713Bankruptcy.Com's Blog

Virtual bankruptcy assistants are trained professionals who work solely for licensed bankruptcy attorneys nationwide. One of the many methods they use for every case is an internet search for liens including judgment liens and liens against personal property. This information is necessary because it helps to protect the debtor from additional debts and potential litigation they may or may not be aware of. One good example was a man I was doing a bankruptcy petition for who divorced his first wife 18 years ago. Normally the previous marriage would not be listed on the bankruptcy petition because it was so old, however, when the first wife did not pay the mortgage on the residence the house went into foreclosure. Since the debtor was on the mortgage the mortgage company filed a judgment against him that he did not know about. eDiscovery revealed this hidden judgment and we were able to add it to the bankruptcy petition and get the debt discharged.

Another eDiscovery method used by virtual bankruptcy assistants is performing background searches that often show up previous spouses as well as previous addresses. This information can be very important especially if a debtor has lived in another state and failed to tell the attorney about it. In one case, when we found a debtor who lived in another state we were able to determine that she owed State taxes she did not reveal in her bankruptcy petition. Another case provided us with spousal information which helped us to find a current divorce proceeding that was still being litigated.

Finally, another use of eDiscovery virtual bankruptcy assistants use is a criminal search. Often, debtors do not like to reveal a criminal past; especially a criminal offense of driving while intoxicated and causing the death of another person. However, this type of debt was made non-dischargable by the court when the bankruptcy law changed in 2005. Prior to the law change, most debts of this type were discharged in the bankruptcy.

In summary, virtual bankruptcy assistants utilize the internet for a variety of eDiscovery purposes when they are preparing a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy petition. The eDiscovery method can be something as simple as looking up a Kelly Blue Book market value for a motor vehicle to discovering a criminal past. One virtual assistant even found a debtor who had 9 different social security numbers when she used eDiscovery methods. After reporting this fraudulent action to the attorney she was working for, the attorney did not represent the client; thus protecting himself as well as his law firm from potential sanctions as well as lost time and money.

For additional information about virtual bankruptcy assistants, download your free eBook: What is a Virtual Bankruptcy Assistant at http://www.713training.com/getstarted.pdf Also review the information on the National Association of Virtual Bankruptcy Assistants at http://www.navba.org Feel free to contact us through either website with any comments or questions.

Victoria Ring
Certified Paralegal
http://www.713training.com
http://www.713attorney.com
http://www.713bankruptcy.com

Back in 2001 when Victoria Ring and the attorney she was working for developed the virtual bankruptcy assistant field they were not aware of what they had actually done. In fact, the whole idea began as an experiment.

Victoria was working as a paralegal for two attorneys in a typical bankruptcy law firm practice. One day, an attorney was watching Victoria work and realized that she was interrupted every 10-15 minutes while trying to compile a bankruptcy petition. Understanding that the bankruptcy petition is the most important document for securing a smooth process throughout the case, the attorney had an idea. He said to his partner: “Let’s see how the efficiency improves if we take the bankruptcy petition preparation outside the law firm and allow Victoria to work part-time from her home.”

That weekend the attorneys moved a desk, computer and chair into the spare bedroom of Victoria’s home. That weekend, she was able to prepare 15 bankruptcy petitions without any interruptions like phone calls, customers dropping by and office employees asking her for help.

BENEFITS FOR THE BANKRUPTCY LAW FIRM

The two bankruptcy attorneys not only found that Victoria could process 15 bankruptcy petitions in a weekend, but the quality in the detail improved significantly. This resulted in:

** Eliminating almost all the deficiency notices from the court;
** Less phone calls from clients asking when their petition would be completed;
** Reduction of the overall paperwork for the law firm; and
** Created more income since cases were filed more expediently.

HOW THE IDEA GREW

When Victoria Ring saw how this idea was benefiting the law firm she was working for she decided to introduce the concept to other attorneys so they could benefit also. Unfortunately, due to the lack of technological knowledge, most of the bankruptcy attorneys in Columbus, Ohio (where Victoria lived at the time) never believed that electronic filing and working virtually were possible. That is when Victoria developed an internet company and presented her ideas to attorneys in larger cities like New York, Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, etc. Within 9 months of developing the website she had a client base of 56 attorneys and was able to quit her full-time job. Victoria has never looked back.

FACTS

** Virtual bankruptcy assistants are trained professionals who work solely under the direction of bankruptcy attorneys.

** Bankruptcy petition preparers work for the general public. The majority have received no prior training and often commit unauthorized practice of law (UPL).

** Save your law firm $1,000s of dollars per year. Judge for yourself by contacting virtual bankruptcy assistants directly. Visit the National Association of Virtual Bankruptcy Assistants today at: http://www.navba.org

ADVANTAGES TO LAW FIRMS UTILIZING VIRTUAL BANKRUPTCY ASSISTANTS

** Attorneys do not pay the standard overhead costs associated with hiring a full-time or part-time employee. Virtual Bankruptcy Assistants charge one flat fee just like the bankruptcy attorney does.

** Attorneys do not pay for services until they are satisfied with the quality of work produced by the Virtual Bankruptcy Assistant. There are no financial risks for the law firm and the attorney can find the quality he or she is seeking.

** Attorneys do not invest in additional computer equipment or software. Virtual Bankruptcy Assistants maintain their own and are highly skilled in using their equipment and software or they would not stay in business.

** Paralegals and other law firm personnel are freed up to work on more complex cases. It is a known fact that the typical employee preparing petitions in a law firm is interrupted several times. This makes the information on the bankruptcy petition to not be consistent and precise, resulting in errors.

** Attorneys eliminate the need to train new employees. Most Virtual Bankruptcy Assistants stay with the same attorney for many years. Not only does this increase efficiency with bankruptcy petitions, but Virtual Bankruptcy Assistants get to know the clients, the local bankruptcy court and the attorney which helps them build a reliable reputation.

** Attorneys utilizing the services of Virtual Bankruptcy Assistants who have been certified through the VBA Certification Exam can be assured of high quality and professionalism.

Bankruptcy and foreclosure rates are skyrocking. Now is the time to expand your law practice without any overhead expense. Hire a trained virtual bankruptcy assistant! 713Training.Com and 713Attorney.Com provides professional training and support for debtor bankruptcy attorneys nationwide. We save bankruptcy law firms thousands of dollars per year utilizing certified and highly skilled virtual bankruptcy assistants.

Below are responses we have received so far from our survey regarding the Master Virtual Bankruptcy Certification Exam. If you filled out the survey you may see your response below. Also, I have provided my own personal comments to address your great suggestions and feedback. Thank you!!

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I have two people I am trying to develop into competent virtual bankruptcy assistants to help handle my growing business and also to help them with building a business with a future. I want to see them develop the detail skills needed to gather the information in an efficient manner and prepare the client’s petitions to be bullet proof. The work to be done in this area of law is like an iceberg with only a small tip of the mountain beneath that will be rising within the next few years. We need more qualified assistants to get the work done quickly and accurately.

FROM VICTORIA: Be sure to visit http://www.navba.org for certified virtual bankruptcy assistants that have passed the VBA Certification Exam.

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I am a tech savvy virtual assistant and will love to learn how to protect my company from scams and frauds. I am also teaching a course on how to design your Virtual Assistant career so this info can be helpful to many.

FROM VICTORIA: Your eBook has been emailed to you. I hope you enjoy it.

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I am still working full-time while saving my money for what I call my “layaway” or “pay as you go” business. In preparation of attempting to start this business, I have found difficulty on a few different levels: 1. The office set up and procedures can be overwhelming w/all the equipment expenses & especially when trying to figure out the order in which to complete task. (I have used your old apprentice set-up instructions as somewhat of a guide.) 2. Trying to teach yourself how to actually prepare petitions from a book and “hope” that you’ll do well on the exam, when the time comes. In essence, I have missed a few launch dates due to money, time and/or exhaustion but, I figure I’ll keep at it and eventually I’ll be ready to launch my marketing campaign.

