Colorado Springs Virtual Legal Assistant to Participate in Online Virtual Convention

Colorado Springs Virtual Legal Assistant, Lynn Carroll, will participate in the first annual International Virtual Assistants Day on May 19, 2006. The Online International Virtual Assistants Convention will take place from May 18 to May 20. Carroll will participate in the convention by staffing a virtual tradeshow booth, attending seminars, and networking with other virtual assistants from around the world.

Colorado Springs, CO (PRWEB) May 13, 2006 -- For most professionals, Friday, May 19, 2006 will be an ordinary workday -- but not for Lynn Carroll, a virtual legal assistant who lives and works from her home in Colorado Springs. She, along with colleagues in the area and around the world will be celebrating the first annual International Virtual Assistants Day (IVAD). The inaugural celebration of International Virtual Assistants Day coincides with a three-day assembly sponsored by the Online International Virtual Assistants Convention (OIVAC) running from May 18-20, 2006.

Virtual Assistants (VAs) are independent entrepreneurs who work remotely and use the latest technology to deliver professional administrative, creative, managerial, technical, business back-office and/or personal support services to busy professionals. Clients only pay for the amount of time actually spent working on projects and often retain a fixed number of hours per month for service.

Typical services include everything from general secretarial and word processing services to desktop publishing, website creation and marketing, as well as support for a specialized field, such as the legal industry. Projects are often handled over the phone, by fax, e-mail and even instant messaging. Most attractive is the fact that VAs are also responsible for their own space, equipment, taxes, training, healthcare, insurance—overhead costs that make hiring an employee expensive.

Carroll’s business, Carrollegal, will be participating in the tradeshow portion of the convention by staffing an online booth. In addition, she will attend several online seminars presented by VA industry leaders covering topics such as podcasting, virtual technology, media relations, and branding. Beginning May 18, Carrollegal’s exhibit and others can be accessed at www.OIVAC.com and clicking on the link at the right side of the page labeled “Visit Convention”.

"This day of observance not only allows us to celebrate individual accomplishments, but affords us the chance to learn about the accomplishments of our colleagues around the world as well”, says Carroll, whose practice specializes in providing legal secretarial, legal assistant and digital transcription services to attorneys who work from home and in small firms.

Carroll, employed in the past by attorneys in private practice, the Federal Public Defender for the District of New Mexico, and the City Attorney’s Office in Las Cruces, New Mexico, conceived the idea for her business in 1996, as part of an assignment to write a business plan, and registered the business name, “Carrollegal”, in 2002. She started a career as a virtual legal assistant in order to be more in control of her workday and client base. An added benefit is that she is able to be available for her family, including husband, Steve, and children Robert (9) and Katelyn (6).

Since 1996, more than 5,000 professionals around the world have become VAs. More than 90 percent of them are highly-skilled working mothers who choose to start their own businesses in order to achieve a better work/life balance. According to a study conducted by Brenner Books in conjunction with A4VB in 2004, the United States accounts for the largest number of VAs followed by Canada, Australia and Great Britain.

“This will be a very special day for everyone involved in the VA industry because it will allow us to bring together all VA organizations and their memberships under one umbrella,” says Alliance for Virtual Business founder Sharon Williams. “VAs are making important contributions to the growth and stability of small business everywhere, and the establishment of IVAD simply acknowledges all of those virtual professionals who work so hard to honor our creed: Dedication, Experience, Expertise and Determination to Succeed (DEEDS).”

About Carrollegal

Launched in 2002, Carrollegal specializes in providing virtual legal secretarial/legal assistant services to SOHO attorneys. Lynn Carroll has fifteen years of experience as a legal secretary/legal assistant. Visit the website at www.Carrollegal.com

About Alliance for Virtual Business

Established in June 2003, the Alliance for Virtual Business™ is a volunteer-directed organization, whose primary mission is to promote the growth of free enterprise between virtual assistants, entrepreneurs, small businesses, corporations, associations and other business entities. At the web site, client-related case studies, industry-related demographics, and a wealth of other types of information are available to facilitate learning about our industry. Visit the website at www.allianceforvirtualbiz.com .

About Online International Virtual Assistants Convention

The OIVAC is an online, interactive, “live” yet virtual environment convention of Virtual Assistants, traveling Pathways to Successful VA Practices.

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