to request, obtain, and review medical records. Many paralegals and lawyers are confused by the task of requesting medical records. Best Virtual Paralegal wants to simplify this task by offering some helpful tips.

Many of the items outlined in this post are items, as paralegals, we ask our supervising attorney-clients to provide our office when engaging our services to work on plaintiff personal injury (PI) cases. The best and most efficient way to start requesting records is by creating robust procedures to help your firm get the information you need.

Best Practice Tips

Create a three-part checklist for your paralegal and other admin staff to use as a tool to guide them through the requesting process.

The most common part of this checklist comprises of all the documents and information paralegals need from the injured party. The items on this list help clarify that the contains of case file contains all the information needed to successfully obtain the records you’ll need, as the attorney. This information will help you to successfully negotiate, settle, or litigate the case to WIN. Your checklist should include:

The importance of gathering medical histories and EOB from the client

Medical histories from the client including medical and pharmacy histories prior to the injury and subsequent to the incident in question should be collected at the onset of the case. This will create a thumbnail sketch of the client’s medical care prior to the incident, by identifying prescribing healthcare providers as well as documenting medication taken (such as pain medication) to aid in supporting damages, the search for necessary records and in the review of the records.

In addition, you will want to train your paralegal to use the information on the EOBs to help him or her in locating billing and medical records. EOBS are important because some records may not be maintained at the same facility they originate from. And generally, hospitals and healthcare providers can use independent contractors for the billing of their respective services.

Collecting Billing Records

Best Virtual Paralegal keeps a separate checklist for Billing Records, which contains helpful information such as:

Hopefully, our brief overview and checklist for requesting medical records will help you streamline your internal office procedure.

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Do I Need A Paralegal For My Law Practice?

Fri, 11 May 2018 11:45:00 GMT

Woman using a laptop in court

Running a law practice requires a lot of help: an accountant, an insurance agent, a mentor, and maybe even a partner or an associate attorney, but do you really need a paralegal? There are times when a paralegal may be necessary. Here are a few scenarios in which your firm may need the services of a virtual paralegal.

1. You’ve taken on a case with a lot of pretrial discovery.

As a solo practitioner or boutique law firm, you will undoubtedly be in a courtroom two to three times per week. If you’re in court: when will you have time to hold your clients’ hands through the discovery process? Chances are high you will not be able to be in two places at once. Consulting with a virtual paralegal can provide you with affordable case-by-case solutions to help you gather, assemble, and file your client’s responsive answers and documents in a timely fashion.

2. You have to meet with Clients

Whether you are a solo practitioner or boutique law firm, you will have to meet with clients. But that does not mean you have to do it alone. Best Virtual Paralegal has been offering virtual/ video conferencing with its supervising attorneys and their clients since before 2003.

You as the attorney can start the meeting by speaking to your clients about fees, and legal issues. Once, you finish a paralegal via video feed can close the session by gathering, collecting, and interviewing your client for the facts of his or her specific case details. These virtual intakes are similar to the in-house intakes of the late 1980s, early 1990s with a twist of technology.

3. You have pleadings, motions, and other documents to draft.

Time management is hard to maintain when you’re a lawyer. There are aspects of your career you can never prepare for well-enough. Drafting your own pleadings, motions, and other documents isn’t hard — the hard part is finding the time to do it. Having a virtual paralegal on contract with your office can eliminate you having to draft your own pleadings, motions, and other documents. All you should have to do is review the final or draft work product to ensure it purports with the specific legal requirements.

4. You have issues to research, but you’re in court.

Again, it’s tough to be in two places at once not to mention— research tools are expensive. If you have a lot of issues that require research, a virtual paralegal can assist you. Using a seasoned virtual paralegal company, like Best Virtual Paralegal can save not only time but money too. As independent contractors, our paralegal staff pays for all the tools of the trade. Our virtual paralegals are here to help our clients get the most value out of running a law practice.

We understand a law practice is a business and practice. If you are in the market for virtual paralegal, contact us at Best Virtual Paralegal, LLC to learn how we can help. Call (717) 747-3588 or contact us online if you’re ready to get started.

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Connecting with us just got a little easier with our brand-new website

Mon, 02 Apr 2018 14:27:00 GMT

Our new website!

