FAQ
You have questions – Halo has answers!
The “BIG” question – what does it cost?
You want to know what it will cost – don’t you? You can afford it; in fact you can’t afford not to use my services! That’s because if you use a virtual legal assistant effectively you’ll free up YOUR time, so you can focus on money generating activities.
I offer several pricing options and I am sure that one will suit your needs. I can work on a straight hourly rate ($40+ per hour depending on complexity/urgency) or a custom quote on a flat fee basis.
If you want to read more about virtual legal assistant pricing I suggest you check out a couple of my blog posts on the topic – try here and here! And don’t forget, a virtual assistant tracks time very carefully – you pay only for time truly worked. In fact, although I use an estimate below of 40 hours per month for a virtual legal assistant, most of my clients only need 10-20 hours per month, as the amount of work that can be accomplished in that time frame is incredibly significant. I regularly hear from my clients how impressed they are with what can be done in relatively short periods of time.
If you still are not sure of the value, look at this comparison showing the difference between hiring a full-time employee versus contracting Halo Secretarial Services to provide virtual assistant services.
Full Time Employee
$41,600 annual salary ($20/hr)
$12,480 cost of taxes, benefits, overhead (30% of salary)
$54,080 TOTAL (plus the “cost” of non-productive time, sick days, vacation etc.)
Halo Secretarial Services
$19,200 (40 hours per month at $40 hour)
$0 (cost of taxes, benefits and overhead)
$19,200 TOTAL for time spent exactly as you require
The difference? $34,880!! That is money we are sure your business could use elsewhere! So contact us today!
**Halo Secretarial generally bills time in 6 minute increments, unless you have retained us on a project basis. In addition to your basic rate you may be required to pay specific disbursements such as postage and photocopying costs.
How can you work for me when you’re not actually here?
It’s amazing how many ways there are to work with businesses located all around the world! You can send instructions via email, digital audio file or by uploading a task to my secure online work space. I can use software to remotely access your computer or we can chat via Skype.
Why hire a virtual legal assistant at all?
Really it’s about making the best use of your time. If you delegate tasks appropriately your business will function better. Success is not only about working hard, but about working smart! Here are some links that discuss leveraging your time by using a virtual assistant:
10 Ways to Leverage Your Time When Running a Business
Home Office Lawyer on Leveraging Time
Virtual Lawyer’s Post on Leveraging
Why not hire an in-house legal assistant?
Well, first you may choose to work with both an in-house assistant AND a virtual legal assistant! A virtual legal assistant may be all you need or may be a perfect addition to your team; it all depends on your needs and workload. Also, utilizing a virtual legal assistant on your team, in whatever capacity, offers some serious benefits including saving you money, time and space!
TIME
Virtual legal assistant services from Halo Secretarial can save you time in many ways including:
- the time you spend doing administrative tasks yourself because your employee is busy or away
- the time required to recruit and train an appropriate employee
- idle time spent by an employee (breaks, chatting, appointments,)
SPACE
I operate Halo Secretarial from my home, therefore there is no need for you to provide or maintain a computer, desk, phone lines, printer or other office equipment that would be required by in-house staff.
Why so many names – virtual assistant, virtual legal assistant, virtual paralegal? Are they all the same?
I refer to myself variously as a virtual assistant, virtual legal assistant and a virtual paralegal. The terms are not interchangeable though, in fact a virtual assistant is a more general term referring to an administrative professional who works virtually, while a virtual legal assistant or virtual paralegal should have specific training and experience directly in the legal field. I am well versed in both general and legal work and that is why I use all three terms to describe my work. I do have a college diploma in paralegal studies, as well as significant experience in lawfirms of different sizes and specialties.
How do you deal confidentiality and ethics concerns?
Years of working in lawfirms has shown me how important confidentiality, ethics and conflict issues are. I will take all steps necessary to protect client information and to prevent conflicts. See my privacy and ethics policy for more information.
Why should I hire Halo Secretarial?
Well, I could tell you all about how professional, dedicated and knowledgeable I am. I’ve worked as an in-house paralegal/legal assistant for over 10 years and I know how to get a lot done, in a reasonable amount of time. I work well under pressure and I am very easy to get along with. But the main reason I think I will be the best virtual assistant for you to work with is simply how much I love helping YOU succeed! I know that with my skills, vision and sheer enjoyment of my work I can successfully provide your business with all the assistance required to help it grow and prosper.
How do I get started?
The best way to reach me is by email laurie@halosecretarial.com or halosecretarial@gmail.com, as I check my email regularly each day. You can also reach me by phoning or text messaging 780-232-7905. I can be reached via Twitter as well by tweeting to @halosecretarial.
I can’t wait to hear from you!
