Do you have a disaster plan for your law firm?

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Do you have a disaster plan for your law firm? This article first appeared on Best Virtual Paralegal LLC’s blog [www.bestvirtualparalegal.com ] 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! Subscribe to the Best Virtual Paralegal Community [https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/IK848lX/paralegalviewbvp] The information on this podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. It is not intended to be legal, IT, or any other form of professional counsel. While Best Virtual Paralegal LLC (BVP), the author, guests, and facility aim for accuracy, the content may not reflect the most current developments or apply to your specific situation. The Best Virtual Paralegal Team and the author strongly advise readers to conduct their own research or consult with a qualified professional before making any decisions based on this information. Best Virtual Paralegal LLC (BVP) and author are not responsible for any loss or damage that may result from relying on the content provided herein.Credits: The Paralegal View™ is produced by Holly Sheriff to promote her freelance paralegal and coaching services. All participants are independent contractors, and the views expressed are their own. To protect a speaker's privacy, an AI-generated voice may be used at their request. Music and sound effects are licensed from professional stock media services. All rights to these assets remain with the original owners and are not the property of Holly Sheriff or Best Virtual Paralegal LLC (BVP). Privacy Policy [https://www.bestvirtualparalegal.com/privacy-policy]| Terms & Conditions [https://www.bestvirtualparalegal.com/terms-and-conditions] | Disclaimer for Flyers & Other Publications [https://www.bestvirtualparalegal.com/DISCLAIMERS] | Link-In-Bio [https://lnk.bio/Bvparalegal] All original content is © 2023 -2026 Best Virtual Paralegal LLC (BVP), Holly Sheriff. All rights reserved. Third-party media is used under license, and all rights remain with their respective owners.