Connecting with us just got a little easier with our brand-new website. We are pleased to announce the launch of our brand-new website! After 4 months of hard work and dedication, we are delighted to officially announce the launch on March 31, 2018. Our goal with this new site is to provide our visitors an easy way to learn about Best Virtual Paralegal LLC’s services, solutions, and to allow visitors to browse information based on their own choices. The new website is interactive and gives a better access to Services , About Us , Team Members , and entry into the Client Portal.

The newest features of the website

Among the newest features, the site contains a new Blog, new FAQs , integrated social media buttons for Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Google Plus. This new feature is to improve our focus on connecting with Best Virtual Paralegal’s clients, prospective clients, and followers on a more personable level.

We will be constantly updating our content with helpful information, articles, blogs, news, company announcements and client successes in the News section and updated Service categories. Best Virtual Paralegal’s editorial staff will be updating the new Blog with some of our previous publications and updating them with fresh, new helpful information in the coming weeks.

During the process of building the website

During the process, of overhauling the website, we learned something about our fearless leader and CEO Holly Sheriff! She is A-type personality and she takes her business very seriously, but she also has a sense of humor. Check out our new Appellate Services page the evidence to support Holly’s sense of humor is featured there!

We hope you find the new website with a fresh look, easy to access information, and we also wish to establish this site as a source of information for those who visit our site.

A big thank you goes to all our amazing staff at Best Virtual Paralegal LLC and the folks at MyCase for helping us develop the new site with the end user and visitor in mind. If you have any suggestions, feedback or comments, please email us.

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Client Pledge

Mon, 02 Apr 2018 12:22:00 GMT

Last updated April 1, 2018

Best Virtual Paralegal, LLC employs the best employees, contractors, and volunteers to aid in, educating, empowering, and encouraging the attorneys and the people they represent, who have granted us the privilege of providing paralegal services to them. Attorney-clients and their clientele can expect Best Virtual Paralegal’s employees, contractors, and seminar volunteers to deliver services according to our Pledge to Clients . Best Virtual Paralegal’s staff will:

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10 plus things I hate about being a solo virtual paralegal

Fri, 19 Jan 2018 17:12:00 GMT

(And why I’m still happy being the Best Virtual Paralegal ).

When Marc and I first discussed this blog topic, my first thought was coming up with ten things I hate or love about anything would be easy. But, it was harder than I imagined; it was downright mind numbingly hard. Then, I started to think about my in-house law firm paralegal life versus my life now, as a nationally known virtual paralegal, business owner, and author. You see, I kind of dig the gig I built from the ground up, with a little typewriter that could, before going virtual was even a thing, let alone a cool thing to do.

Despite the level of difficulty, when I put my mind to it, I can come up with an annual list of things that really suck about being a solo virtual paralegal. In no particular order of loathing:

I HATE the collection of questions I get from in-house paralegals, the one that goes something like this, “Oh, wow, you’re a virtual paralegal, are you hiring or do you farm out work?”, or better yet, “Can you tell me how to become a virtual paralegal and give me all your work, all your trade secrets, and then I’ll become your biggest competition and friend all of your law firm clients on social media?” I hate these questions as much as I LOVE and enjoy the envy on their faces when I say, ‘sure; I will mentor you and coach you for a year for a small fee’ — because I LOVE being a paralegal and I love being a virtual paralegal more now than EVER before!

As the years move forward, it is getting harder for me to not say, “BEEP, when did I become a farmer?” Whoever started the trend of using the phrase “farm out work” must have been a non-professional because I don’t know any business owner whom “farms out work” other than real farmers. FYI: I HATE the phrase “farm out work” almost as much as I love hiring other paralegals as contractors to help me build my business.

I HATE NOT HAVING a full-time assistant. Yes, indeed! It sucks having to do your own filing, basic drafting, and answering your own phone in addition to working with not 1 or 2 partners/associate lawyers of a firm, but try answering to 10 to 15 firms all over the country, with two to three partners each, a countless number of associate lawyers, and the twelve to thirteen clients from each law firm that is only in one week out of the month! My company currently has 65 or so active law firm clients. You get over it!