FROM VICTORIA: These are some of the topics I will personally train you on during the Master VBA Certification Course. The class I am putting together now will start in early March. I hope you decide to be part of it.

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I would like to see as much training as possible on internet research.

FROM VICTORIA: You got it. I will include this training in the Master VBA Certification Course.

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I plan to use your materials in training my staff in the efficient processing of bankruptcy cases. I hope that you will have print and online materials available for purchase.

FROM VICTORIA: We have both print and online materials available now. Just visit http://www.713training.com/shop If you see something you would like developed, let me know. I am a product developer and if people need something to help them I will do the best I can to provide it.

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The only thing I wish is it was a little clearer when you purchase Items in the bookstore (training material) . Sometimes we do not have much money to start, I wish there was a Chapter 7 training book, and I cannot afford the 349.00 yet. I know I can do this and I am so willing, I just cannot come up with all the money at once.

FROM VICTORIA: Just visit http://www.713training.com/shop and click on the BOOKS or EBOOKS. There are a wide range of materials other than the 10 Training CDs your mentioned. Plus, you can also purchase the Training CDs one at a time as your budget allows. I do everything I can to consider the needs of people who are on a tight budget, but I do have to run the company and make a profit. Without a profit I would not have a company and the products would no longer be available.

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1) I think it would be great to be able to hear you talk with a new attorney you haven’t spoken with before, and a current client, so we could hear how a successful contact and discussion goes. 2) See if you could get a discount on the software and include it in the package. 3) Include a small piece on negotiating rates with an attorney. 4) Have an attorney talk to the class about the business and what he/she looks for in a virtual assistant. 5)You mentioned motions & pleadings, how about other add ons that would make our service more valuable and open up other doors.

FROM VICTORIA: Great idea! I will make this the focus of the next teleconference. Thanks.

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I do not like teleconferences since I like to type and listen to a web conference. I find it hard to listen for a long time on my cell phone also.

FROM VICTORIA: You may want to consider getting a headset for your cell phone. I am hooked on products provided by Plantronics as I believe they have the best sound quality. A headset for your cell phone is available at:
http://www.101phones.com/cat/2088/Plantronics-Headsets-For-Cell-Phones.html

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1. Offer an annual membership 800 hotline for bankruptcy questions. This hotline could be similar to the National Notary Association where members can call in and ask questions about procedures in their state. 2. Offer a tutorial on using the using Best Case or other popular software . For example, what is the sequence for entering information. In what order should I enter forms and schedules 3. I would like to see an extensive training program for Foreclosure Mediation with emphasis on FHA and VA loans. A short one on one mentoring program would be fantastic.

FROM VICTORIA: 1. Sounds like a great idea but I already provide this free and no one takes advantage of it. 2. We already provide this training utilizing Best Case. The 10 Training CDs walks you through every form and schedule, provides you with tons of tips and explains every line to you in easy to understand form. Visit:
http://www.713training.com/shop/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=35

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If a maximum of 4 students will take the course, how are you going to select the students? Is it going to be the first come first serve or just for those who can pay the cost of the course. I would not set the cost too high because money seems to be an issue days or at least in my part of the world. I am not that familiar with web conferencing but I am willing to learn all that I can. How would you go about getting people not so familiar with this technology up to speed.

FROM VICTORIA: The Master VBA Certification Course will be set up so that a student must complete an extensive application process. They will also need to provide references, which will be contacted and confirmed before acceptance. We do not anticipate there being more than 4 people pass the application process for acceptance into the Master VBA Certification Course during a period of 12 weeks. I could be wrong, but if we get more than 4 people who qualify during this period of time, we will have to address the issue at that time. However, at this moment I do not anticipate this being a problem.

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I would like to make some suggestions concerning the possibility of some sort of affiliation with an established program – I live in LA and LA Valley College has a paralegal program which is run by a very good woman (attorney/educator). If you would care to “hook up” with this – or check it out – it might be mutually beneficial. Or, you might have some local ties you would investigate…or, get your own Vocational Approval from Ohio/somewhere…and turn this into a legal specialty trade school/seminar…like the ones that specialize in Mediation/paralegal-legal assistant studies…I used to have a State-approved trade school here, so I have several suggestions along these lines…It could open up funding to you to grow virtually.

FROM VICTORIA: Sounds wonderful. Please contact me about this as I have made several attempts to achieve this before and have had no success. Perhaps you know some insider tips that could help me, so please email me at Victoria@713training.com. Include your phone number and I will call you to discuss this further. Thank you for the excellent suggestion.

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In my opinion, if one has taken the courses to learn how to complete chapter 7 and 13 paperwork, then only intermediate and advanced skills should be taught in this Master course. There’s no reason to teach 7 and 13′s from scratch. My concern is, however, that with the economy doing so poorly right now, how many people would be able to afford this course? It seems to me that only VBA’s who are working now could afford this course. I think that charging a high price is not a good idea in this present economy. I understand that Ms. Ring’s time is valuable, but the idea is to get people trained to be VBA’s so attorneys can get the help they need. So, price the course accordingly. I haven’t ordered the ‘beginning’ VBA course at present, but I plan to. Right now, even the beginning books are expensive for me, but I will save the money for at least one and maybe some other training aids. I think a master course is a good idea, but it should be advertised only to VBA’s and on the NAVBA site only, as that is where the course would do the most good.

FROM VICTORIA: I agree and I do not plan to include basic skills in the advanced Master VBA Certification Course. My prayers go out to you regarding your tight budget and I understand your situation. Visit http://www.servantofjesuschrist.com and you can read my personal story of how I was in a coma for 3 weeks. During that time, two of my employees stole everything I had, including all the money from the business account. I had to literally start from scratch last year with $63 to my name. Therefore, I understand what hard times are all about. However, you must agree that I cannot give my products away. It would destroy the company. I believe I provide a wide range of products in a wide range of prices that people can afford and I always try to price my products fairly.

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I am going through a lot of monetary problems right now, so I would not be able to pay much. I think Victoria is a wonderful woman and I think she has one of the best programs around. Tips on how to stay in business after you open one. This is an invaluable course, I think it would be worth the largest amount, but I cannot even afford to pay the $1,000.00 amount, right now. I also think that if a person has done a personal bankruptcy, they may be able to help people a little better, than the average person. Right now, I am going through a chapter 13 bankruptcy, it also may change since I recently was rehired at my last job, and I realize how hard it is to deal with. I feel a person who has dealt with this situation, may be able to help a few more people, with the “Personal” side of it. Thank you, Victoria, for all of your help and kind words of wisdom in the past, and future!

FROM VICTORIA: I will keep you in my prayers and I thank you for your kind words. Stay in touch and keep focused. I have been poor and I have been rich so I understand both sides of the fence and do not enjoy both. I prefer to just live an average life, which God has blessed me to be able to do. I urge you to share your Chapter 13 bankruptcy story with others which may be excellent therapy for you. In fact, many magazines, blogs and other online periodicals would be potential targets to buy your story. Do a search on Google under the words: sell legal article, or submit bankruptcy article and start there.

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I personally would be interested in receiving training for Chapter 13 plans, specifically, how to calculate plan payments (using *and* not using the Best Case or other bankruptcy software), having plan terms explained, common problems and issues with Chapter 13 filings and plan confirmations, when does a plan need to be amended, etc.

FROM VICTORIA: Your problem is solved. The training has already been developed. Visit: http://www.713training.com/shop/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=80 Then, if you want 1-on-1 personalized training with me on Chapter 13 Plans, visit: http://www.713training.com/shop/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=84

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Print copy and video training would be essential to the training. Creation of a members only forum would also be an asset to those that sign up. A step-by-step blueprint would also be very helpful.

FROM VICTORIA: Great ideas! I will build this into the Master VBA Certification Course. Thank you.

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The course should be an online course that allows students to communicate with one another and with the instructor. There should be actual activities that VBA would have to perform in their business, for hands-on-training. There should also be collaborating assignments which allow students to work on a project together. If the course can be online (with username and passwords), students will really learn.