How Email Marketing Can Build Your Freelance Legal Practice

STOP THE FEAST-OR-FAMINE CYCLE. LEARN HOW TOOLS LIKE CONSTANT CONTACT CAN HELP YOU BUILD RELATIONSHIPS, STAY TOP-OF-MIND, AND CREATE A SUSTAINABLE CLIENT PIPELINE. For many freelance lawyers and paralegals, marketing can feel like a four-letter word. Your expertise is in legal research, drafting documents, and case management—not necessarily in lead generation. At Best Virtual Paralegal LLC (BVP), we know that most freelance legal professionals thrive on referrals and repeat business, but that can lead to an unpredictable "feast or famine" cycle of work. What if there was a professional, ethical, and highly effective way to smooth out those peaks and valleys? A way to nurture your existing network and turn past clients and colleagues into a consistent source of referrals? Enter email marketing. Forget the spammy, mass-market blasts you probably delete every day. When done right, email marketing for legal professionals is about relationship building at scale. It’s a direct line to the people who already know, like, and trust you. Platforms like Mailchimp and Constant Contact make it easier than ever to stay connected, demonstrate your value, and keep your services top-of-mind. Why Freelance Legal Professionals Should Embrace Email Marketing If you're not convinced, consider these core benefits: 1. You Own Your Audience. Your LinkedIn connections are valuable, but you're borrowing that audience from a platform you don't control. An algorithm change can tank your reach overnight. Your email list, however, is your asset. It’s a direct, unfiltered line of communication to your most important contacts. 2. It Builds Authority and Trust. Regularly sharing valuable, relevant information positions you as an expert. You’re no longer just a service provider; you’re a trusted resource. This is invaluable when a former client or fellow attorney has a new case and needs to decide who to call. 3. It Nurtures Referrals. The number one reason you lose out on a referral is simple: the person who could have referred you forgot about you at the critical moment. A brief, professional email every month or quarter keeps your name on their radar. 4. It’s Incredibly Cost-Effective. Compared to paid ads, networking events, or other forms of marketing, email provides an exceptional return on investment. Your primary cost is time and the modest fee for a professional platform. WHAT ON EARTH DO I SEND? (CONTENT THAT WORKS) This is the biggest hurdle for most. You're not a content creator, you're a legal professional. The key is to provide value, not just a sales pitch. Here are some powerful ideas for your email content: * Legal Updates & Insights: Briefly explain a new regulation, a recent court decision, or a change in procedure relevant to your niche (e.g., e-discovery, family law, corporate filings). This showcases your expertise. * Anonymized Case Studies: Write a short brief on a recent project. For example: "How We Helped a Boutique Firm Streamline Discovery for a Complex Litigation Case." (Always anonymize details to protect client confidentiality and adhere to ethical rules). * Checklists & How-To Guides: Offer downloadable resources like a "Checklist for Preparing a Witness for Deposition" or "5 Tips for Efficient Document Review." This provides tangible value. * Practice Updates: Announcing that you’ve gained a new certification, expanded your services, or have upcoming availability for new projects is perfectly acceptable and useful information for your network. * Curated News: Don't have time to write something new? Share links to 2-3 interesting articles relevant to your field with a short sentence on why you found them important. CHOOSING YOUR PLATFORM: MAILCHIMP VS. CONSTANT CONTACT While there are many tools out there, two giants stand out: Mailchimp and Constant Contact. Mailchimp is often the first name people think of. It's known for its user-friendly interface and its historically generous free plan. It’s a fine starting point if you're just dipping your toes in the water and want to build a small list without any financial commitment. However, for freelance legal professionals who are serious about growing their practice, we at BVP believe Constant Contact is the superior choice. After years of experience with various platforms, we use it for our own marketing and recommend it to our colleagues. Why Constant Contact? * Superior Deliverability: Constant Contact has a reputation for industry-leading email deliverability. This means your emails are more to land in the inbox, not the spam folder. * Exceptional Customer Support: When you're running your own business, you don't have time to troubleshoot technical issues. Constant Contact is famous for its live phone and chat support. Having a real person to talk to is a game-changer. * Professionalism and Features: The platform is built for business. The templates are clean and professional, and the automation features allow you to set up sophisticated "welcome series" for new contacts or segment your lists with ease. * More Than Just Email: Constant Contact integrates tools for event marketing (great for webinars), surveys, and social posting, allowing you to manage more of your marketing from a single hub. Get Started Today with a Free Trial Full transparency: because we believe in the platform so strongly, Best Virtual Paralegal LLC is an official partner of Constant Contact. We want you to see the difference for yourself, so we’ve arranged for our readers and colleagues to receive a free, no-obligation trial of Constant Contact. You can explore all the features and see how easy it is to create a professional campaign. Subscribe to the Best Virtual Paralegal Community [https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/IK848lX/paralegalviewbvp] The information on this podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. It is not intended to be legal, IT, or any other form of professional counsel. While Best Virtual Paralegal LLC (BVP), the author, guests, and facility aim for accuracy, the content may not reflect the most current developments or apply to your specific situation. The Best Virtual Paralegal Team and the author strongly advise readers to conduct their own research or consult with a qualified professional before making any decisions based on this information. Best Virtual Paralegal LLC (BVP) and author are not responsible for any loss or damage that may result from relying on the content provided herein.Credits: The Paralegal View™ is produced by Holly Sheriff to promote her freelance paralegal and coaching services. All participants are independent contractors, and the views expressed are their own. To protect a speaker's privacy, an AI-generated voice may be used at their request. Music and sound effects are licensed from professional stock media services. All rights to these assets remain with the original owners and are not the property of Holly Sheriff or Best Virtual Paralegal LLC (BVP). Privacy Policy [https://www.bestvirtualparalegal.com/privacy-policy]| Terms & Conditions [https://www.bestvirtualparalegal.com/terms-and-conditions] | Disclaimer for Flyers & Other Publications [https://www.bestvirtualparalegal.com/DISCLAIMERS] | Link-In-Bio [https://lnk.bio/Bvparalegal] All original content is © 2023 -2026 Best Virtual Paralegal LLC (BVP), Holly Sheriff. All rights reserved. Third-party media is used under license, and all rights remain with their respective owners.

26 aug 20258 min

Do you have a disaster plan for your law firm?

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