The Most Common Tasks That Lawyers Delegate to An Assistant
We talk about virtual assistants often on the Intelligent Office blog, but it's not always easy to imagine how their support can transform your own practice.
Today, let’s explore some tangible examples of the many ways virtual assistants can make a lawyer's life easier.
1. Phone Answering
Phone answering is one of the most common tasks that Intelligent Office's lawyer members delegate, and it’s easy to see why. Answering the phone disrupts your workflow and takes valuable time away from the case at hand.
Plus, if you aren’t available, you still get peace of mind that every caller will receive excellent customer service.
2. Appointment scheduling and confirmation
Scheduling and confirming appointments is another seemingly simple task that can eat into your time. Let a virtual assistant take it over to keep your calendar manageable and avoid double booking.
3. Booking travel
There’s no need to spend hours searching for the best deals on flights and hotels. Let your virtual assistant handle booking transportation, hotels, and other travel arrangements.
They can even make sure you have the right meeting rooms booked for mediations, discovery review, and more.
4. Inbox management
Give your virtual assistant access to your inbox and let them work their magic. Your VA can sort and organize emails based on priority, type of email, and any other parameter you need.
This way, you won’t have to dig through your inbox to find the most urgent correspondence. A virtual assistant can also respond to emails on your behalf, like messages from clients requesting directions to your office.
5. Note transcription
If you like to take notes by hand, have your assistant scan, transcribe, and file them in the appropriate place so that you always have easy access.
6. File organization
Speaking of filing, a virtual assistant can take that over, too. Simply give them the details on how you like things organized (or give them free rein to create a system that works).
If you’re concerned about confidentiality, be sure to ask your virtual business services provider specific questions about how they plan to protect the privacy of your firm and its clients. Providers like Intelligent Office take confidentiality seriously because we understand how vital it is to your practice.
7. Basic bookkeeping
Basic bookkeeping, including client invoicing, is the perfect job for a virtual assistant. Your VA can also help keep track of things like bar association dues and other recurring bills.
8. Social media management
Many VAs have experience with social media marketing. If you use (or want to use) social media to market your law firm, consider hiring a virtual assistant who has experience with major platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn.
With someone engaging regularly on social media, your accounts will grow and your firm’s brand recognition will increase substantially.
9. Basic legal research
It’s not uncommon to find a virtual assistant with a basic understanding of law. These professionals can help conduct simple research before a project is kicked off to you or your paralegal.
Some providers, including Intelligent Office, even allow members to request assistants with experience in specific industries.
10. Virtually any other administrative task you can dream of
Virtual assistants are the ideal solution for all of your law firm’s administrative needs, and this list offers a small sampling of the potential tasks you can outsource.
From ordering office supplies to client intake, your new assistant has the potential to become an invaluable resource. If that sounds like the type of help you need, don’t hesitate to get in touch with your local Intelligent Office today!