FROM VICTORIA: I have had my assistant Cheri Graham looking for an online system that would provide the tools you refer to. At this time, the lowest price we can find is $3,000.00 per month. That is too much to pay for only 4 students. In fact, I think I would go in the hole financially if I purchased it. Therefore, for now, we will have to keep costs low in order to keep the price at a level people can afford. Thank you anyway for a wonderful suggestion. If you know of an online software that would provide these benefits at a lower price than $3,000.00 per month, please let me know at once.

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How many hours are required per day to complete this training? I am interested in doing this on the side, while keeping my current job. It would be helpful to know how demanding the process of being certified will be. It will be helpful to have daily mini quizzes or after each chapter to ensure that the students are grasping the information.

FROM VICTORIA: I would say that you need at least 10 hours a week to invest into the training course. I plan to issue an assignment each week as well as meeting with the students for 1 hour each week for a teleconference plus a 1 hour web conference also. And yes, there will be a variety of quizzes and exercises to make sure everyone absorbs and understands the information.

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As a new Virtual Bankruptcy Assistant there are many unanswered question concerning the actual doing the business. I would like to see the course with these things in it: 1. Computer Input; 2. Using Pacer; 3. attorney contact and billing; 4. Work book and visual training; 5. Use roll playing; 6. Relating actual experience as a Virtual Bankruptcy Assistant; 7. Give students plenty of time to practice, practice, practice; 8. A real neat Final Certification that you can be proud of.

FROM VICTORIA: These are excellent suggestions and I will definitely consider them all. I appreciate you providing your ideas because they will help me a great deal.

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1. Having the virtual assistants not only prepare petitions from scratch, but also proofread petitions from other VBA’s to see if we catch errors. These petitions would already have been gone over by you, Victoria, so that you know exactly how it should look, what questions the VBA’s should come up with while preparing the petitions, and where the errors are on the petition. 2. Going over security features and how to prevent viruses and any other issues that could affect our equipment. This would make the Attorneys more comfortable with using our services and prevent problems so we are not out of work due to computer malfunctions. 3. What are the hours in each day for the training and how many days in the 12 weeks will there be training (i.e., 2 days/week at 2 hours per day?)

FROM VICTORIA: Excellent suggestions. Thank you. As far as how many hours each day should be allotted for training – that will be up to you. I anticipate you will need at least 10 hours per week and you can break those up any way that works for you.

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This course will be beneficial to anyone looking to expand their current list of services. I think the course should be as hands-on as possible. I also hope there is some type of continued follow-up after the course.

FROM VICTORIA: The great thing about the Master VBA Certification Course is that the people you go through the course with will become your colleagues (buddies in business) because you will become close. Additionally, I will continue to work with the Master VBAs after they graduate in making sure they have attorneys to work for.

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In today’s society everything needs to be convenient, in other words online no travel needed or class can be taken at the students convenience. Set up the sessions to be recorded and offer the student more than one opportunity to hear the session. Make yourself available to virtual assistant that want to travel to your location for one-on-one study or review session. There are some people that require a classroom environment in order to learn or to feel confident in what they are doing. Have study sessions where the virtual assistants participating can get together online or telephone to work on case studies. This is also an effective method of teaching and learning. Make the monthly payment plan run parallel with the 12 weeks. For example $3,000 would be a monthly payment of $1,000. Consider credit card payments (pay as you go, you would charge the credit card the agreed upon amount every two weeks).

FROM VICTORIA: Thank you. These are excellent suggestions and I thank you for submitting them. I will do the best I can.

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As long as this course is a complete overview of the bankruptcy process for all virtual bankruptcy assistants along with a guarantee of work, I think it will be a great opportunity. The cost of the program will probably be the biggest deterrent to most people considering the state of the economy. Being new to this business, I am not certain if such a cost could be written off at tax time as a business expense. Personally, I am myself am most interested in taking part in such a course but lack much in the way of funds to pursue it. Also, I would also be interested in how I could market myself to local bankruptcy attorneys where I live. Finally, I would want to know how I would incorporate using programs such as Best Case and the ECF/PACER systems into my business including how to use them, their costs and how they would work with the attorneys with whom I do business.

FROM VICTORIA: These would make excellent topics for teleconference training sessions. I will definitely use your ideas and I thank you for submitting them.

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I have been studying at home with the 10 petition CDs and books. I believe the master course would be an excellent way for me to incorporate what I am learning with a more structured program. What I think I am lacking at this time is the help that I could get from having a qualified instructor nearby to answer the questions that may come up and the lecture and responses that one may get in a classroom setting. If this could be done virtually in real time it would be great. I visit the forum everyday and have been disappointed with the lack of participation. I think this master class should include a student forum where we could network and interact with each other and be protected with a password to discourage those that are not serious about becoming a VBA from participating. While I don’t think this is for everyone I would like to learn more ways to grow and be more credible to attorneys.

FROM VICTORIA: Good for you. I am glad to know that you are studying with the CDs. However, I also agree that there is more to running a VBA business than just knowing how to prepare a bankruptcy petition. I hope you decide to attend our first class which I am putting together right now. Also, you are welcome to come to my office for personal training, or schedule a 1-on-1 personalized training session at http://www.713training.com/shop/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=84 I am available to help you any way I can. Just let me know what you need.

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I am just starting out in this field, I just finished the 10 videos on CD (these are very helpful) and did my first mailing. I feel the best thing for me was the training workbook, so in this course the more lessons in actually preparing petitions the better. Maybe do an actual petition each week that is critiqued by Victoria or one of the staff. Hands on is the way that I learn best.

FROM VICTORIA: I am glad the videos are helping you and you are beginning to market to attorneys. Remember that I have the Bankruptcy Petition Review training available at:

http://www.713training.com/shop/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=86

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I would like an online course so I will not have to take time off from my present position to train. A lot of time spent doing practice petitions would help me learn. I find that I learn things better when I repeat them over and over. It would help if all in the class were at the same learning level also.

FROM VICTORIA: A simple way for you to learn would be to take the client intake forms, hand them out to friends and family, ask them to fill them out, and use them for practice. Or, you could order the Virtual Bankruptcy Assistant Workbook which gives you a set of client intake forms to practice with as well as evaluating your input skills. Check it out at:
http://www.713training.com/shop/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=7

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At the end of the Master Virtual Bankruptcy Assistant Training Course provide the Virtual Bankruptcy Assistant Certification and part of the training can be in teleconference. The other that Victoria can help with this training is web page development training and Attorney referrals. The Creation of Chapter of Virtual Bankruptcy Assistant in different State. We can have training every 4 month or have 1 or 2 convention a year by The National Association of Virtual Bankruptcy Assistants for members.

FROM VICTORIA: I totally agree with you. However, in order to accomplish these things I need more people working with 713Training.Com as I cannot do all of this myself. I have been trying to find business partners who were willing to make an investment and get involved in the growth of 713Training.Com but have not had any offers yet. As far as the web training, my assistant Cheri Graham provides this to our customers. Call her at 614-323-8131 and set up an appointment.

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A totally online course would be greatly beneficial since travelling to a remote location takes time & money. I like the fact that the course would be all inclusive since piece-mailing out the information as it is done now, is difficult to attempt. I would also like to see a payment plan available since I assume this will be quite expensive. It would certainly help if you were guaranteed at least one attorney’s work to help make up for the cost of the course.

FROM VICTORIA: I totally agree. Thanks for your input.

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I am very interested in beginning to prepare for this business opportunity. I like to help people and believe this is a real opportunity. I follow your blogs and like what you are offering. I know that thru your instruction and leadership that I can be successful in helping attorneys with this work.

FROM VICTORIA: Thanks for your faith in my abilities. I will continue to do the best I can and I appreciate you keeping me in your prayers.

