Business At A Glance
Startup Costs: $2,000 – $10,000
Home Based: Can be operated from home.
Part Time: Can be operated part-time.
Online Operation? No
Business Overview
If you’ve always wanted to be a lawyer, then this could be the businessfor you. As a paralegal, you can’t give legal advice or defend anybodyin a murder trial, but you can complete simple documents and forms forindividuals and attorneys, then take those papers down to thecourthouse and file them.
You’ll help lawyers with small practices bytaking over the work that would be done by legions of assistants in alarge law firm, and you’ll lend aid to individuals with matters likeevictions and simple divorces so they don’t have to pay those highattorneys’ fees.
The advantages to this business are that you get thecharge of life in the law lane without the slavish hours you’d find ina corporate firm, and you have the satisfaction of helping your clientsthrough the maze of the legal system.
You’ll need a strong backgroundin all matters paralegal; good communication skills; and excellentgrammatical, punctuation and spelling abilities–no judge (or client)is going to be impressed by a mistake-riddled document. In addition,you should have terrific organizational skills and be a good timemanager so you can pump out those documents in plenty of time for courtdates and filings.
The Market
Your clients can be individuals and attorneys with small firms in needof assistance. Your best bet for getting business from legal eagles isto send sales letters and brochures, then follow up with phone calls.
Join local legal associations and network in professional and civicgroups. To attract private clients, place ads in the Yellow Pages andlocal newspapers and get yourself written up in your local newspaper.
Needed Equipment
In some states, you’ll need a paralegal certificate or liabilityinsurance–check with your local business licensing agency ordepartment of corporations to find out.
You’ll need a computer with alaser printer, a fax machine, the usual suite software and specialsoftware for completing routine documents like wills, evictions anddivorces.