Do you have a disaster plan for your law firm?

This article first appeared on Best Virtual Paralegal LLC’s blog in 2012 after Hurricane Sandy!  Revised: 01/22/2022

Do you have a disaster plan for your law firm? What would your staff and clients do if your office was a victim of a disaster? You might want to read on. A disaster can range from the minor, such as losing your phone service for the day, to the catastrophic, such as a hurricane, a bomb threat, or a power outage caused by the weather. There is no disaster too small for you not to have a plan. Do your support staff and paralegals know what to do if your internet shuts down?

My blog post was inspired by this very question. A few days ago, I was in my office working when a friend called and asked if I could do some legal research for her firm. Her answer stunned me. Her office suffered a long-term power outage due to a storm. As a result of the power outage, she asked her paralegal to conduct manual research at the local law library. She was shocked to discover that her paralegal knew nothing about doing legal research with books. She had no choice but to turn to me.

After completing the research, I called my friend to help her develop a disaster plan. Had my friend implemented a disaster plan before the power outage, her office and clients would have been prepared for the unforeseen disaster and remained productive.

In conclusion, if your office does not have a disaster plan in place, can you see why it is so imperative to have one? In addition to being a virtual paralegal, I also serve as a consultant for law firms at times. Not only do I assist attorneys and law firms in becoming more productive by preparing their case documents and contacting their clients, but I also help train their staff on how to be more tech-savvy and assist them in developing disaster plans. We strive to be the go-to service for all attorneys and law firms.

Jennifer and I will share tips for putting together a disaster plan with you and your staff in future posts. 

Thank you for reading! It was our pleasure to write it! Don't forget to share this post!

Company, Community, & Culture

Best Virtual Paralegal—First Quarter Update 2022

January 1, 2022, to March 31, 2022 

It is an unpredictable time for the legal profession. On one day, courts are open, but the next day they are closed or all working remotely. On one hand, Best Virtual Paralegal is all over the moon that the world finally caught up to us.  Holly Sheriff has worked remotely as a paralegal since the early 1990s. We understand your pain points because we have been in your shoes. Our team of Best Virtual Paralegals can help!

At Best Virtual Paralegal, we believe we are living in extraordinary times. Technology empowers people, and technology has shaped Best Virtual Paralegal’s products and services. The cycle has begun again! Yet, one thing is true, through the years, as paralegals, consultants, coaches, & digital marketers, we can’t be successful alone. Your success is our success! 

As clients and communities, we understand you are facing new challenges. To succeed, we must consistently perform in a way that fosters trust and quality.  This has been at the core of our client commitment since we opened back in 1990, operating under Holly’s name (1990 to 1991), and then later HAT’S Paralegal & Secretarial Services (1991 to 2011). 

Here we are in 2022, and Best Virtual Paralegal is going back to our core commitment, by focusing on these primary principles: Alignment, Client Focus, & Excellent Execution. This is more than an acronym. It is how Best Virtual Paralegal, as individuals and collectively as a community dive toward a positive impact and journey for our clients. 

Best Virtual Paralegal has made progress toward offering robust services and streamlining operations, but we must always strive to improve. Plans are already in motion! Here’s what you can expect:

Continue development of solutions that extend the value of our award-winning paralegal services & attorney support.

Scrutinizing processes and structures and assessing the ways we can become more efficient while driving toward performance for paralegal services, consulting, services, coaching services, & digital marketing services.

Providing tools and new approaches that deepen the client relationship.

Best Virtual Paralegals have always been thought leaders!  In addition, we are always learning and improving. To achieve our goals, we will measure our progress against the highest standards and maintain a deep commitment to addressing our challenges in a transparent and ethical manner. Our focus will always be on you, your clients, communities, & your evolving goals! 

As we move into 2022, Best Virtual Paralegal will continue to adapt, staying at the forefront of industry trends and client needs. We will bring you more innovative ways to deliver outstanding legal services to your clientele. We’re humbled and honored to be part of your journey. Thank you for being a client, supporter, follower, & friend. We are looking forward to a bright future ahead!

Sincerely,

Holly, Marc, Kate, Cheryl, Jay, Cheryl, & the Part-time Staff

The narration for this article was provided by a paid voiceover artist as a part of Best Virtual Paralegal LLC’s commitment to EDI (Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion) at work & public spaces. The narrator’s voice is not that of the owner of Best Virtual Paralegal or her spouse. It is that of a paid artist on staff with the Best Virtual Paralegal LLC.