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I was a victim of credit card fraud in a business I was involved in but had to give up in 2005 because I was diagnosed with MS. I feel letting business owners know about the fraud potential that is out there is a valuable topic. I believe business owners should be aware of their employees off work activities to be certain there not bring potential risk of fraudulent behavior to their business area. Being aware of the people your staff is associating with is an important area for employers to stay on top of.

FROM VICTORIA: I am so very sorry to hear of your financial loss and identify theft. I am equally sad to hear about your MS diagnosis. I worked with a lady one time that had MS and I understand the problems you endure. I will keep you in my prayers and I pray that God will richly bless you.

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I feel that a course such as this would be a great benefit for the person who really expects to be dedicated to this field. Having one on one instruction would be beneficial in developing strength and confidence for someone just entering this field. The only thing that concerns me would be the amount of time it would take to complete the course, perhaps a shorter term would be more appealing. Of course, if the individual is not ready to start and is just getting their feet wet, it may be the amount of time need. Best of all is the thought that after finishing this assignment that there would be an attorney that would provide work. The hardest task is getting that first attorney to feel confidence in you. If you are good the rest will come.

FROM VICTORIA: Thanks for your input however I do not want to shorten the course. I am doing a lot to get in all the material within the 12 week period. Besides, if you enrolled in a paralegal course it would take you 2 years or more to complete it. Then when you graduated, you would not make much money because you would be forced to start at the bottom. I do not think investing only 12 weeks of your time and coming out making an average monthly income of $20,000 or more is not bad.

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Please, please know there are people out there that are talking about what you have to offer. Many of us in the forums are wanting to hope aboard the Bankruptcy Assistant train, but are so worried about the money situation. We can pay the fees to join, have a reasonable amount to train, and a reasonable ongoing fee per month to keep things going. No more can people just delve into their savings, these savings have to be set aside for emergencies now. We admire you Victoria, for what you have accomplished and really want to be a part of it.

FROM VICTORIA: I understand your situation. If you are unable to financially afford the Master VBA Certification Course right now that is okay. Instead, keep practicing and increasing your knowledge of inputting bankruptcy petitions. Or better yet, apply for a job working for a bankruptcy attorney. This way you can get paid as well as getting free education at the same time. Finding a job with a bankruptcy attorney right now is a relatively easy thing to do, especially if you have basic training in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 petitions. Use the education you have now to your advantage. When you have the money you can enroll in the Master course.

See you in the next issue…..

Victoria Ring
http://www.713training.com
http://www.713bankruptcy.com
http://www.713attorney.com
http://www.navba.org

The survey is now over. I would like to thank all of you who took time out of your day to provide me with your opinions, comments and suggestions. You have greatly aided me in the development of new products and a direction for me to follow in helping you grow and market your businesses. Below are the final results along with my comments and answers to questions.

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QUESTION NUMBER 1:

We are putting together a Master Virtual Bankruptcy Assistant training course. This course will last for 12 weeks. A maximum of 4 people will take the course together. The course will be personally instructed by Victoria Ring. If such a course were developed would you be interested in studying under Victoria Ring for a period of 12 weeks?

93.2% – YES
6.8% – NO

COMMENT: There is no doubt that almost everyone wants the Master VBA Training Course to be developed. Therefore I will proceed with the development. In the meantime, the VBA Certification Training Course is already developed and available for free download at http://www.vbacertification.com

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QUESTION NUMBER 2:

Select the topics you would like to be a part of the Master Virtual Bankruptcy Assistant Training Course:

58.3% – Developing a business plan
52.8% – Legalities of setting up a business
83.3% – Developing standard operations procedures
62.5% – Teleconferences with bankruptcy attorneys
86.1% – Methods of marketing your business
94.4% – Providing you with at least 1 attorney client after you have successfully completed the course
59.7% – Demonstrating a variety of ways to make money
38.9% – Opportunity to travel to Victoria’s location for personalized training

COMMENT: It appears that marketing and obtaining work from attorneys seem to be the biggest hurdle for most people. Therefore, I will design the Master Course so that 1/3 of it will be concentrated on teaching students marketing techniques. Also, I was amazed that 83.3% of the people want a set of standard operations procedures. This gives me several ideas for the development of new training products and I appreciate you bringing it to my attention.

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QUESTION NUMBER 3:

What is the MAXIMUM amount you would you be willing to pay for a 12 week training course that provided you with everything you needed to run your company PLUS a guarantee of work from an attorney after you graduated?

39.1% – Less than $1,000.00
33.3% – $1,000.00 with monthly payment plan
18.8% – $2,000.00 with monthly payment plan
7.2% – $3,000.00 with monthly payment plan
1.4% – $4,000.00 with monthly payment plan

COMMENT: I will do the best I can to keep the prices low. However, you need to remember that the average virtual bankruptcy assistant earns from $15,000 to $25,000 per month. There is NO college you can graduate from making that kind of money and people pay thousands of dollars to attend college for a period of 2-4 years. Because my overhead costs are low, I will not price the Master Course at thousands of dollars, but it will be priced higher than the $25 one of the survey respondents suggested.

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QUESTION NUMBER 4:

How familiar are you with the use of web conferencing technology to use for your online training?

25.7% – Not familiar at all
35.1% – Somewhat familiar
35.1% – Very familiar
4.1% – I am an expert with web conferencing technology

COMMENT: For the 25.7% who are not familiar at all and the 35.1% who are somewhat familiar, the process is simple. You receive a link by email. You click on the link and immediately you are connected to the web conference. The old-fashioned way of attending meetings was to get up from your desk, walk to a meeting room, take a seat and listen to the speaker. Today, you simply attend on your computer screen. It is much easier and you do not even need to participate. Just watch your computer screen.

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QUESTION NUMBER 5:

How familiar are you with the use of teleconference technology to use for your online training?

20.3% – Not familiar at all
43.2% – Somewhat familiar
32.4% – Very familiar
4.1% – I am an expert with teleconference technology

COMMENT: For the 20.3% who are not familiar at all and the 43.2% who are somewhat familiar, the process is also very simple. Remember the party lines we used to have back in the old days? Teleconferencing is the same thing. You call a telephone number, enter in a CODE and immediately you are connected to everyone else attending the teleconference.

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QUESTION NUMBER 6:

Select the topics you think should be included in the Master Virtual Bankruptcy Assistant Training Course in relation to the input of bankruptcy petitions:

79.5% – How to prepare a Chapter 7 from scratch
82.2% – How to prepare a Chapter 13 from scratch
86.3% – Advanced Chapter 7 petition skills
83.6% – Advanced Chapter 13 petition skills
56.2% – Knowledge of Chapter 11 business bankruptcy
39.7% – Cases involving the Appeals Court
78.1% – How to prepare Motions and other pleadings
61.6% – Study and analysis of the bankruptcy code

COMMENT: I was a little shocked on the responses to this one. Why would 79.5% of the respondents want to know how to prepare a Chapter 7 from scratch and 82.2% want to know how to prepare a Chapter 13? Either the people responding to this survey had no clue who 713Training.Com was or they misunderstood the question. There would be no reason whatsoever to incorporate basic petition training into a Masters Course when I have spent the past 6+ years providing this training already. Besides, a person cannot even pass the standard VBA Certification unless they have basic Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 skills. Therefore, for the 79.5% and 82.2% who are seeking basic skills in preparing a Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 petition, please visit http://www.713training.com/shop

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FEEDBACK AND SUGGESTIONS:

I would love to see a lot of hands-on training, homework, quizzes, etc.; a chance to collaborate with other students regarding the projects – maybe a required online get-together at least once a week; a good feel for being taught in a small student environment with VBAs who are serious about their business and willing to work with the other students to enhance what we learn.

COMMENT: You got it. This is exactly what I had in mind also.

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For me personally, I have education as a legal assistant but I have never worked in the legal field. My experience is with corporate attorneys. I would want to know whether the training is for experienced bankruptcy assistants either virtual or onsite assistants. I would be willing to pay more for training that provides a turn-key type of business. Also, the more business that is guaranteed to me as a result for completing training would be enticing and I would pay more for tuition. I hope this helps. Good luck with your program.

