Hi, I'm new here and am a licensed investigator and have over ten years of paralegal experience, mainly in civil litigaiton. I'm here to learn all I can about starting a PROFITABLE legal services VA business.

Nice to meet you all and I have LOTS to look around at here.

Hello and welcome to the forum. Yes, you are right, you do have lots to read here! If you have any questions, please jump right in and ask!

I think offering paralegal type services as a VA is a great niche. Is there a specific area of law that you are planning to focus your services towards?

Nice to meet you and I look forwarding to talking with you on the board.

__________________
Darlene Victoria Gonzalez
The Voice & Vision Behind Your Business

Hi, well I plan on working with solo and small office attorneys and work on flat fee services as much as possible. For example, writing a demand letter/package would cost X. Ordering and summarizing medical records for up to 5 facilities would cost X and up to 10 faciliites would cost Z.

I think getting smaller firms set up on actually handling routine tasks routinely would be beneficial to them and takes the guess work and fear factor out of hiring a virtual legal assistant.

I also envision (and actually hope for this as I miss client contact) calling clients in the evening (when they will be home) to follow up to get answers necessary and paperwork necessary to work on their case (discovery responses for civil, or finanicial information for bankruptcy - as examples).

I've been self employed for almost three years but have mainly been a subcontractor of existing companies providing transcription. I've worked for larger companies performing background checks (those all ended - enconomy), and doing my own things (medical record canvass and expert witness background checks mainly).

In this economy I think there will be more attorneys interested in working solo (maybe they will be losing their position at big firms or newer attorneys won't be getting any offers), and they will need help marketing to obtain clients as well. This marketing will be time intensive, such as setting up a blog, writing posts, putting together free reports to offer their clients, giving seminars, etc...

Just some of my ideas.

Would love to hear from those with experience in this field.

It is so nice having you with us. There certainly are so much to read on this forum that's filled with weath of information.

Please always feel at home here and participate with any questions you may have, or suggestions.

I like your service niche - it's a good one! I think there is another VA here that is also an investigator - I don't remember her name but maybe one day the two of you will find each other and share some ideas or feedback.

It's a pleasure meeting you and welcome aboard!

__________________
Brenda A. Jones
www.brevos.com

Thanks for the welcome Brenda and Darlene. I've been surfing this place and am now office to search "investigator" to find this other lady :-)

Hello and welcome to the community!
I'm sure you'll find the forums are a very welcoming group populated by VAs in all niches - even a few paralegals and perhaps one or two (at least one that I know of) who provide investigative services.

Feel free to jump in to the boards with your own questions and comments, and I'll look forward to chatting with you further!

__________________

Welcome to the forum! What a neat background. I have a Paralegal and had once tested all the way through to be an investigator with our State Police. Then I had my second child and ended up staying put and eventually opening up my VA practice. I sometimes wonder "what if", but I think you have a great skill set and that will no doubt help you in your field as a VA.

__________________
Doreen R. Patrick, MVA, ACS, CIVA
www.virtualbusinesspartners.net

Welcome to the forum!

Thanks for joining us. You are in the right place for surrounding yourself with success and knowledgeable VAs. Everyone is so helpful and supportive

Have you started to think of names for your Practice yet?

__________________
Perfecting Assistance Services
www.perfectingassistance.com
Allowing you time to PERFECT your Business!