Legal Virtual Assistant
Specialized support for law firms and attorneys handling legal admin tasks
Overview
Legal VAs charge $35-$95 per hour or $2,000-$6,000 monthly retainers.
Supporting 2-5 attorneys or law firms generates $60,000-$280,000 annually with 70-80% margins after legal software subscriptions.
In 2025, solo practitioners and small law firms hire legal VAs who understand legal terminology, court procedures, and confidentiality requirements to handle administrative tasks.
Services include legal document preparation and formatting, client intake and scheduling, case management in Clio or MyCase, calendaring court dates and deadlines, legal research and cite checking, filing court documents electronically, and managing client billing.
Successful legal VAs develop expertise in legal practice management software (Clio, MyCase, Smokeball), document formatting (Bluebook citation style), court filing systems (PACER, state e-filing), and legal terminology.
Many VAs specialize by practice area (family law, personal injury, estate planning).
The key is maintaining strict confidentiality, meeting court deadlines, and producing error-free legal documents.
Most work retainer agreements with solo practitioners or small firms.
Note: paralegals have additional certification requirements; legal VAs provide administrative support.
Required Skills
- Legal Terminology
- Document Formatting
- Practice Management Software
- Confidentiality
- Attention to Detail
- Legal Research Basics
Pros and Cons
Pros
- High rates due to specialized legal knowledge
- Stable demand from law firms and attorneys
- Intellectually interesting work
- Can specialize in specific practice areas
- Develop valuable legal industry skills
Cons
- Steep learning curve for legal terminology
- High stakes with court deadlines and accuracy
- Strict confidentiality requirements create stress
- Need multiple software subscriptions
- Competition from experienced legal secretaries
How to Get Started
- Complete legal VA training course or paralegal certificate
- Learn legal practice management software (Clio, MyCase)
- Master legal document formatting and citation styles
- Create professional website emphasizing legal expertise
- Join legal VA associations and online communities
- Network with solo practitioners and small law firms
- Land first legal client and deliver meticulous work
Explore More Specialized Virtual Assistance Ideas
Discover additional business opportunities in this category.
View All Specialized Virtual Assistance Ideas →