COMMENT: Thanks for your comments. Unfortunately, how to prepare a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy petition is not a skill taught in any law school or paralegal program. That is why I developed the field because I saw a need for virtual bankruptcy assistants. However, your training as a legal assistant is excellent to have when working in different areas of bankruptcy. Bankruptcy is a field that utilizes almost all areas of law including real estate law, torts, corporate, business and many more.

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Considering that there is only 1 individual training, Victoria, herself, I believe that Victoria should train others to help her with her overwhelming responses and testing. Allowing other individuals to help grade would shorten the period and response time of the testing procedures.

COMMENT: I totally agree but I have had no one accept my offer. First I developed an application for people who wanted to learn how to become training instructors. They were not required to pay a penny. I only asked them to meet me at seminars and attorney offices so I could provide them with on the job training before releasing them to train the virtual bankruptcy assistants. However, not one person took the time to even fill out the application. So I decided to develop an Apprentice program where I would set up their business for them. One lady applied for this program and paid $10,000. I spent almost $11,000 setting her business up (more than I received) in addition to over 100 hours of my own personal time. However, this lady turned around and filed a lawsuit against me for $35,000 (more than she even paid), which was later dismissed. I never found out why this lady got upset as she refused to communicate with me. In fact, I tried to send her the computer and software I purchased to set up her business and she refused shipment. After these mind-blowing experiences, you can understand why I am not excited about making the offer again. Therefore, if you are interested in becoming a training instructor and helping me with the tremendous workload please STEP UP TO THE PLATE.

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I definitely think if virtual assistant were able to pay monthly for a course with Victoria, a lot more people would be able to attend. Not everyone has a large sum of money to spend at one time.

COMMENT: That is why colleges and universities offer student loans. They understand, like I do, that people do not have great sums of money lying around. That is why the Master Course will be divided up into easy monthly installment payments that people can afford.

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Victoria: After seeking several businesses to start from working at home, I must say, you are very consistent with the opportunities you provide for potential virtual assistants. I am most grateful for your last gesture of providing potential virtual assistants with the opportunity to make monthly payments to begin the training process. I have been very interested, but was not able to afford the courses at once. Now I can begin my training with the expectation of leaving corporate America once and for all to begin the destiny God has in store for me. Thank you and may God continue to richly bless you, your family and your business.

COMMENT: Thank you very much. You sound like me back in the mid 1980s. I was working for corporate America too. But I knew I hated it and wanted to own my own business. I used to spend my lunch hour in the cafeteria reading magazines like Entrepreneur and Small Business Opportunities. But today, you have the whole world available to you through the internet. Use it to your advantage.

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I would benefit most from courses that I could access when time permitted. My schedule as a signing agent and closing for two in-town Title offices is unpredictable at best. This is why I have shied away from paying for other classes offered that are only available at a certain time. College classes are now offering uploaded materials and the student accesses them, listens, learns, and takes an exam. This concept would work for me. Locked into a specific time table would not work. Love you Victoria – you are great!

COMMENT: Thanks for your comments. I have my assistant Cheri Graham researching the online software now that we would use for the online classes.

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The client intake forms that we have as a guide is not necessarily those of which a seasoned bankruptcy attorney uses. In my experience, when my mom went to do her bankruptcy, her attorney who has practiced Law in FL and CA for the past 20 years gave her one sheet that had all the necessary information required. Then when I watched her input the details into Best Case it was completed in a jiffy. I would suggest that a course be offered or a section be offered with the most common circumstances in the bankruptcy arena. This way it is also simplified for the VBA. When I took the course in Orlando with Angie Boyd, it was difficult to follow all that she was doing or saying especially to learn in so much detail in what was a day and I felt not wisely invested money to study under her direction. I had to purchase Victoria’s training DVD’s on top of that just to get an understanding.

COMMENT: First of all, Angie Boyd was fired back in October 2007 for theft of company property. (Refer to the article at http://www.servantofjesuschrist.com) She never stayed with me long enough to learn how to properly train students so I apologize that you were a victim of her sloppy and horrid training techniques. Putting that all aside, the Client Intake Forms were originally developed by seasoned bankruptcy attorneys. You cannot compare the 1 page form your mother used (probably before the law changed in 2005) with the entire industry. Besides, the Client Intake Forms were also tested in hundreds of client intake interviews and they have been downloaded and utilized by thousands of attorneys across the United States since 2001. Finally, I am not going to teach anyone how to take short cuts that end up harming innocent people. Your suggestions are based on a very limited knowledge of the bankruptcy industry.

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There should be a section on writing a business letter to send out to the attorney. This will help those whom have not study for grammar and writing skills in years. There should be a mock phone or webcam interview with a practicing attorney in bankruptcy. This will help the assistant deal with daily attitude and personality in a law firm.

COMMENT: Excellent suggestions; however, we already have these tools in place. I have provided sample letters in my book, How to Start a Virtual Bankruptcy Assistant Business as well as How to Market Your Virtual Bankruptcy Assistant Service. I also provide sample marketing letters in the recent online training video I developed regarding Postcard and Fax Blasts. The sample interviews with attorneys have also been provided in several previous teleconferences which are provided on the 2005 and 2006 Teleconference CDs. Plus, you can order a 1-on-1 Personalized Training session with me and I will teach you how to develop marketing materials and critique ones you already developed. All of these products can be ordered online at http://www.713training.com/shop

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My personal goals, before I get my feet wet and market to attorney’s is to make sure I understand how to prepare the bankruptcy petitions, and I do understand that you may not know everything and will learn from mistakes when starting out, I just want some knowledge first. Learning how to use pacer, marketing tools, More detail if your chapter7 becomes a 13, setting up a business, motions and pleadings. I think what you have listed is a great start.

COMMENT: You may be interested to know that we did a teleconference on Motions and Pleadings, plus provided people with a huge set of templates in both debtor and creditor pleadings. I will hold another teleconference on this topic since some people may have missed it.

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Judging from my biggest hurdle and worry, I would be more interested in this training if the cost of the BEST CASE software was included in the cost of the training. Reason being, I have purchased all the material to learn, I am slowly getting over my fears with marketing and landing clients; however, with struggling financially due to the current economy, I am scared I will be unable to afford the price of the licensing for BESTCASE and potentially lose my first client due to the delay of purchase. I know this is just my personal feeling, but I think including at least one licensing with the cost of the training would honestly set your students up with absolute success with no hurdles! Thanks for the opportunity to share my thoughts!

COMMENT: Best Case is not the only software program on the market. There are a lot more. For example, http://www.bankruptcysoftware.com provides a FREE software program for virtual bankruptcy assistants. It is the attorney that must pay for the license in order to be able to file. Other software programs are provided on the website at http://www.713training.com/links. Besides, you must consider that if you are unable to purchase the software to start your business you need to get the money you need before marketing. You never want to be placed in a position where you tell an attorney you cannot afford to buy the tools to do their work. This shows you to have an unstable company. Therefore, generate the money to purchase what you need for your business before you start it.

For example: If you decide to have a child, you need to prepare for that child by buying a crib, baby bottles and all the other baby supplies. If you do not have the money to afford these things you figure out ways to get them anyway. You certainly would not bring a new baby from the hospital naked with no clothes and no bed to lie in. The same holds true for your company. You do not birth a new company naked with no clothes and tell your potential customers about it. Doing so will only portray you in a bad light.

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I would think this course would help those who want to pass the VBA Certification. This appears to be something separate. It appears to me that once you pass the VBA, you are eligible to receive referrals. But what will you get after this? You receive ONE attorney client. Are you going to develop a logo for those who have passed this course? I think the Masters class would focus on advanced skills. The basics should be left to the VBA Certification. And in terms of cost, I hope it won’t be out of reach.

