how to work as a virtual lawyer

A virtual lawyer can own their own virtual law firm or work for a firm primarily remotely. Virtual lawyers must have a secure client portal to meet the eLawyering Task Force of the ABA’s concept of a virtual law firm.

Full Answer

Why are so many lawyers working for virtual law firms?

With several virtual work experience programmes, there is no need for an application. All you have to do is enrol on the programme at a time where you have the requisite free time to carry the tasks out meaningfully. A lot of work experience in law firms begin with a rigorous recruitment process with application, interviews and assessment days.

Should your law firm hire a virtual legal assistant?

What should you look for when hiring a virtual law firm?

What is the difference between a virtual and traditional law firm?

What is virtual receptionist?

Whether you’re working irregular hours and don’t want to miss a call, or whether you’re simply trying to keep your remote working experience as smooth as possible, a virtual receptionist service can help ensure no call goes unanswered. There are plenty of options available, including Ruby and Smith.ai.

What does it mean to work remotely?

As mentioned earlier in this guide, working remotely means you’ll need a replacement for meeting clients in-person. You need to look sharp, but communications need to stay secure. Legaler and Jive both fit the bill.

Why do I sit in front of my laptop for hours?

If you love your job, it’s easy to sit in front of a laptop for hours and hours in the name of productivity—but that’s a recipe for burnout. You need to take care of yourself in order to take care of your clients, so unless there’s an emergency, stick to your work hours and unplug outside of that time.

What is Clio Manage?

Case management software like Clio Manage allows you to keep all your cases, contacts, bills, calendars, and more organized in one place. With unlimited document storage and the ability to access case details from anywhere, a solution like this will be your law firm’s critical hub when working remotely.

What is Clio Connect?

Part of your subscription to Clio Manage, Clio Connect is a secure client portal that lets you easily share whatever you need with clients.

Do I need a law firm server?

If you’re planning to work remotely full-time, you may not need a law firm server at all! For these reasons, we recommend cloud-based document storage. Cloud-based document storage solutions allow you to securely access your files from anywhere in the world, as long as you have an internet connection.

Can you meet people remotely?

When working remotely, you may find video meetings replacing face-to-face ones with clients, co-counsel, opposing counsel, and a variety of other people. With the power of technology and a strong internet connection, you can meet anyone, anywhere, anytime!

Tech and tools for working from home as a lawyer

What are the basic tools and applications needed to run your law firm with employees working from home? Here are some helpful resources for legal professionals to get you started—from online credit payments to virtual receptionists.

How to implement cloud technology

It’s one thing to encourage employees to work from home, but in order for them to do it successfully your law firm needs the right processes and tools in place. Cloud technology can help you and your employees work effectively in any environment.

Lawyer wellness

Mental well-being can be a challenge in times of uncertainty. Check out these practical tips and tricks for law firms and legal professionals on how to make the most out of a complicated situation.

FAQs

For the most part, yes—it’s entirely possible to work from anywhere as a lawyer. Many lawyers and law firms around the world are already operating on a fully or partially remote basis. Depending on your practice area, you may still need to go to court or meet clients in person, which does impact your remote work plans.

How to become a virtual assistant?

To avoid miscommunication and disappointments on both sides, be sure to set expectations with your virtual assistant from the beginning. This could mean having a written contract or agreement so both parties are clear about what’s expected of the professional relationship. Some points you should consider including in your agreement include: 1 Clear and regular communication. In a virtual law firm environment, having clear and regular communication is a top priority. This will help you stay in the loop with project and task updates, and will ensure projects stay on track. 2 How you will communicate. If you prefer communicating via email, make that clear. You don’t want your virtual assistant assuming that video conferencing works at all times. Agree on the communication platforms you will use as well since there are many communication tools available. 3 Your law firm’s processes and workflows. Not all law firms work the same way. To ensure your virtual assistant works seamlessly with your existing processes and workflows, spend time onboarding your virtual assistant. This way, they will have a clear understanding of how things work. 4 Your management style. Do you expect your virtual legal assistant to work mostly independently? How will you delegate tasks to them? Is there a project management system you use? How often do you expect updates and reports on their work? How often and in what way will you provide them with feedback?

What are the qualities of a virtual assistant?

Be sure to check their previous experience and ask for references. Some key qualities to consider: Work ethic. Personality and rapport.

How many hours do lawyers spend on billable work?

Since the 2020 Legal Trends Report found that law firms only spend an average of 2.5 hours each day on billable work, it’s more important than ever to find ways to do more billable work and improve your law firm’s profitability. Also, legal virtual assistants can help your law firm increase efficiencies, scale more rapidly, ...

What is back office betties?

Back Office Betties provides specialized virtual legal receptionist services for solo and small law firms. When you hire Back Office Betties, you get a team that is an extension of your law firm. The team can complete client intakes, scheduling appointments, and seeing every call through to completion.

How to avoid miscommunication with virtual assistant?

To avoid miscommunication and disappointments on both sides, be sure to set expectations with your virtual assistant from the beginning. This could mean having a written contract or agreement so both parties are clear about what’s expected of the professional relationship.

What is remote legal assistant?

A remote legal assistant can take care of a wide range of routine tasks. These include managing client communication (calls, live chat, email, etc.), scheduling appointments, legal researching and writing, managing contracts, and accounting.

Can a virtual assistant ask a question?

In a virtual law firm environment, walking to a colleague’s desk to ask a question isn’t quite possible. However, that doesn’t mean your virtual assistant should be guessing how you want them to complete each task. By giving them clear instructions for each task—whether it’s emailing clients according to your law firm’s messaging guide or collecting payment from clients—the higher the likelihood of them completing the task successfully.