Frequently Asked Questions

Below you will find a list of the most frequently asked questions. If yours is not one of them, please use the Contact Form to submit your question.

What is a virtual paralegal?

Virtual paralegals are independent, contract or freelance paralegals who are contracted by lawyers, law firms or in-house legal departments to provide paralegal support services on an as needed basis through such services being supplied with the use of technology such as the Internet, e-mail, fax and remote access systems.

What are the benefits of working with a Virtual Paralegal?

Virtual paralegals reduce the cost of overhead for lawyers and small businesses as there is no need for: training, employee insurance, benefits, superannuation, workers compensation, taxation, sick leave, personal leave, holiday leave, maternity leave, parental leave, coffee breaks or any other cost which is incurred with employing staff full-time or part-time. With engaging the services of virtual paralegals, you only pay for the time it takes to complete a task or specified assignment. 

Virtual paralegals can offer a very affordable alternative to the standard onsite employee and result in increased billable hours for lawyers. Virtual paralegals have their own equipment which includes their own computer, Internet connection, fax, dedicated telephone lines, printers, software and hardware to undertake their clients’ assignments.

What about confidential information?

Virtual paralegals adhere to a strict code of ethics and have developed a privacy policy to deal with confidential client information.

Each worker signs an Independent Contractor agreement which mandates confidentiality, etc.  If there is a conflict, they can reject the assignment.  All documents transmitted with attorney client information will be labeled as such and, in the case of Adobe docs, password protected, locked down for printing, etc.  All files will be deleted from hard drives at the conclusion of each assignment.

What about conflicts of interests?

Virtual paralegals perform a conflict check prior to accepting any assignment. They will immediately advise you of any potential conflict and assist you in finding alternative assistance. Should a conflict arise after a virtual paralegal has begun an assignment, all necessary parties will be advised and the appropriate actions will be taken?

How do clients work with Virtual Paralegals?

Some clients prefer to communicate by telephone, others by e-mail and others by a combination of both. This will depend on the client’s work style and the type of work that needs to be done.

What equipment is needed to work with Virtual Paralegals?

The virtual partnership will be most effective if clients have or have access to a computer with Internet access and an e-mail address.

How is completed work delivered?

Completed work is delivered via e-mail, fax, courier or other agreed upon delivery mode.

What does Virtual Paralegals cost?

Fees vary according to client's needs. You have the option to pay for services on an hourly basis or retain virtual paralegals for a predetermined number of hours per month.

Whichever package you choose, remember with virtual paralegals, you are only paying for the tasks you hire us to perform.