The VBA is already $150. But in order to pass it you do need to purchase your other material, which costs. The one plus would be to teach on the bankruptcy code. I’ve taken paralegal classes here in Indianapolis, and I can tell you there is no bankruptcy classes offered. And I think when attorneys see that you have a grasp of it, the more appealing you are. The other class I would suggest is a course on the role of the Trustees. I have downloaded all of their manuals so that I have a better understanding of who they are. I currently look for their reports in my current position at the bank. So I know how important they are. To me they are critical in the bankruptcy process, especially when creditors have to appeal to them when borrowers give out faulty information about debt they are trying to discharge.

COMMENT: Thanks for your opinion. As far as developing a logo, I am currently focusing on the development of the material. The logo development is something I will think about when the course is finished. We cannot get the cart before the horse right now.

As far as there being no bankruptcy classes offered in debtor law, it all has to do with rich people only being concerned with rich people. You can find training in corporate law and big business Chapter 11s, but one of the reasons I developed the virtual bankruptcy assistant field was to bring training to the masses so they could help the average John Q Public – people who really need help. It is unfortunate that the goal of the rich is to keep the poor under them. That is why there has been so much resistance to education in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13. I hope all of those reading my words will join me in telling everyone you know about the virtual bankruptcy assistant field and explain to people that attorneys choosing to work in this area of law are normally attorneys who care about the general public. If they didn’t, they would be working in big business bankruptcy making all the big bucks.

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I believe this would be a wonderful addition to the 713Training.Com products. Some people (like me) like ongoing training with more detail. Even though I’ve been preparing petitions for 4 years I still have questions every day. If this were a more advanced course it would be a perfect follow up to the beginning 713Training.Com. You never know the environment a person works in either. When you get different feedback from lots of sources (like me), then it would be nice to have once again a more advanced course to reinforce what I’ve learned and to continue the learning experience. O.k. Victoria, we’ll be waiting on your next great product!!

COMMENT: Thanks for your support. I appreciate you taking the time to comment because all of the comments have helped me shape the course.

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In Max Gardner’s class he has a chart that simplifies the whole petition process and his intake form is devised to go from Schedule A-J contiguously, I don’t know if this is true but I spoke to an attorney who took his class and it sounded very interesting. Of course this class was only for attorneys. Also a class on how to finish the petition in 20-30 minutes or less. How to handle a high workload without stressing yourself out of control. How to keep quality control very high and your client’s content. How can we automate our process in the petition preparation to have an efficient smooth running system that works to our advantage almost flawlessly?

COMMENT: The solution to these issues is PRACTICE which is not a product I can develop. PRACTICE is up to you and is something only you have control over. There is no magic pill I can give you to teach you everything you need to know in 30 minutes or less. When you first learned how to drive a car, did you know as much then as you did 10 years later? When you began the first day of your current job, did you know all the shortcuts and time saving techniques as you do today? The only way for a human being to learn how to get faster at something, create less stress and develop quality control is to PRACTICE. It is therefore up to you to implement this technique which is something I cannot do.

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Putting a price on knowledge is priceless however, teaching it is more rewarding. I currently have a mentor and pay $300 a month. This includes conferencing, CD’s, newsletters, manuals, DVD’s and most importantly monthly webinars. This has been a blessing for my business. I have learned a great deal and know that with your help and expertise I can expand my business into a new direction.

COMMENT: It is great to know someone like you who understands and appreciates the benefits of online learning. Thanks for providing your comments.

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I think that there should be a review of Chapters 7 and 13 preparation before moving on to the advanced skills to make sure everyone is “on the same page.” I also believe it is very important to not only study and analyze the code, but to actually understand it. It would also be very beneficial to the VBA and the attorney if VBA’s could prepare any motions or pleadings regarding the bankruptcy process. As a VBA, we should be knowledgeable and competent to assist the attorney during every step of the process. Knowing and understanding the bankruptcy process, not just how to fill out the forms, will make the VBA an indispensable asset to the attorney by providing the highest form of professional support to the attorney and, therefore, the client.

COMMENT: Your comments are insightful. I am developing an application process that will ensure that everyone is on the same page before they are accepted into the Master Course program.

However, a study of the Bankruptcy Code is not necessary for a virtual bankruptcy assistant. The attorney is the person who should concentrate on learning the Bankruptcy Code. The role of a virtual bankruptcy assistant is never to take the place of an attorney or risk committing unauthorized practice of law (UPL).

Additionally, learning how to write motions and pleadings is another skill that is only taught to law students and attorneys. Again, these skills are not taught to legal secretaries and paralegals because the law protects the public from unauthorized practice of law.

Besides, it is a proven fact that if a virtual bankruptcy assistant knows too much about the law itself, they have a tendency of committing UPL more frequently. That is why I only concentrate on the training a virtual bankruptcy assistant needs without committing UPL. When I train attorneys I concentrate on the Bankruptcy Code and the other areas of law you mention. Attorney training is not the same for virtual bankruptcy assistants.

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I would be interested in advanced training over a shorter period of time. I think your training materials are excellent and provide a solid base of knowledge.

COMMENT: Thanks for your input. However, compare the 12 week course I am developing to a 2 year paralegal course and you can begin to understand why 12 weeks is a very short period of time.

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Basic training/advance in the preparation of both Chapter 7 & 13. I think that Chapter 11 Business bankruptcy should be in a different training class. But to include the preparation of motions and other pleadings to give the Virtual Assistant the additional knowledge they would have to market their business. Possibly placing the business plan and the other items in Question #2 in a separate training session, so that the main focus is having a clear understanding of the preparation of the chapters.

COMMENT: Please see my answer below regarding big businesses and Chapter 11s. My focus is solely on helping the average John Q Public which makes up 80% or more of all bankruptcy petitions that are filed. If someone wants to work in Chapter 11s, there is enough training material on this area of law already. My focus and concern is people, not big businesses who have millions of dollars.

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With regard to the general certification process, I would like to see made available additional Sample Client Intake Forms for training purposes (perhaps up to three). It appears the vast majority of trainees are new to the bankruptcy field (myself included) and having additional petitions to prepare would serve to not only boost our understanding of the process but also our confidence in marketing ourselves thereafter. I, for one, would gladly pay for your additional time in reviewing these additional training petitions.

COMMENT: I agree with you. In the past other people have suggested that I make a book of practice Client Intake Forms. The only reason I held off is because the solution is simple and will not cost you any money. Just do your own bankruptcy petition. No one will see the information and doing your own; (using your own debts and asset information) will advance your training skills much better than practicing on several bogus ones. Finally, since every bankruptcy petition is different and unique, you will never be 100% prepared until you jump in and start working for attorneys; no matter how many you practice on beforehand.

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I think twelve weeks is a decent amount of time to get to the nitty gritty of a lot of the topics that would interest a lot of us. I have been looking into this industry for a long time, now is the time to get out here and do this, so providing the above listed topics would be a great starting point. I would also be interested in learning more about filing for businesses. I had one a little while back, but the paralegal I was working with to do petitions did not do business filings. I would really like to learn more about marketing other ways to grow a virtual bankruptcy business. I would also like to know more about how the process of filing for BK holds up foreclosure. Working for a major federal loan provider our borrowers do this, so I know private industry is doing the same, so in having potential clients who may come to me to file a petition, I would like to know more about this. This is great, thanks for this opportunity.

COMMENT: By filing for businesses, I do not know exactly what you mean. If someone has a business that makes under $1 million they can file a Chapter 13 or a Chapter 7 like any other consumer. (The amount changes all the time.) Chapters 11s are for businesses that make close to $1 million or more per year and have enough money to pay back their creditors. Even a billion dollar a year business can file a Chapter 7. Therefore, I do not understand why any paralegal that knew how to prepare Chapter 7s and Chapter 13s could not do a business filing. It is evident this paralegal either did not understand what you were asking or was unskilled in bankruptcy law.

I suggest you contact my office at 614-323-8131 and set up a training session with me. I am sure I could help you a great deal especially in understanding how foreclosures work in bankruptcy.

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I would like to attend this course to give myself more credibility in the sight of attorneys that I market to. I have real world bankruptcy experience, but it’s hard to sway attorney’s opinions that you have to be “in office” in order to help them. This course will show them that you are serious about your business and that you have taken the time to get credentials to show just how serious you are.

