713Training.Com provides a wide range of training materials, including books, ebooks, videos, DVDs, seminars and weekly teleconferences to improve the petition drafting and client intake skills of attorneys, paralegals and legal secretaries as well as virtual and non-virtual assistants. Click Here
27th September 2008

Slide Show of ABJA Bankruptcy Conference

http://www.713training.com/sanantonio/index.html

I just returned from San Antonio this morning after attending the 2008 Certified Bankruptcy Assistant conference and exam sponsored by the ABJA (Association for Bankruptcy Judicial Assistants). You can now go online and view the slide show I made while I was there. I hope you enjoy the pictures.

Victoria Ring
713Training.Com
http://www.713training.com

posted in Bankruptcy Training Seminars | Comments Off

23rd September 2008

Update on ABJA Bankruptcy Conference

Hi Everyone –

I am writing you this from San Antonio, Texas where I am attending the ABJA Conference to obtain my certification as a Bankruptcy Specialist. Today was spent studying for the exam. The day began with Judge Douglas D. Dodd who provided us with an excellent class on legal ethics. Judge Dodd was a fantastic speaker who made understanding very easy for his audience. For example, he explained the legal term ex-parte in this manner:

Johnny comes running into the house and says: Mom, Suzie hit me. But before Mom accepts Johnny’s story as fact, she calls in Suzie and asks her if she hit Johnny. Suzie replies: Yes, I hit Johnny but he pushed me off the swing first.

In the same manner, the Judge takes the role as Mom. One attorney takes the role as Johnny and another takes the role of Suzie. In order for the Judge to remain impartial and not be swayed into making a one-sided decision, ex-parte rules exist. Ex-parte rules encompass rules like preventing a Judge from having contact with one attorney unless the other attorney is present, etc. This ensures the Judge renders a fair decision.

Another fact that Judge Dodd covered was Model Rule 5.3(b) and (c) (1). This Rule of Professional Conduct deals with the responsibility of the Attorney for the conduct and decisions regarding non-attorneys. I get questions quite frequently from virtual bankruptcy assistants who ask if they need insurance to protect them as they prepare bankruptcy petitions. The answer is no. And you can see for yourself the reason why. Just visit the American Bankruptcy Institute website and read the Model Rules for yourself at:
http://www.abanet.org/cpr/mrpc/rule_5_3.html

Next, Tamara Blenkhorn, Esq. presented her workshop on legal research. I am not very good when it comes to this subject because I rarely use legal research in no asset Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy petitions. However, I did pick up some useful tips such as how to properly use the Blue Book. The Blue Book is the official rule book outlining the standards of legal citation. If you want to order a copy visit http://www.legalbluebook.com/

After returning from lunch, Claude Lightfoot, Jr., Esq. presented his workshop on the subject of grammar usage and writing. This workshop lasted the rest of the afternoon and covered a review of nouns, pronouns, verbs and the correct sentence structure to use in legal writing.

The first day of workshops ended around 5:00pm and we all had time to enjoy the Riverwalk. My friend, Maureen Joyce, and I found a little New York style deli that we liked; but there is everything from steak restaurants, pizza parlors and seafood shops, all within walking distance of the Westin Hotel where the conference is being held. So far, San Antonio is one of the neatest cities I have ever been in. It is as large or larger than Atlanta, Georgia and there is so much to see. I plan to go to the IMAXX Theatre and watch the history of the Alamo before I leave on Thursday. I also am taking some photos, which I will make into a slideshow and place on the 713Training.Com website as soon as I return to Columbus, Ohio.

Keep me in your prayers. I will report more to you tomorrow when I take the actual Bankruptcy Exam. Have a great evening.

Victoria Ring
CEO, 713Training.Com

posted in Bankruptcy Topics | Comments Off

4th September 2008

The First Virtual Bankruptcy Assistant Business

The first Virtual Bankruptcy Assistant Business was developed in early 2002. On April 7, 2002, the first website appeared online under the domain name of LawyerAssistant.Com

To see the internet archives in order to view the first VBA company, visit:
http://web.archive.org/web/20020407091100/http://www.lawyerassistant.com/

For those of you having trouble putting together content to describe your Virtual Bankruptcy Assistant business, my old company website may help you.

I wish you the best of success.

