FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • Why Hire a Contract Paralegal? 

  • Do you have an hourly minimum before you will take on a new client?

  • Do you only handle civil litigation cases?

  • Will you work on-site at a law firm if needed?

  • How much notice is needed for you to work on a project?

  • How can I be sure my confidential data is secure?

  • What about conflicts of interest?

  • What are the ethical considerations in engaging a Virtual Paralegal?

  • Is a Virtual Paralegal an employee?

  • What software is INQUEST RESOURCES familiar with?

  • What are INQUEST RESOURCES fees?

  • How will I be invoiced?

  • Can INQUEST RESOURCES help me with my legal matter?

Why Hire a Contract Paralegal
Contract Paralegal services are ideal for large and small firms alike. Large firms may become overwhelmed with depositions and discovery which their in-house paralegals cannot keep up with. For example, in an increasingly paperless world, firms are facing voluminous and overwhelming document productions, complying with e-discovery statutes and other discovery related issues. The cost associated with hiring and maintaining employees for these types of time intensive tasks may not be the answer that also suits the firm’s budget. 

Our Contract Paralegal is a qualified, trained professional who can solve overflow problems in a cost effective and time efficient manner. Consider out-sourcing document reviews, categorizing and substantive coding to trained legal professionals in order to comply with discovery demands, meet deadlines, protect your client’s confidential documents, ensure the attorney-client privilege is maintained during discovery and lower costs for your clients. 

Small firms may not have the volume of constant work to justify a full-time paralegal salary. A lawyer’s productivity is reduced when they are preparing discovery responses, organizing documents, summarizing depositions and researching court files. A Contract Paralegal can be hired for a few hours a week to keep the smaller law firm running smoothly and generating additional income for the firm. 

Do you have an hourly minimum before you will take on a new client? 
No case is too small for INQUEST RESOURCES. We cater to solo practitioners and smaller firms that need that extra help from time to time. We can provide local firms with one hour of paralegal services for a last minute rush project. 

Do you only handle civil litigation cases? 
Keep in mind that case management and document control skills can be used in virtually any aspect of the legal profession in any area of law. 

Will you work on-site at a law firm if needed? 
Yes. From time to time cases require on-site attention for document review, document production, file organization and meetings with attorneys and clients.

How much notice is needed for you to work on a project? 
INQUEST RESOURCES organizes assignments on a weekly basis. Our practice is to check in with each firm each week to assess the paralegal services needed. Projects are then organized in order of priority. 

Time is allotted each week for rush projects, therefore, last-minute assignments can usually be handled on the same day or next day depending on the size of the project. 

How can I be sure my confidential data is secure? 
At INQUEST RESOURCES, all client documents are stored in separate folder systems, so that your clients’ data will never be co-mingled or confused with the documents of another client. All client documents are backed up in a secure and encrypted back-up system. Your Contractor Agreement will address the handling of your documents upon completion of a project or a case, but in general, INQUEST RESOURCES does not retain client documents on any drive or system upon the conclusion of a matter. 

What about conflicts of interest? 
A conflicts check will be performed prior to the commencement of any work. If a conflict is found, INQUEST RESOURCES will notify you immediately and your project will be declined. 

What are the ethical considerations in engaging a Virtual Paralegal? 
The paralegal profession is by nature closely related to the legal profession. Although the Code of Professional Responsibility of the State Bar of Texas does not directly govern paralegals except through a supervising attorney, it is incumbent upon paralegals to know the provisions of the attorneys' code and avoid any action which might involve an attorney in a violation of that code or even the appearance of professional impropriety. 

INQUEST RESOURCES adheres to the Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility of the Paralegal Division of the State Bar of Texas. Fundamental to our success is the integrity of our paralegals and our high standard of professional conduct. 

Is a Virtual Paralegal an employee? 
A Virtual Paralegal is not an employee, but an entrepreneur and business consultant with whom an attorney has an on-going, collaborative relationship. Virtual Paralegals generally develop long-term relationships with their clients, and as such, have a vested interest in the success of your practice. Your success is our success. 

What software is INQUEST RESOURCES familiar with? 
INQUEST RESOURCES is proficient in or familiar with most major software platforms including Microsoft Office Suite, PowerPoint, Access, AD Summation, Law, Concordance, Adobe, ProDocs, Pacer, IConect, Westlaw, LexisNexis Law, CaseMap, TimeMap, Concordance, iManage, GroupWise and most document management systems

What are INQUEST RESOURCES fees? 
Our Contract Paralegal is billed at various rates depending on the project. A lower rate is offered for administrative and secretarial services and a higher rate for more substantive paralegal work. The rate category is agreed upon at the time each project is assigned. Time is billed out in tenth of an hour increments. Any expenses or costs incurred for a project are itemized separately. Please contact us for a customized quote based on your individual case needs. 

INQUEST RESOURCES will seek reimbursement for costs including county clerk fees, recording fees, filing fees and photocopying fees. INQUEST RESOURCES will not seek reimbursement for telephone or facsimile charges. 

How will I be invoiced? 
A detailed invoice for contract services is sent out on a monthly basis. Payment is due within 30 days unless an alternative arrangement is agreed upon. 

Can INQUEST RESOURCES help me with my legal matter? 
By law, a paralegal is prohibited from providing legal advice. A paralegal may only perform work under the direction and supervision of licensed attorneys and therefore cannot provide legal services to the general public.

If you need legal advice, please consult an attorney.