COMMENT: I agree. Many attorneys are not up to date on technology. They spend a great deal of time in court and operating their practice and little time researching technology. That is why it is very important that you have to knowledge to educate them. One of the best tools to teach you how to do this is the book I wrote titled, How to Increase Profits for Your Law Firm. You can get it free when you join the NAVBA for $15.99 at http://www.navba.org/administrator/signup.php or pay $10.99 for the eBook download at http://www.713training.com/shop/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=39

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I AM NEW TO THIS BUT HAVE A PARALEGAL DEGREE. I DON’T HAVE A JOB AS A PARALEGAL BUT WOULD LIKE TO TRAIN AS A VBA. RIGHT NOW, COST IS THE DETERRENT, BUT I AM WILLING TO SAVE FOR IT AS LONG AS I HAVE THE GUARANTEE OF MAKING A PROFIT. THANKS FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE TO DEVELOP THIS OPPORTUNITY VICTORIA!!

COMMENT: Thanks for your comments. However, you must be aware that I (or no one else) has the ability to guarantee you will be successful. Success can only be achieved by you. Just like you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink, I can provide you with all the tools and instructions to build your house; but it will be up to you to pick up the hammer and pound in the nails.

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I think it is a great opportunity, I would truly like the course to focus on Bankruptcy (7-13) and you might want to have but the bankruptcy questions before the business plan questions. The price might be a little steep for the course as well.

COMMENT: I addressed this issue before regarding price. My son Michael is getting ready to enter law school. He is willing to invest 4 years of his time and go into debt with student loans totaling $100,000 to become an attorney. Even with that, Michael will not immediately start earning $25,000 per month in income when he graduates from law school. But when you graduate the Master VBA Course and have been assigned an attorney client to work with, you will begin your career with a monthly starting income of $10,000 or more per month. If you are not willing to pay for good training in order to achieve this goal, then you are not ready for the Master Course.

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I have just started out in this field. I have purchased some of your materials as I can afford them. My knowledge is limited at this time, so any feedback would be useless, other than I think that you are doing a great job and service for other VBA’s. Thank you

COMMENT: Thank you for your kind comments. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help you. One suggestion is: if you cannot afford to join the NAVBA at least join the NAVBA forum (free) at http://www.navba.org/forum so you can network with others and advance your knowledge.

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I have a background in legal work, and I would like to be able to work in the field of bankruptcy. Training would be very good and I do want to take the training. I am hoping that there will be a payment schedule for those of us that are working on a limited budget. Thank you for the information that I have gotten from you.

COMMENT: Yes, there will be a monthly payment plan. I do not know what it is at this time as I am concentrating on the development of the material. Stay tuned.

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Victoria: You know that I think your books are terrific. They take you step by step in completing the bankruptcy petition and schedules and if you’ve never done one – you certainly would be able to do so after completion of following the book. With that being said, if you are going to the next step with web technology, I know that everyone who would invest in this with you would be able to start their own business and prosper.

COMMENT: Thanks so much for your faith in my ability and your and kind words. This helps give me confidence and courage to continue with the development of the Master Course and I appreciate you taking the time to provide your positive comments. As you can see, I often get more negative comments than I do positive ones. God bless you.

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I think a payment plan would be needed (could pay weekly or monthly). Have training online (username/password) so we can work into schedule, so you won’t miss anything and can go over assignments/topics several times for review. Have ongoing groups of 4 so you can start monthly instead of waiting 12 weeks before you can start again. Great Idea! Very interested. Thank you for all you do!

COMMENT: Thanks for your positive comments. You are I are thinking on the same lines.

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I feel that it is a great idea to develop the Master Virtual Bankruptcy Assistant Training Course. Depending on the fee, I may enroll. I am a Certified Virtual Bankruptcy Assistant, but I wish that I could have gotten some type of experience, perhaps through an internship program. In the future, I think it would also be a good idea if you could incorporate more practice with drafting the bankruptcy petitions. I look forward to hearing more about this course.

COMMENT: You are exactly the type of person I am developing the Master Course for. Stay tuned.

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FREE TRAINING TOOLS

For those of you seeking low-cost training tools, be sure to utilize the following links:

Free EBook: What is a VBA?
http://www.713training.com/getstarted.pdf

Free Video: What is a VBA?
http://www.713training.com/videos/intro/index.html

Free Bankruptcy Blog (contains over 100 articles)
http://713bankruptcy.com/

Free Bankruptcy Forum
http://www.navba.org/forum

Virtual Assistant Job Board
http://www.713training.com/links/index.html#jobs

Bankruptcy Links to Increase Your Knowledge
http://www.713training.com/links/index.html

Order Form to Pay for Training Products in Installments

http://www.713training.com/pay_in_4_installments.pdf

Join Victoria Ring on LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/dir/Victoria/Ring

FOR ATTORNEYS: Free Bankruptcy Start-Up Kit
http://www.713attorney.com/bankruptcy_attorney_startup_kit.pdf

http://www.713training.com/shop/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=96

Are you finding it difficult to talk with bankruptcy attorneys? You are not alone! We receive calls every day from people who have went through the training of preparing well detailed bankruptcy petitions but they are unable to find work because they lack basic marketing knowledge.

Did you know that the average virtual bankruptcy assistant earns $15,000 to $25,000 per month? Even if you were working for just 1 attorney, preparing 5 petitions per week, you would earn $10,000 a month. Working for 2 attorneys should easily bring you an income of $20,000 per month. Do not let another month pass you by because you lack the skill of marketing your services to attorneys. The work is there! All you need to know is how to get it.

This training session is a private consultation with Victoria Ring, the developer of the virtual bankruptcy assistant industry. Back in 2001 when Victoria developed the virtual bankruptcy assistant field she made a lot of mistakes; which is the best way to learn marketing. Now, she will work with you by sharing her mistakes and showing you what works. In fact, the marketing skills she learned by trial and error took her business from $0 to $60,000 a month. Within 9 months she was working for 56 attorneys and she will share with you the techniques she used to do it.

How The Process Works:

After your payment is processed you will receive a link to download an Appointment Form. Fill it out and fax back to 713Training.Com so we can immediately schedule your training session in marketing to bankruptcy attorneys. When your appointment is scheduled, Victoria will call you for a 1 hour (or more) training session in marketing to bankruptcy attorneys. The training session will be recorded and provided to you for reference. This recording is confidential. It will not be shared with anyone and you can refer back to it again and again.

Before the end of the training session, both of you will put together a marketing plan specifically to fit your needs and goals. Do you want to work this business part time? Full time? All the time? Do you want to specialize in Chapter 7s? Chapter 13s? Both? What type of attorney should you seek out to work for that best matches your skills and personality? Most people do not think about this but it is a marketing skill you need to know; and much, much more.

After developing a specific marketing plan you can easily follow, you and Victoria will also do a mock interview. Victoria will portray the attorney and you will be the virtual bankruptcy assistant selling your services. Because Victoria has marketed to a wide range of bankruptcy attorneys, she will be able to give you a real life experience during this mock interview. Then, in order to perfect your skills, Victoria will point out ways to improve your skills and suggest other methods that will aide you in your marketing approach.

The information you learn in this exclusive, personalized training session will not only be extremely beneficial when you market to bankruptcy attorneys by phone or at their office, but the skills will be useful in designing your postcards, brochures, web site and other marketing materials. In fact, you will learn more marketing skills in this session that when applied will almost guarantee you work from an attorney. That is how powerful this training is. Plus, you can be guaranteed every penny you pay will be earned back on your first bankruptcy petition.

Sign Up for Your Personalized Training Today
http://www.713training.com/shop/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=96

http://www.713training.com/shop/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=95

The 722 Redemption teleconference was a great success and the audio is now available for immediate download. Make sure you do not miss out on this important teleconference where questions like these are answered in full detail:

Do you know what 722 Redemption is?
Do you know how it can benefit a debtor?
Do you know how it can NOT benefit a debtor?
How does 722 Redemption compare to a cram down?
Can 722 Redemption be done in a Chapter 13 case?
How did 722 Redemption change when the 2005 bankruptcy law was enacted?

