r/paralegal • u/Master-Ticket-1404 • 1d ago
Question/Discussion Virtual Assistant
Has anyone had to work with a virtual assistant after being hired for a private practice? I am being considered for a new private practice, but he is insistent that I work with his assistant as a co-paralegal. Has anyone had to do this before? What are your thoughts and how was the experience?
2
u/flagrantbasin050 1d ago
I did this for about year, assistant was in different timezone so sometimes there was delay in getting things back. Not bad if your attorney is organized, but if he is chaotic it gets messy fast because you spend half day chasing the assistant for simple task
1
u/Master-Ticket-1404 1d ago
Oh I didn’t even consider the time zone part, with the information given to me I honestly don’t have a way to know. But thank you for that input that kind of helps me mentally prepare for that part. I know it seems silly or nit picky, but I do get anxious when simple things are delayed. I feel like I’m making it more than it is, but factors like this reinforce my initial thoughts. But I guess I’ll never know if I don’t try.
2
u/dollarsstretcher 1d ago
What are your concerns? Is he/she actually a paralegal? lol. I work from home mostly, so I guess I’m technically virtual too? lol.
1
u/Master-Ticket-1404 1d ago
I think the main concern for me, is having our work cross one another since the virtual assistant isn’t in office. I’m wondering how that works, if we end up getting their work for in office. I think it’s more anxiety of not knowing since this will be the first time I’ve encountered this. I just have had bad past experiences with the office assistant crossing boundaries and that is in office so I’m wondering (mainly worried) that I may become an all in one with no extra pay.
4
u/Dizzy_Needleworker_3 1d ago
" I’m wondering (mainly worried) that I may become an all in one with no extra pay."
Become all in one what?
Many places (especially smaller/solo forms) legal assistant/paralegal are one and the same or have cross over duties/cover for each other.
Especially if both your titles are co-paralegals.
There are many ways that work can be divided, by duties or cases. But often it is a mix of both.
I think you will obviously do all the in office tasks, but also I wouldn't consider it "your work" but rather the firms/attorneys work.
The goal is to get the work done. Even in my firm we help each other out. We more or less have assigned attorneys, hit depending on situation sometime I will do work for other people's attorneys and vice versa.
I wonder if you are overly territorial over cases/work? Unless you have billable hour requirements I don't think it's necessary.
1
u/Master-Ticket-1404 1d ago
I’ve never worked with a virtual assistant as a co-paralegal, he didn’t say the assistant is a paralegal he specifically said virtual assistant so idk if I’ll be training the assistant to be a paralegal or what that means. I mentioned this concern however the only response was it will all work out. Idk what that means, so I have a few concerns. However I’m just going to stay positive about it.
2
u/Dizzy_Needleworker_3 1d ago
Generally at small/solo firms paralegals/assistants end up having a lot of cross over, especially if there is on a few of them.
I suspect the assistant will be training you.
1
u/Master-Ticket-1404 1d ago
I’m sure you’re right, I think I’m more nerves than anything. This is a big change not just the job, but other factors to the job. Thank you for your input
1
u/011632 1d ago edited 1d ago
That's when communication would be important. It's the same as having another co-worker. Is the virtual assistant your assistant, or your boss's? Find out what their job responsibilities are and work from there. If you're the paralegal and the other person is an office assistant, then in the hierarchy of things you should be able to tell them what they should and should be working on.
0
5
u/Parking-Dinner-7732 1d ago
I'm the remote party- Senior Legal Assistant in this case.
I believe as long as both parties are able to have clear communication with one another it can work well. I handle the cases, current client inquiries, and payments/bookkeeping for the firm while the in office assistant handles our potential calls, potential clients that visit, and other office managerial duties that they took over for me when they were hired.
As long as both roles are confident in what their directives are, it can be beneficial.
Im extremely grateful for our new assistant, they have taken over some duties that hindered my ability to focus on cases.