You do not need experience in the legal field. I started off typing requests for documents and interrogatories and I did not have any legal experience.

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

Originally Posted by webmss

Tamika: What are the networking events for attorneys? I have been targeting attorneys for about two years. I might have even sent your husband a flyer for my services and my friend Lisa Gibson, who is a paralegal. What is his name? Cindy Freland Maryland Secretarial Services, Inc. www.webmss.com

My husband is an attorney for US customs so you might not have found him as he isn't in a private practice, but many of his friends are.

__________________
Tamika R. Johnson, MBA, Principal
administrative partners, llc
www.administrativepartners.net | http://adminpartners.blogspot.com

Okay, thanks Tamika. What are the events for attorneys that you attend? I haven'[t seen you at the meet up in Bowie for a while. Are you going this week?

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

He attends Bar Association events.. I actually met the President of the Bar association who became a client.

Re Meet ups. .no.. they haven't really yielded much for me by way of target clients.. I'm trying other networking groups at the moment.

__________________
Tamika R. Johnson, MBA, Principal
administrative partners, llc
www.administrativepartners.net | http://adminpartners.blogspot.com

Wow, that's great about the client. But you can attend the Bar Association events as you are married to an attorney? They aren't just open for anyone to attend, are they? Do you go to county or state events? A friend of mine is a paralegal and we are looking to attend more events where attorneys hang out. Do you know anyone who might need a paralegal? Lisa is a single mother and she needs work.

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

Maybe. Depends on the attorney. You'd likely do better with a solo who might have more patience with you. It's one reason I tell everyone they shouldn't set themselves out as a VA unless they've done their time in a "realtime office." If you work in a regular office you can ask questions on protocol and procedures of other secretaires/assistants. On your own you either waste a lot of time finding answers or you do it wrong and give the client (and VAs) a bad reputation.

I know this sounds harsh. I don't mean it to be. But frankly, I've talked to so many folks who have used inexperienced VAs and been unhappy with the results that it's the way I feel. I think working successfully as a VA requires background and experience. It's hard to get those on your own. I'm saddened because the VA profession has pretty quickly turned into an industry where everyone thinks if they have a computer and an internet connection they can successfully work from home and make a buck.

Please don't be angry with me. I'm not aiming this at you --- I have no idea what your background is. I'm just talking in generalizations here. As I said, I think if you want to break into legal work you need to find a solo attorney (and perhaps an experienced legal secretary) who are willing to work with you. It's not impossible. But there are certain things you need to know. If I can help I will be happy to do so.

Good luck.

__________________
Karalyn J. Eckerle
"The RVing VA"

Karalyn:
People may think they can make a buck just because they have a computer and an Internet connection. However, they won't last long if they don't have some kind of experience with software, customer service, pricing, managing a business, advertising and marketing, budgets and everything else that comes along with owning your own business. I have been doing this since 1997 and I am still learning everyday.

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

Is anyone finding that their attorneys are needing bates stamping and document production? These are a couple of the services we offer and we are not finding a need in small firms. Any advise?

I have been doing this for a number of years. As a paralegal it was a regular job assignment when I worked in actual law offices. So it was one of the first things I offered my clients when I went off on my own.

Document production can be tricky and I think it's an area many attorneys are reluctant to turn over to someone unfamiliar who operates outside the office.

__________________
Karalyn J. Eckerle
"The RVing VA"