It is to your advantage as a virtual bankruptcy assistant to understand all about 722 Redemption so you can assist your attorneys and the debtor to their best advantage. The benefits of 722 Redemption do not apply to all situations. In fact, 722 Redemption can harm some debtors so it is to your benefit to understand why and how this is possible. Also, learning this information advances your skill level which is always a benefit to your career.

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I am sure you have heard people say: You get what you pay for. This is the reason many of us are afraid to take advantage of free stuff. However, the internet changed all that. Excellent free stuff is offered by millions of companies. The reason being that they believe that once you try their products and services, you will sign up for other paid products and services they offer. It ends up being a win/win situation for both you and the company.

However, with so much free stuff out there it is easy to get overwhelmed. That is why I have taken the time to visit every website below and make sure it is something that could be useful for your business. Of course, I do not know exactly what tools you need, so you will need to select the free tools that benefit your particular business. Regardless, this is a great list to begin your search for good free stuff.

Suggestion for Use

Because many of the links below are for new technology, you may visit the website and have no idea how it would benefit you and your business. Therefore, I suggest you take the time and tour the website. Look for links or videos that show you how to use the free tool provided on the website. Most of them have an introductory video on the front page. Not only will you get an excellent free education in the latest technologies, but the door will be opened for you to learn new ways to market your business. Either way, you will be a step ahead of 90% of planet earth by taking the time to read, understand and learn about all the new business technologies provided below.

Communication and Email

http://www.dimdim.com
Web conferencing; view and share your computer screen with others

http://jott.com/
Voice to text service for creating notes, lists, emails and text messages

http://www.oovoo.com/
Talk face to face and send video messages

http://www.paltalk.com/
Instant message a group of people, chat and video call application

http://www.yousendit.com/
Send files to anyone with advanced options like password protection and certified delivery

Online Computer Storage

http://www.adrive.com/
Free 50 gig of online storage and backup for all file types

http://jzip.com/
Data compression utility. Create, open and extract Zip, TAR, GZip and 7-Zip. Open and extract from RAR and ISO.

Media and Video

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/
Open source software for cross platform audio recording and editing

http://blip.tv/
Video blogging, podcasting and video sharing

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/
Radio network for you to host your own online talk show

http://dropshots.com/
The next generation photo and video sharing

http://www.feedburner.com/
Media distribution services for blogs and RSS feeds

http://www.fixmymovie.com/
Automatically cleans your movies with advanced video technology. It makes movies from your mobile phone or digital camera look great.

http://www.getpaint.net/
Free image and photo editing software for computers that run Windows

http://seesmic.com/
Free video conversion platform

http://www.slideshare.net/
Share and embed slideshow or turn PowerPoint slides and PDFs into web pages

http://videospin.com/
Video editing and video sharing that you can directly burn to a DVD

Marketing and Networking

https://www.blogger.com/start
Blog publishing tool

http://www.collectivex.com/
Free social collaboration and networking for groups

http://econnect.entrepreneur.com/
Entrepreneur magazines social networking site

http://www.pligg.com/
Open source content management system for discovering, rating and sharing content

http://www.policymap.com/
An easy way to explore geographic data through maps, tables and reports

http://younoodle.com/
A place to discover and support the hottest early stage companies and university innovation

http://yourpitchsucks.com/
An excellent place to learn how to market to your audience effectively through reviews and advising

Office and Productivity

http://www.adobe.com/acom/buzzword/
A new online word processor, perfect for writing reports, proposals, and anything else you need to access online or work on with others. It looks and behaves like your normal desktop word processor, but it operates inside a web browser, so there’s no installation required

http://cutepdf.com/
Create professional quality PDF files from almost any printable document

http://dabbledb.com/
Create online databases on the web and share them

http://www.freshbooks.com/
Online invoicing and time tracking service

http://calendar.google.com
Shareable calendar and schedule organizer

http://docs.google.com
Collaborative word processor and spreadsheet applications

http://www.openoffice.org/
Open source office software suite for word processing, spreadsheets and more

http://www.surveymonkey.com/
A simple way to create and publish custom online surveys

http://www.thinkfree.com/
Freedom to access all your documents and update them in real time from a variety of sources

http://wufoo.com/
Web form builder for creating interactive forms

http://zoho.com/
A wide variety of office productivity tools including word processor, spreadsheet, online presentation, note taker, project management and much more

Project Management Tools

http://secure.logmein.com
Remotely support and access digital information

http://projectstat.us/
Easily manage your customers’ project info and allow your customers to see up-to-date project information at any time

http://project2manage.com/
Helps to keep projects organized, create milestones to stay on task and much more

http://www.rememberthemilk.com/
The complete way to manage your tasks and never forget anything else again

http://www.socialtext.com/
Social networking, wiki workspaces, weblogs, social messaging and spreadsheets

http://teamtask.com/
Build and host community oriented websites. Start a group today and enjoy the benefits of online collaboration tools such as discussion forums, calendar, wiki and blogs.

http://yugma.com/
Free web conferencing tool that allows anyone, anywhere to instantly share their desktop and ideas online with others

Security

http://adeona.cs.washington.edu/
Open source laptop tracking and recovery software

http://www.avg.com/
Anti virus protection for your computer; much better than consumer software such as Norton. This software is used by 713Training.Com and is highly recommended

http://www.adware-2009.com/v2/
Remove harmful adware, spyware, trojans, dialers and worms. This software is used by 713Training.Com and is highly recommended

Web Tools

http://www.google.com/alerts
Set up an alert for your name as well as your company and monitor your marketing progress

http://www.kickapps.com/
A platform of applications to integrate social features into a website

http://www.bummerhosting.com/demo_web_site_builder.php
Free web site builder software

http://www.widgetbox.com/
The worlds largest widget directory and gallery

http://www.woopra.com/
The world’s most comprehensive, information rich, easy to use, real-time Web tracking and analysis application

http://www.teamviewer.com/download/index.aspx
Establishes connections to any PC all around the world within just a few seconds. You can remote control your partner’s PC as if you were sitting right in front of it

http://earth.google.com/
Lets you fly anywhere on Earth to view satellite imagery, maps, terrain, 3D buildings and even explore galaxies in the sky

http://www.google.com/apps/
A wide variety of cool Google applications for business

http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/
Firefox web browser. Much more secure that Internet Explorer. This software is used by 713Training.Com and is highly recommended

http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/thunderbird/
Thunderbird email application. Much better than Outlook. This software is used by 713Training.Com and is highly recommended

Have a great 2009 and enjoy the new experiences you will encounter by discovering all these links. However, if you should have any problem with them, please do not email me for support. I only researched and found these links for you to explore. They are not my websites and I have no knowledge of how they operate. Have fun exploring and expanding your brain at the same time.

I drove down to the Business First office a little while ago and picked up some extra issues of their newspaper today. I came back to the office, scanned the article and it is now available for you to download at

http://www.713training.com/published_businessfirst_article.pdf

I am not trying to toot my own horn with this article. Instead, I am excited that the virtual bankruptcy assistant industry is being given some excellent exposure. And with the two attorneys (John Gonzalez and Simina Vourlis) adding their endorsements, this article will be even more instrumental for our industry.

Suggestions on Using the Article for Your VBA Service

1. Click on the link above and print it out on your COLOR printer. Add this to your portfolio package. When you meet with attorneys to market your business, show them the article so they will understand the importance of your services as a virtual bankruptcy assistant.

2. Click on the link above. When the PDF file is open, click on FILE, then SAVE AS, and save the file to your computer. Upload it to your website and make a link from your web page.

713Training.Com wishes all of you the best of success in 2009. Do not hesitate to call the office at 614-323-8131 or email us at cheri@713training.com if we can assist you in any way.

Victoria Ring
713Training.Com LLC