5 Tasks Remote Legal Assistants Can Do to Save Lawyers Time

Time – it’s the one asset that attorneys cannot create more of and the one in most demand. From initial client meetings to discovery calls and court appearances, attorneys are busier than ever, and the list of tasks they’re responsible for seems to keep growing. Thankfully, you’re not alone in this. A remote legal assistant can help by handling important tasks and freeing your time to focus on what you do best as an attorney.

What tasks can a remote legal assistant handle? You might assume that the list is limited, given that they work remotely. However, the reality is that they can handle almost anything you can delegate, so long as you remember that while they might have legal credentials, they are not attorneys. We’ve assembled a list of the five highest-impact tasks to delegate to a remote legal assistant, tasks that are crucial for the smooth operation of your practice.

Appointment booking and reminders

Few tasks are as important or as time-consuming as booking appointments and sending reminders to potential and existing clients. Appointments run the gamut from initial consultations with leads to follow-ups with current clients, all of which are vital to the success of your law firm. 

However, juggling dates, making accommodations for scheduling conflicts, and reminding leads and clients about appointments before the date can take an inordinate amount of time and energy. It’s never been easier to reclaim valuable time while reducing the number of late arrivals, no-shows, and reschedules.

Client communication

How much time do you spend dealing with client communication? Now, what percentage of that communication falls under the heading of something that only an attorney can handle? Chances are good that it’s a lot, but that’s not a good thing. 

The more time you spend answering mundane questions, touching base with clients, sending forms for leads to complete, and other administrative tasks, the less time you have to build a thriving legal practice. A remote legal assistant can step in and take over non-essential client communication for you, allowing you to focus your time and energy on the most important matters. This not only ensures that all communications to and from your office are handled promptly and professionally but also saves you valuable time.

Lead screening and intake

Leads are the lifeblood of any legal practice. Without a steady influx of leads, you can’t grow. However, many potential leads won’t be well-suited to your firm’s services. Others might not fit well on another level, whether that’s because they have unrealistic expectations or they simply don’t mesh with your personality. This is where lead screening becomes crucial. 

Communicating with leads who are unlikely to convert into clients is a waste of time and energy. Still, lead screening is a critical process that you cannot skip. 

A remote legal assistant can take over your lead screening and intake process, ensuring that you’re only speaking with leads who are the most likely to convert while also ensuring that critical information about those leads is collected and entered into your CRM or intake software.

Invoicing and billin

While the reason your practice exists is to serve clients, you should be paid for your time and services however, if you’re like many solo attorneys and small firms, invoicing and billing may not get your full attention. 

That’s understandable. You’re busy meeting with leads, communicating with clients, and representing those clients in court. However, if you let invoicing and billing slide, you might find that your practice isn’t generating the income it needs to survive despite having a whole load of clients. 

A remote legal assistant can handle all your invoicing and billing needs, from collecting consultation deposits to handling past-due collections. And with the right assistant, you’ll find that invoicing and billing processes integrate directly with your existing payment software. 

Sales outreach

While leads might be the lifeblood of your legal practice, they don’t materialize out of thin air. Most leads that contact your office do so because of an outreach strategy. You can only create the flow of leads you need to achieve sustainable, ongoing growth by getting the word out about your practice. 

The challenge here is twofold. First, designing and then conducting successful outreach campaigns is time-consuming. Second, doing so requires expertise that most attorneys need to gain. Your expertise lies in the law, not in marketing. 

Rather than attempting to wear yet another hat (and botching your marketing efforts in the process), offload some of those responsibilities to a remote legal assistant. The right partner can offer proven sales development to engage, nurture, and convert your leads using a combination of proprietary AI-driven workflows and expert human interactions.

Let Smith.ai help

Building a thriving legal practice isn’t simple today. It requires a deep understanding of the law and keen business acumen. However, you can’t wear every hat. The key to success is forging the right partnerships. At Smith.ai, we have the experienced team and proprietary AI you need as both a legal answering service and a sales outreach service.

From 24/7 outreach campaigns to handling client communications around the clock, lead screening and intake, appointment booking and reminders, and payment collection, we can help. Our virtual receptionists become an integral part of your team, freeing your time from mundane but important tasks so you can focus on the most critical areas and build a successful practice.

To learn more, schedule a consultation or reach out to hello@smith.ai.