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…
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…
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 recently helped to save the professional reputation of one of my attorney-clients (that might be a reach, but I did save her some embarrassment). I did not do it with my paralegal expertise; I did it with a few things I carry in my brief case/laptop bag. Maybe these items could save your reputation…
Last week I attended Solo Practitioner Boot Camp at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School, hoping to glean a few helpful ideas to pass along to my solo attorney clients. What I got was five hours chocked full of great information to share with you. I will just be hitting the high points as I condense…
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…
“It’s not easy being green.” Kermit the Frog “Green” as in different, out of the ordinary; not “green” as in inexperienced. When I attend local CLE’s or networking events, I am usually the only paralegal not employed by a law firm, corporation, or government agency. One of the most shocking things about working as a virtual…
More than ever before, your clients are demanding lower-cost, yet high-value legal services, which is exactly why you should be concerned with the certifications of the paralegals you work with. Whether you are are a solo or in a large firm; employ one paralegal or one hundred paralegals; occasionally contract with freelance paralegals or use…
The very things we thrive on in the legal profession such as the adversarial nature of the system; the duty to provide competent representation; and the ability to manage complex information, situations and people are also the things that can drive us down the road to burnout. I am not a counselor, psychologist or life…
Attention attorneys: Every improvement you make to the way you practice law will involve a little stretching, a little risk-taking. Your practice will never reach its peak without a willingness to try new things. If you have never worked with a freelance or virtual paralegal is it because: (a) Your practice is not busy enough…