The advantages of virtual office services.

• Author: Pribek, Jane

Byline: Jane Pribek

Fredricksburg, Va. attorney Andrew Flusche never met his former office assistant. She lives in Akron, Ohio, and did all his work remotely. Flusche also never met his virtual receptionist, who lives in Portland, Ore.

As a 2007 law graduate looking to save money while launching his practice, Flusche saw virtual office services, coupled with working out of his home, as a perfect solution. They gave him a professional edge and helped him get quality work product out the door at a low cost.

Flusche hired Ruby Receptionist because he heard it had a stellar reputation and had spoken with other attorneys who were pleased with the service. Ruby Receptionist answers calls, screens them and/or identifies who's on the line before transferring, connects calls, and provide callers with information such as the type of legal services offered and directions to the office, etc.

The company offers a free 30-day trial. After that, the cost ranges from $199 to $669 per month.

Flusche believes Ruby Receptionist has helped him turn callers who are prospective clients into clients. Before he began using the service, sometimes callers would hang up without leaving a message if he was unavailable.

For other, more complex administrative help, Flusche hired Always Assistant, a/k/a Darlene Migras. Her work was spectacular, he said, and the cost was very reasonable, $18 per hour (the Web site now says $20 per hour).

I liked the cost and flexibility of both services, said Flusche. When you're first starting out, staff can be one of the biggest expenses, and this was one way I found to keep my overhead as narrow as possible.

I've since moved my practice into a traditional office and hired a traditional assistant. As my practice has grown, my needs have changed, he explained. But virtual office services helped me save money and grow my practice, to get to that point.

Marsha Kopan, owner of MKEParalegal in Milwaukee, holds both a paralegal certificate and a bachelor's degree. She works independently and most often, virtually.

Even in a down economy -- or maybe because of it -- Kopan says she's been very busy working for lawyers and other professionals who can't afford onsite staff.

People are outsourcing to save money. Especially new attorneys, or someone going out on his own, said Kopan. Or, sometimes in a smaller practice the lawyers decide they...