The long hours I spent in a law firm, chasing one or two attorneys’ billable time sheets to put into Timeslips and chasing the paralegal billable time to make sure my employer made that magic number of billable time each month has been replaced with doing everything while working with the coolest attorneys on the planet, whom gives me actual paralegal work to do.

One day, I’ll hire a “real” employee to do the secretarial stuff that keeps my business open, but for now, I’ll settle for using a virtual assistant when needed, delegating non-paralegal tasks to my husband, Marc and enlisting Haley’s help to find the right contract paralegals. I may hate not having a full-time assistant and I may joke I hate people, but the truth of the matter paints a different story. I dislike the actions of people. In fact, it is people that have built my business and keep the virtual doors upon on a full-time basis. I LOVE surrounding myself with positive, honest, and hard-working people.

I HATE having to screen prospective attorney-clients. Some attorneys expect they have the right to treat me the same as they would an employee, without paying my income taxes, electric bills, not to mentation CLEs. Saying no to a good potential attorney-client is never fun, but the reality of it makes it all worth it. I have a “NO ASSHOLES” policy that lets me reject a prospective attorney-clients or an existing attorney-client if I think they are just a bossy jerk, that really wants an employee but can’t afford the overhead. And I do .

In 2018, I have enlisted the help of a local business attorney, Haley, to help me enforce my “NO ASSHOLE” policy. As a business owner it is important to have “people”. I love having people I can trust to help me build my business. In addition, I believe if I am going to have a “NO ASSHOLE” policy, I should be willing to ensure I enforce it the right way without becoming an asshole.

Plus, for every good prospective attorney-client I pitch to and accept, there is a bad one I screen out; then there comes two or three more that understand our relationship and are heaven to work with.

I HATE saying “no to a lot of social and family gatherings. This equation is simple: No Time + No Money = No Social or Family Life. Alright, that is being a little dramatic. But, the truth is I am still building my business, and my income is nothing near what it once was during my in-house years. Thank God, my husband loves noodles! Of course, I am less stressed out no longer on anti-depressants, and I do get more quality time with my husband and my dog.

Nonetheless, I wish my friends, parents, and siblings understood the business I am building is very competitive, fluent, and when the work comes in, I need to focus on doing it, because there is no guarantee tomorrow I will have the work I have today.

My career or my ability to do my job is not defined by the clothes I wear to the office everyday, please get over it. I am not ashamed to admit I LOVE wearing lounging pajamas to work almost daily excluding client video calls, of course.

I HATE NOT HAVING a regular salary. It was nice to get a big fat paycheck every two weeks, like clockwork, when I worked in-house. Since it has taken ten years or more for law firms to really take notice of what a virtual paralegal company can do for their practices, I am still an infant company in the middle of growing pains. My cash flow is not yet flowing to the point I can take a draw every month, it’s getting there, slowly.

1The license to have the “privilege” to be the best I can be. Renewed every year at tax time BVPLLC.

I do find it humorous that all the virtual paralegal want-to-be(s) and some attorneys out there in social media land, who think virtual paralegals will magically make more money being a virtual paralegal, have no overhead, and have more time to be with their family. But, I have come to understand why they think this way; it is not really their fault. It’s because all the schools, colleges, and career coaches out there in social media land feed into the newbies’ illusions, just to get the poor souls to sign on the dotted line and hand over their hard-earned money.

The truth is I have less time with my family, less money, and more bills since opening my business. I have just as much overhead as a law practice, except for the malpractice insurance, and that’s only because my insurance underwriters won’t sell it to me. Arguably, my overhead is self-created, but I would rather run my business like a real business versus playing at being a paralegal.

Therefore, I have a newsflash for the attorneys and paralegals out in social media land, who think being a virtual paralegal that I have no overhead expenses. Some of my overhead expenses include, but are not limited to:

I do still believe, despite the overhead, this is all a trade off, which works for my A-type personality; I LOVE TO WORK. I thrive at challenges, and I love taking risks and since I have cerebral palsy and skydiving is out of the question; owning my own business was the next best risk this gal on wheels could do, it’s a win-win for this gimpy paralegal gal.

I HATE the isolation. It can be awfully lonely and quiet in my office. I miss having other paralegals, attorneys, and support staff down the hall to bounce ideas off of, grab lunch at our favorite Mexican place, or just to have conversations with about the weather.