Victoria Ring
The developer of the Virtual Bankruptcy Assistant Field
713Training.Com
http://www.713training.com

posted in Bankruptcy Marketing Tips | Comments Off

3rd September 2008

Two New Attorneys Setting Up New Bankruptcy Practices

I cannot stress to you enough the marketing power of Craigs List. Every time I use it to market with I end up hitting a bulls eye. Let me tell you what happened to me today:

Over the Labor Day holiday I had some free time so I decided to market on Craigs List. I visited all the major cities: Dallas, Los Angeles, Boston, Miami, San Francisco, Atlanta, etc and looked through all the legal job postings. As I looked through them, I customized an email response specifically for the advertising attorney.

For example: I found an attorney here in Columbus, Ohio who had posted on Craigs List that she wanted to rent out part of her law firm. When I saw the location of her law firm I knew she was in a low-income part of town. I thought that maybe this attorney didn’t really need to rent out an office but needed to open up a bankruptcy law firm and make more money. So I sent her an email that basically said:

I found your advertisement on Craig’s List and noticed that you are seeking to rent out office space for $350.00 per month. However, if you will give me a few minutes of your time, I can show you how you can use that spare office and turn it into a bankruptcy practice. The income for the average bankruptcy attorney is approximately $25,000 to $30,000 per month in Columbus, Ohio. And since I have set up many law firms in their own practice, I would like to talk about doing the same for you.

In less than 12 hours, the attorney emailed me a response and we set up an appointment two days later. Needless to say, I will begin setting up her new bankruptcy practice beginning in late October. I can’t wait.

Next I found an attorney in Miami, Florida who was just starting a new bankruptcy practice. He had advertised on Craigs List for a bankruptcy paralegal. To him I sent the following email message:

I found your advertisement on Craigs List and noticed that you are seeking to hire a bankruptcy paralegal. I am the founder of the National Association of Virtual Bankruptcy Assistants, an organization of professionally trained assistants who are skilled in preparing Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy petitions. If you will give me a few minutes of your time, I would like to show you how virtual assistants can save you money in overhead expenses and provide you with an average income of $1,000 per hour.

This email produced a response within two days. In fact, after taking the time to visit my website, this attorney asked me to fly to Miami to set up his law firm.

Now I realize that your approach in marketing is not going to be the same as mine. But I did not provide you with the sample emails above for you to be lazy and copy them. Instead, I want you to think about the concept I am trying to teach. Perhaps the tips below will help to point out these concepts:

For those of you just starting to market, here are a few tips:

1. Make sure your website is in place. Also, make sure you have tested it by clicking on every link and ensuring that everything works as it should.

2. Personalize every email you send to each attorney you contact. Never write out an email template and copy and paste it to 100s of attorneys. Believe me, they will know the difference and it will show you are lazy.

3. When readings ads on Craigs List, think outside the box. Read what the law firm is requesting and tailor your services to fill that need. In marketing, you often have to use the creative side of your brain.

4. Be friendly, courteous and above all, professional in your approach. And when an attorney contacts you, respond the same day. Also smile as you are talking. Your smile will come through in a positive fashion over the phone.

5. Not every email you write for marketing is going to work every time. If you take a dart and throw it at a target, do you hit the bulls eye every time? Of course not. And you are not going to hit the target every time when you market either. However, when you see that your contact email or letter is not working, rewrite it. And keep rewriting it until it works. The key to learning: Fail, fail and fail some more. Eventually you will be a marketing whiz.

MARKETING YOUR VBA BUSINESS
http://www.713training.com/shop/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=88

Don’t forget to get your copy of my latest eBook: How to Market Your Virtual Bankruptcy Assistant Business. Here are a few testimonials from people who have purchased a copy:

“Victoria. This has to be the best marketing book you have written to date. It is plain to see that when your marketing talents improved, you write a better book. Thank you so much for sharing this excellent information with us.” Carrie W.

“Victoria. I paid $1,287.00 for Carlton Sheet’s real estate marketing course. But I found the information you give in How to Market Your VBA Business is better marketing information and I only had to pay $32.99. I urge everyone to get a copy of this book.” Brent L.

“Victoria. The new marketing book is the bomb. I took your advice about Craigs List and I received an inquiry from a law firm here in San Diego today. Thank you so much.” Fredrick R.

Download your copy now and read the eBook tonight. Use the information to start marketing tomorrow. You will find this eBook is worth every penny.

http://www.713training.com/shop/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=88

posted in Bankruptcy Marketing Tips, Bankruptcy Topics | Comments Off