Posts made in July, 2008
Law 2.0 and Virtual Legal Assistance
This morning I read this article about Law 2.0 by Paul Lippe which was featured in the Jan/Feb 2008 edition of the Canadian Bar Association journal. It’s a wonderful read and I highly recommend it. Paul suggests that major shifts in the way law firms practice are closer than many would realize and I completely agree with him. Law firms may not always be the fastest to adapt to technology (only a few years ago I worked for a firm that still didn’t use email!) eventually they do catch on and then it seems to happen all at once.
Virtual legal assistance is one of the many wonderful tools at the disposal of lawyers who are ahead of the curve in the law 2.0 world. It allows lawyers to make great use of technology and to employ a cost-effective alternative to traditional in-house support staff. Contracting with a virtual legal assistant is a very time-effective solution. You can have your virtual legal assistant draft correspondence or court documents while you meet with a client or you could have herupdate your calendar and screen and sort through your email while you are in court.
In my opinion law 2.0 is going to make life easier for the average lawyer – and a lot more interesting and fun too!
Laurie Mapp, Owner of Halo Secretarial Services Virtual Legal Assistant Extraordinaire (and I make a mean cupcake too!) Read More
Monday Goal Setting
Ok, it’s Monday morning and the summer feels like it is half over already. It’s time for my first goal-setting post so I can make sure I’m on track before fall catches me off guard!!
My goals for this week are simple and include some personal goals, as summer should definitely involve plenty of family and relaxing time (work-life balance!)
- Research printers for good office printer
- Decide about joining a Canadian virtual assistant association
- ask Brianna about wordpress upgrade
- comment on at least 5 different law blogs
- post 3 times on my blog
- start and devote 2 hours to the accounting course that I downloaded
- Take the boys to the lake, weather permitting (this is Canada after all!)
Despite a cranky, restless baby last night I’m feeling pretty cheerful this morning and I can’t wait to get started on my week!! It’s so nice to work for myself!
Read MoreVirtual Legal Assistance Catching on in Canada
I was so excited to read this wonderful article from The Lawyers Weekly about how virtual assistance is catching on in Canada, and how it is expected that it will be a growing field! I was also happy to notice a quote from Kate Kerans, who is a fellow Albertan VA whose name I recognize from the VANA forums.
Positive articles like this one can only help those of us who are working to make a name for ourselves in the Canadian virtual assistant industry. And as someone who is specifically planning to work as a virtual legal assistant/virtual paralegal I was really pleased to see it in a legal publication – the more we get the word out the more likely we all are to benefit!
Read MoreLiving in a Virtual World
I love all the recent blog posts I’ve noticed about virtual law offices. Just this morning I found Erik Mazzone’s blog, Law Practice Matters, and his post Should You Have a Virtual Law Office? I found Erik’s post through Stephanie Kimbro’s blog (I mentioned her in this previous post).
I know that for me, working virtually is a wonderful way to simplify my life. I avoid commuting and the endless meetings that sometimes seem to accomplish so little. I simply get to work on my clients’ projects and really feel like things get accomplished every day. Well, except for the days that I keep free to spend with my kids – and really that is an even better accomplishment, that I can make the time in my schedule to truly enjoy my boys!
I also know that now that I see the beauty of virtual work, I often choose to hire people who work virtually. When I needed a blog designer, I found one who worked virtually (lots of choice of virtual workers fortunately in the web design arena!) My accountant also works from home and if I need a lawyer for my business I plan to try and find one who works virtually (although so far I haven’t come across many on the blogosphere who are from Alberta should I need a local lawyer).
I find that working virtually with people really allows me to manage my time better. I can email my web designer at 11 at night and know that she will get to it within a day or so. I can get work done for my clients at 6 in the morning or 6 at night and as long as I get it done by the deadline everything is great! In the 9-5 world, there always seemed to be times when productivity would be lower (especially in that hour after lunch!) but as long as you were physically present no one really seemed to care. I’d rather take that hour after lunch for a brisk wake-up walk, or a nap if I’m exhausted, then get back to working in an efficient manner.
Read MoreUp and Running!
I’m so excited – Brianna of Mad Hatter Design Company helped me get my virtual assistant site set up and my blog moved over to be part of it. I love the new look and I’m ready to get back to posting!
What do you think of the new look? Any suggestions?!
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