Legal Research

"A New Breed: Virtual Paralegals"

This post was written by Cathy Ribble: "Much discussion has taken place in recent months concerning the topic of virtual paralegals.  This new phenomenon - or at least this new terminology - has taken the legal profession by storm.

Traditionally, freelance paralegals and temp paralegals came to the law firm's office to help out during overload seasons or to fill in while someone was on vacation or sick-leave.

Technological advances and our current economic times have merged and given birth to a new breed:  The Virtual Paralegal.  The terms freelance paralegals and virtual paralegals are sometimes used interchangeably. Both usually work independently on an as-needed basis.   Both build professional networks and negotiate fees for services rendered.

• The American Bar Association (ABA) defines a legal assistant or paralegal as a person, qualified by education, training or work experience who is employed by a lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental agency or other entity who performs specifically delegated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible.
• The Virtual Paralegal meets the definition adopted by the ABA and, in addition, possesses the skills and expertise to perform this work in a virtual setting, usually from a fully equipped remote office as an independent contractor.

(Sixty-Six Solid Tips From Your Virtual Paralegal Success Team)..."

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Source: Digital Paralegal Services Blog, 30 October 2010. © Digital Paralegal Services, LLC. Reproduced with permission.

Full post as published by Stark County Law Library Blawg on November 15, 2010 (boomark / email).