As law firms grow and legal work becomes more complex, many attorneys are turning to legal virtual assistants (LVAs) to help with everyday tasks. They work online, often from different parts of the world, and are trained to handle both administrative and legal-related duties.
Hiring a legal virtual assistant is a smart move for lawyers who want to save time, cut costs, and focus more on client work or court-related activities. If you’re wondering what kind of work you can outsource to a legal VA, here are the top 10 tasks they can help you with.
Tasks You Can Assign to a Legal Virtual Assistant
1. Legal Research
Researching the law is one of the most time-consuming tasks for any legal specialist. To aid you in developing your case or getting ready for a hearing, a legal virtual assistant can research legislation, court decisions, and legal publications.
They can:
- Use online legal databases
- Summarize court decisions
- Find legal precedents
- Prepare case law comparisons
This enables lawyers to obtain crucial information more quickly and make informed decisions without spending hours reviewing documents.
2. Drafting Legal Documents
Legal virtual assistants can assist in creating basic legal documents and templates. While they won’t provide legal advice, they can prepare the initial drafts for you to review and finalize.
Examples of documents they can draft:
- Contracts
- Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs)
- Client intake forms
- Legal letters
- Simple wills and trusts
By handling the first drafts, a VA can help you save several hours a week.
3. Calendar and Schedule Management
Missing a meeting or court date can be a disaster in the legal world. Legal VAs can help you remember crucial dates by managing your calendar, setting up appointments, and sending reminders.
They can also:
- Set up calls with clients
- Book meetings with co-counsel or paralegals
- Organize deposition and hearing dates
- Send follow-up reminders
This keeps your day organized and stress-free.
4. Email Management
A cluttered inbox can hide urgent emails or important client messages. A legal virtual assistant can organize your inbox, flag priority messages, and even draft email responses on your behalf.
They can:
- Filter spam
- Respond to routine inquiries
- Organize emails into folders
- Set up autoresponders
This ensures your communication stays professional and timely.
5. Client Intake and Onboarding
Bringing in new clients involves collecting information, explaining services, and getting documents signed. A legal VA can help streamline this process.
They can:
- Send and collect intake forms
- Set up client files
- Explain basic procedures
- Follow-up for missing documents
With their help, clients get a smooth and professional first impression.
6. Billing and Invoicing
Getting paid on time is critical, but billing can be time-consuming. Legal virtual assistants can help create and send invoices, track payments, and send payment reminders.
Tasks they can handle include:
- Creating detailed invoices
- Sending bills to clients
- Tracking overdue payments
- Reconciling payments with services rendered
With accurate billing, you reduce payment delays and improve cash flow.
7. Case File Management
Organizing case files is key to staying on top of your workload. A legal VA can help you keep everything sorted and easy to find.
They can:
- Create digital folders for each client
- Upload and label important documents
- Maintain version control
- Back up files securely
This saves time when you need to find documents quickly during client meetings or hearings.
8. Transcription Services
Legal professionals often record meetings, interviews, or hearings. A VA can transcribe audio files into clear, written documents.
They can:
- Transcribe dictations
- Prepare interview transcripts
- Format notes from court hearings
- Ensure confidentiality and accuracy
Having transcribed records makes it easier to review conversations and build strong cases.
9. Social Media and Online Presence
While not strictly legal work, building an online presence helps law firms attract new clients. A legal VA can manage your social media or website content.
They can:
- Schedule posts on LinkedIn or Twitter
- Write blogs about legal topics
- Respond to online reviews
- Keep your website updated
This helps you market your services without spending extra hours on digital tasks.
10. Court Filing and Document Submission
Some jurisdictions allow online document filing. A legal virtual assistant can take care of these tasks under your direction.
They can:
- Submit court documents electronically
- Check local court deadlines and requirements
- Track filing confirmations
- Update clients once documents are filed
This keeps your practice going smoothly and avoids last-minute rushing.
Final Thoughts
Legal virtual assistants give law companies a strong means of maintaining organization, productivity, and client focus. By delegating time-consuming or repetitive work to a skilled legal VA, you can take back control of your schedule, reduce overhead costs, and improve the quality of your legal services. So, if you haven’t explored hiring a legal virtual assistant yet, now might be the perfect time to start.
Need help figuring out where to begin? Start with just one task from this list and experience the difference it makes.
