Setting up a Legal VA business

[joywilder]

How did you set up your business at home? Did you get any special programs? Billing programs? Conflict of interest programs?

Any books/blogs/etc you can recommend?

[joywilder]

I'm thinking about waiting to open my Legal VA biz until I get more questions answered. Just start off with my general biz.

Any comments?

[Action Jackson VA]

Hi Joy,

Have you thought about joining the VAF Mentoring Group? Your questions could be answered by an expert. Click here to join and see if it is something you would like to do.

[joywilder]

Thank you! I didn't know there was a VAR Mentoring Group. I'll pop over there and take a look around

[Office Goddess]

Also be sure and check out the Master List to help you get your 'ducks in a row.'

[dawndmd]

After much research on this subject, I set my office up using the following:

Skype for inbound and outbound calls
Microsoft Groove for complete office collaboration
Dropbox for those who do not have Groove
Printer/scanner/fax all in one
Web cam
Logmein for remote access
Carbonite for backup
Easy Time Tracking Pro - I research many billing options and this is $25.00 for the full featured program. It has a timer and easy invoicing.
Escribe for digital dictation
High Speed Internet
All Microsoft Office products
Full Adobe program

Hope this helps.

[ParadiseLegal]

@Dawn, thank you so much for this!! These are some items I've not thought about so I need to get on the ball!!! I'm praying to be ready full force by late April / mid May... 90 days max!!!

[VAHadry]

Thanks Dawn. I am def. going to be researching some of those products you stated you used.

[Wordpro Wizard]

Many newly qualified attorneys are choosing to set up shop as sole practitioners. A prospective client of mine is using Clio (http://www.goclio.com/) which appears to offer everything that would be needed at a respectable monthly cost. If your client uses Clio he/she can give you access to log in and work remotely so you would have no need to acquire legal specific programs yourself.

Lynne

[Reynetta]

Great information everyone! I also heard of a program called SugarSync which I believe does the same type of things that Clio does, but I am not sure whether it handles everything Clio can. I am just getting going on my virtual paralegal office and learning new programs.