| Ever increasing numbers of attorneys hanging out | | | | duties you do not like doing, you are not properly |
| their own shingle are in dire need of administrative | | | | trained to do, or projects you never seem to be |
| assistance, but do not have the space, equipment | | | | able to get to. Better still, write down on your |
| or even workload to warrant hiring an employee. | | | | calendar or in a separate pad, each duty you |
| Many are forced to spend hours each day on the | | | | perform for one week. This will give you a |
| administrative duties required to keep their | | | | framework to decide what you wish to keep in |
| practice in business. While you may enjoy having | | | | house (i.e., accounting) and what you wish to |
| total control, there is only so much time in a day. | | | | outsource (i.e., typing). |
| Fortunately, a better solution is available in a little | | | | Since every VA is an independent business |
| known industry which is taking the business world | | | | owner, the methods for transfer of work, |
| by storm: virtual assistance. | | | | availability of services, and costs vary. Rates |
| What is a VA? | | | | range from as little as $25 to $100 per hour or |
| Virtual Assistants or VAs are business owners | | | | more based on the services provided and |
| who provide administrative and other services | | | | experience of your VA. Do not let what appears |
| virtually --through the use of electronic | | | | to be a high rate deter you - a good VA has |
| communications (telephone, e-mail, fax and instant | | | | systems in place to help their niche market and |
| messaging, couriers and US mail). Professional VAs | | | | therefore gets things done fast - certainly much |
| accomplish assigned tasks from their own well | | | | faster than you! Additionally, since you are only |
| equipped office, have years of experience in their | | | | charged for the time spent actively working on |
| chosen field, and are considered contract vendors | | | | your projects, an experienced VA is very cost |
| and not employees thereby eliminating the | | | | effective. |
| expense, hidden costs and headaches inherent in | | | | In many instances a VA becomes a strategic |
| the employer/employee relationship. While you can | | | | partner of their client's business, offering |
| locate a VA for almost any service imaginable, | | | | suggestions for improvement of processes, |
| common administrative duties performed by VAs | | | | methodologies for workflow, options for increasing |
| include word processing, desktop publishing, | | | | revenue, as well as access to their network of |
| contact and calendar management, accounting | | | | contacts within the growing VA industry itself. |
| billing, reception and travel arrangements. | | | | Once you have found a VA to work with, it is |
| Where Can I Find a VA? | | | | imperative that you sign a contract specifying |
| There are several VA industry organizations which | | | | that the nature of the relationship, types of |
| maintain directories of VAs based on | | | | services to be provided, deadlines/project |
| certifications, skill sets and specialties. One such | | | | parameters, costs, and any other details. This is |
| organization is the International Virtual Assistants | | | | to avoid potential misunderstandings, as well as |
| Association ( The IVAA maintains a free RFP | | | | confirm that the relationship is of an independent |
| (Request For Proposal) service for business | | | | contractor nature. |
| owners to post their needs and receive | | | | In short, if you are tired of taking care of the |
| responses from eligible members via e-mail. | | | | administrative aspect of your practice, want to |
| The Devil is in the Details: | | | | explore taking your business to the next level or |
| Before deciding on a VA, you need to determine | | | | simply could use a hand on occasion with a large |
| what you want them to do. Start with a list of | | | | or specialty project, consider hiring a VA. |