When virtual paralegal want-to-be(s) scoff at me when I tell them they should team up with an established paralegal and pay the paralegal business owner a small monthly fee for his or her coaching and mentoring for a year — I have to admit, I get offended. Because, who are these people, they want not only my knowledge, skill, help, and my job, but they DON’T want to put in the money or the time in to reap the rewards I have spent 25 years paying dues to do? I don’t get it. Maybe, it’s because I am old school and know I am not entitled to things I don’t earn myself. Whatever the answer, the reality is I am a people person with a strong, happy personality and the isolation of my day sometimes really can suck the life from me.

On the other side having a strong friendship with other virtual paralegal experts keeps me loving what I do. We keep each other off the ledge and share the tears, the successes, and the things that make my eyeball twitch, because I am too nice, to say what I am really thinking.

I HATE sharing my office with my home. My bedroom is literally right next door. It’s not hard to get to work; nonetheless it’s hard to leave work at the office.

Don’t even get me started on the dog. To the dog I am the intruder – she has a really bad habit of barking, while I am on the phone. The commute is awesome, and my attorney-clients like it too because I have a (nasty) habit of answering the phone outside office hours. I love the ability I have to work from anywhere any time of the day!

I HATE having to use my marketing degree to manage a website and link it to social media. As a virtual paralegal, I am not a web designer, and I don’t play one on TV. Since I first published this list, I managed my own website, as of January 1, I have increased my overhead once again, and outsourced my website to a guru. I am still the only person on the planet who can write and publish articles that interest my ideal clients. The only problem is my ideal clients don’t use or visit social media sites like most industries.

I still get very creative with my marketing plan, and there is no marketing guru, with a pricing budget the size of shoe strings that even knows what a virtual paralegal is; let alone what it is I do. Now, don’t get me wrong I love marketing! I hate the self-promoting aspect of building my business, self-promoting goes against my Christian beliefs. To boast and promote me just feels wrong. On the flip side to this, my company is an openly Christian company the only day I don’t work is Sunday and a few major holidays. I have also incorporated my Christian values into my business plan, and I do a lot of probono work.

For all the virtual paralegal want-to-be(s) and attorneys, again I must chuckle: what are you thinking? If you are still thinking a virtual paralegal does not have overhead expenses, we are just sitting at home waiting for work to come in and our rates are unjust based on lack of overhead we have to pay out, you haven’t been listening to my rant!

I HATE the attitude and the opinion that some vendors and paralegal associations have that implies that because I am a virtual paralegal and work from home that must mean I am not a “real paralegal” or “real business” because I don’t have a traditional brick and mortar office or a law firm that employs me and pays my taxes.

Although I shouldn’t, I spend a lot of time justifying the way I operate and run my paralegal service company to these folks. Then when they find out how many clients I have, where in the USA I work or have a satellite office, or that my collection rate and retention rate is 99%., Since my system is automated, they seem to want me to buy their services or products, join their private little clubs and /or hire their unemployed untrained sisters to become me. Again, on the flip side, these same skeptics of my business are one of the first people to refer attorneys to my office and stalk me on social media.

I have one question for social media groupies: Are you still trying to figure out how I do all the things I do in a 24-hour period and have a movement disorder like cerebral palsy? No worries folk all hilarious gimpy paralegals need fans. I really don’t mind. Keep watching, I might start doing tricks.

I STILL HATE the fact my Mother was right about everything when I first started my national business. However, I must say the sign she gave me to rub it in is PRICELESS! I love it!

T here you go. Being a virtual paralegal is not a work at home, get rich, quick fix to you hating your boss. You have to love hard work just as much as you love being a paralegal, and to be the Best Virtual Paralegal, you must be prepared not to make a truckload of money, make the time to build a village, and you must love all the annoying things that come along for the journey!

I love being the Best Virtual Paralegal

I even love the ten things I hate, but that is only because I love what I do and the company I have built. All the little annoying things make each day a new day of challenges and risks that I, the self-proclaimed, gimpy paralegal on wheels, is up to doing and doing them like the rock star powerhouse paralegal that I know I am!

The post 10 plus things I hate about being a solo virtual paralegal appeared first on Best Virtual Paralegal, LLC .

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