Considering becoming a freelance paralegal? You should take a serious look at your motives, personality, experience, and finances, just for starters. I am going to give you the good, the bad, and the ugly on being a freelance paralegal versus being a law-firm-employed paralegal. I prefer bad news first, so here goes… • You will…
In today’s legal market, many small firms and solos operate on tight budgets with little or no support staff. What some attorneys fail to realize is that there comes a point when doing everything yourself actually costs you more than getting a little help from a contract, freelance or virtual paralegal (I use the terms…
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to start your own virtual paralegal business? I used to sit in Atlanta traffic each morning and dream of becoming a freelance paralegal (it was 1992 so “virtual” was not an option). In 1994, I began drafting a business plan to make my dream a reality….
Is there a difference between a freelance paralegal and a virtual paralegal? Which one should an attorney look for when needing some extra help? I don’t want to insult anyone’s intelligence, but the only difference is that a virtual paralegal’s work is all done virtually and a freelance paralegal’s work can be done at the…
I am privileged to work with very talented and forward-thinking attorneys. I realize working with a virtual or freelance paralegal is a little off the beaten path. One of the challenges I encounter is convincing firms to break out of the mold and try something new. Attorneys are change resistant, but those willing to move…
I enjoy reading about the latest tech gadgets and software. Who doesn’t want information about things to make your professional life more efficient, convenient, and productive? Technology makes my virtual work possible, but my favorite and most used items are completely no-tech or low-tech. Here some items that make my home office a very pleasant place for…
Document reviews have changed drastically since I became a paralegal in 1992. E-discovery is now its own industry and the market place is full of document review technology products that did not exist only a few years ago. Even though we have moved from paper to PDF, I have found something that remains the same…
I have been thinking about my career goals. I would like to be the perfect paralegal, wouldn’t you? Hmmm, what would make me the perfect paralegal? For starters, I would like to always know what the attorney wants; never make a mistake; only work on big cases; know how to do everything possible; and never get emotional…
2011 has been a very exciting year for me. I work with some of the best legal talent out there; it is truly a privilege. I wanted to say thank you and happy holidays in the warmest way possible. A video seemed appropriate. The holidays are hectic, so this message is less than one minute…
What puts you on cloud nine in your professional life? Is it a successful settlement, winning a motion, calming a client’s fears? For most litigators, it is winning in court. Last year, I represented myself in a small civil matter (less than $17,000) in magistrate court. Yes, I know what they say about someone who…