I've found that attorneys in my area pay well and are grateful for help. I have one attorney client who calls me in the morning when he needs work done to be sure I am at his beck and call the entire day for revisions. He sends the check the next day. I would love to have another 20 clients just like him.

Cindy Freland
Maryland Secretarial Services, Inc.
www.webmss.com
"We meet your deadlines...not ours!"

Hi Cindy,

Attorneys are my target group as well. I'm glad to hear you have a good client. Maybe he can refer you to a few of his friends and you'll be set.

Sue

I have been a legal assistant for over 20 years. I have been trying to get my virtual business off the ground, but I don't know where to start first. I like your idea about making attorneys a target group. I am glad I read your post.

Virtuoso: If you want to target attorneys in your area, make up a mailing list from the telephone directory, buy your state bar association lawyers' manual, or order a list from www.infousa.com. With Infousa.com you can choose the specifics for the list. I like to get the attorneys with only one employee. That way you know the attorney is probably the only employee and he or she needs help because they don't have an assistant. Send out flyers or introductory letters to let those attorneys know you are available. I wish you luck.

Cindy Freland
Maryland Secretarial Services, Inc.
www.webmss.com

Hi

I too used to target attorneys. They can sometimes get so busy it's great (for us!).

I agree it helps to know their speciality so that you can target your marketing more towards how you can help in that specific area. Plus, some attorneys are busier now (with the economy) or at different times of year. You can kind-of tune into that as well.

If you are confortable stopping by offices the holidays are a great time to do that. You can take one of those cups of candy with the holiday cups (wrapped), and your business card attached. Their offices love those and will often set it up in their lunch area. It makes stopping in easier.

I used to look through the want ads too. I know many don't have success with this, but I did land one of my biggest attorney clients this way. They were desperate to catch up while they were filling the position. And fortunately they kept me long after they filled it.

Direct mail always worked for me too.

Good luck!!

Diana Ennen
Virtual Word Publishing

Wow, Diana, what a great idea. I can buy mugs and candy at the dollar store and wrap them up with plastic wrap and attach my business card. I might think about doing that next week. Thanks so much.

Cindy Freland
Maryland Secretarial Services, Inc.
www.webmss.com

I look through the want ads and fax or email my resume and a cover letter telling them I can fill in when they need help. I have never gotten any work from it though. I also have a Maryland State Bar Association's Maryland Lawyers' Manual. I have typed some labels from the manual and send out flyers. I have gotten a few new attorney clients from those mailings. A friend of mine is a paralegal and we have joint flyers to mail to attorneys. It helps advertise each other's services, cuts down on expenses and we offer more services to attorneys. Infousa.com is a great way to get contacts for attorneys. You can request only attorneys with one employee. Those are the ones who really need help.

Cindy Freland
Maryland Secretarial Services, Inc.
www.webmss.com

After 30+ years in the legal field, I decided to go full-time as a VA a few years back. Attorneys and legal-related work are my greatest source of income. They are also my best referrals for new business. If you can get in with one, you will get more. I have always loved legal work; I love it now more that I am no longer running around an office like a headless chicken. I also have a medical background and paralegal certification so attorneys find me very useful. Although many work with large offices (and I did work on a large multi-state class action suit for a firm based in Chicago for a number of years), I find solo practitioners and small offices are in great need of my services.

__________________
Karalyn J. Eckerle
"The RVing VA"

"I find solo practitioners and small offices are in great need of my services."

I agree with you Karalyn. I have been in business since 1997. I just started marketing more to attorneys as I find they need help, pay well, and really appreciate the help. You can go to infousa.com and do a search for attorneys with only one employee. Those are the ones who need the most help. I plan to get a contact list soon and mail out flyers with my own information as well as the information of my paralegal friend.

Cindy Freland
Maryland Secretarial Services, Inc.
www.webmss.com

I did not get around to doing the mugs for attorneys. I discussed the idea with my paralegal friend and she said it may not be a good idea in this area. She said the assistants would eat the candy, keep the mug and throw the business card away.

Cindy Freland
Maryland Secretarial Services, Inc.
www.webmss.com