Everything is digital. Files, photos, and jobs. Where once upon a time you had to wake up daily, face the commute work a flat 9-5, commute once more and get to bed nice and early because tomorrow it was going to happen all over – nowadays we are relishing in the digital age. Not only is it more accessible to study, then set up from home, it is easier and more cost-effective in most cases for larger companies to hire you. You’ve got fewer overheads, your work is more personalized, and you are keenly focused on the job at hand. And, smaller doesn’t mean ‘less good’ either. There are millions of highly qualified people at home, working the hours they like and providing out of this world work. A few you have probably already thought about careers like virtual assistant, content writer or perhaps an accountant. But, have you thought about a virtual paralegal as a career option? The first thing you should know is that a freelance contract virtual paralegal does need to be overseen by an attorney. VP’s can’t give legal advice or perform legal work for individuals. In most cases a VP will work with either a lawyer or a small legal firm, meaning they can oversee and sign off on work.
A virtual paralegal still should have all of the qualifications that would be expected of an in-house paralegal, like a paralegal studies degree the difference is you’re going to be more efficient at a lower cost – making it a fantastic avenue to make money from home.
A Virtual Paralegal will perform some if not all of the following, plus more tasks:
- Legal Briefings
- Motion to Dismiss
- Request for Admissions
- Deposition Notices
- Project Management
- Demand Letters
- Legal Research
- Transcribing
- Deposition Summaries
- Petitions
Virtual paralegals are making the most of having a distinct set of skills and modern technology; all work can be completed by email, fax or through postal mail. With so many small and medium-sized firms needing to cut back in specific areas it is likely there will be a growth in the number of virtual paralegals, so if it’s something you would like to do, it would make sense to start getting your ducks in a row.
The VP’s annual salary isn’t too dissimilar from the in-house paralegal; you have the option to write your own rules when it comes to taking or refusing clients based on your workloads and the amount you would like to earn. An in-house may cost somewhere in the region of $62k. However, a virtual paralegal will likely require closer to $48k – great earning and savings all around, aside from the money, is the streamlining capabilities – they won’t need to have a payroll running for someone who isn’t currently being utilized.
You can also join with virtual paralegal teams for more significant clients; there are plenty of options – if you’ve got time to check it out. The usual rules of conflict would apply here, and it is imperative that you uphold all of the legal bindings of your role as a paralegal.
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