How to Select the Right Virtual Assistant for Your Legal Practice | Legal Support Help

Legal Support Help
May 27, 2025

In our previous blog, we discussed why law firms should embrace alternative legal service providers and the types of services you can delegate depending on your needs. In this blog, we will dive deeper into choosing the right virtual assistant for your legal practice and the factors that you need to consider.

Introduction

As the legal industry becomes increasingly digital and competitive, more law firms are turning to virtual legal assistants (VLAs) to reduce costs, improve productivity, and streamline day-to-day operations. But with so many options out there, how do you choose the right virtual assistant for your legal practice?

Whether you’re a solo practitioner or managing a growing law firm, selecting virtual assistants (VAs) that fits your needs can make a significant impact on your workflow.

We will guide you through the essential steps to ensure you hire the right VA for your practice.

Identify Your Law Firm’s Needs

Start by outlining the tasks you need help with. Are you overwhelmed with administrative tasks like email management and scheduling? Or do you need someone with a legal background or experience who can assist with drafting shells and trial prep?

Common tasks virtual assistants handle:

Calendar and conflict management
Schedule consultation and client intake
Records requests and follow-ups
Legal research and drafting
Case Management System (CMS) management

Understanding your bottlenecks and pain points will help you determine whether you need a general virtual assistant or a virtual legal assistant.

General Virtual Assistants – are ideal for non-billable tasks like data entry, appointment scheduling, file management, reception, billing, social media management, recruitment, billing, etc.
Virtual Legal Assistants – are great for billable tasks who have a law firm experience or background through training, who can assist you with case research, drafting correspondence and forms, filing and serving, discovery, case management, trial preps, and more.

Measure Connectivity

Device – Equipped with a computer (desktop/laptop) with dual monitors and a backup device to perform daily tasks and communicate efficiently.

Specification	Ideal for Maximum Performance
RAM	16GB or more
CPU	Quad Core (i5, i7, i9 or at least 10th gen or newer or Ryzen 5, 7, 9 or at least Ryzen 3 or newer)
Storage	512GB SSD + 4TB HDD
Headphones	Noise-cancelling
Webcam	Clear resolution and functional

Internet – Stable internet connection with a minimum speed of at least 25 Mbps, and a backup internet source (e.g., pocket Wi-Fi or mobile hotspot) to avoid disruptions.
Example:
Tools and Applications – Familiarity with tools and systems, such as case management software, communication platforms, and productivity apps for quick adaptability and higher productivity.
Some tools our VAs utilize:
Time zone – Able to work within your required business hours for real-time communication and to facilitate efficient operations.

Effective Communication

Assess the non-negotiable skills based on your needs when selecting a VA, if it’s more on the administrative side, doing drafting, or the role would be call-heavy, but set realistic expectations. Specify a threshold for the ideal skills you are looking for, since it may vary. Some VAs are experts in drafting, while some are stronger with call handling.

Verbal Communication

Clear and concise speaking – Expresses thoughts in a structured and easy-to-understand manner.
Professional tone – Maintains a respectful, confident, and courteous tone in all interactions.
Active listening – Asks clarifying questions and rephrases instructions to confirm understanding.
Timely responses – Replies promptly and communicates delays or issues in advance.

Non-Verbal Communication

Written clarity – Uses proper grammar, spelling, and formatting in emails, chats, and reports.
Consistent status updates – Proactively provides task updates without being prompted.
Responsiveness – Actively engages in communication channels and systems with updates and changes.

Look for Cultural Fit and Character

Beyond skills and experience, the character and cultural compatibility of a virtual assistant can make or break a working relationship. A VA who aligns with your firm’s values and work ethic is more likely to deliver consistent results and work well with your team.

While staffing agencies like Legal Support Help have a dedicated recruitment team to interview hundreds of candidates, conduct assessments, and present candidates whose profiles closely match your needs and requirements from the initial consultation meeting, to save you time and money. It would still be best to do a brief interview with your chosen candidates.

Ways to assess fit:

Ask situational questions during the interview (e.g., “How would you handle a high-pressure deadline?)
Evaluate their answers — are they on point, solution-oriented, or overpromising?
Observe how they communicate — are they articulate, spontaneous, and professional?
Discuss up front your firm’s mission, values, and expectations.

Soft skills to look for:

Trustworthy – They know how to handle and protect sensitive client and firm information.
Adaptable – They can adapt quickly to the demands of fast-paced law firms.
Persistent – They can deliver and bounce back despite facing obstacles, setbacks, and failures.
Proactive – They don’t just wait for instructions; they anticipate needs, take initiative, and step up when action is required.
Dependable – They follow through on tasks without needing constant guidance.

A strong cultural match sets the foundation for a long-term professional relationship. This ensures they can jump in with minimal training and supervision.

Work with a Reputable Legal VA Staffing Agency

If you’re unsure about hiring on your own, consider partnering with a virtual assistant agency that specializes in assisting law firms like Legal Support Help so you can free up your time and focus on growing your law firm.

We understand the legal industry
We acknowledge the qualifications you require.
We provide training and coaching.
We take care of IT support and payroll.
We have proven client success stories

Hear it from one of our clients:

I have been using Edenn as my virtual assistant through Legal Support Help, and the experience has been exceptional! Edenn is not only efficient and reliable but also incredibly professional and detail-oriented. She has consistently gone above and beyond to ensure tasks are completed promptly and to the highest standard.

Legal Support Help has done a fantastic job matching me with Edenn, whose intuitive nature and proactive approach make her a true asset. From organizing my schedule to handling administrative and legal tasks, Edenn has significantly lightened my workload, allowing me to focus on more critical aspects of my practice.

I highly recommend Legal Support Help to anyone looking for reliable, top-tier virtual assistance. They have exceeded my expectations in every way!
– Attorney Loune-Djenia Askew, Esq., Askew & Associates, P.A

Conclusion

Hiring the right virtual assistant for your legal practice isn’t just about offloading tasks—it’s about choosing a dependable assistant who helps your law firm run smoother and smarter. By identifying your needs, measuring connectivity, assessing communication skills, and ensuring cultural fit, you’re setting your firm up for long-term success. Whether you need admin support or a virtual legal assistant trained in law firm processes, working with a trusted legal VA agency like Legal Support Help can save you time, lower costs, and let you focus on what matters most.

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