Kathleen has been doing bankruptcy work for over 10 years. Based in Colorado, she works with firms across all 50 states, and has been part of the NextChapter paralegal network for several years. We sat down with her to get honest, practical answers to the questions attorneys ask most before working with a virtual paralegal for the first time. What she shared might change how you think about running your practice.
The first 24 hours
Most attorneys want to know one thing right away: how long before someone actually reaches out? For Kathleen, the answer is simple.
"When I get assigned a case, I'll send out an email within 24 hours and make a first phone call to contact the attorney, just to introduce myself, go over how we want to handle the case, what it is that you're looking for me to do, how you want to do client contact."
That first conversation sets the tone for everything. It's where the attorney decides how involved they want their paralegal to be, what communication style works best, and what's still needed to get the case moving. After the call, Kathleen reviews the case and comes back with a clear picture of what's missing. "24 hours to reach out for an introduction email and call, and then I'll do a review of the case and let you know what's missing, and we can go from there."
Attorneys reach back in different ways, and she's learned to meet them wherever they are. "Sometimes attorneys answer emails, sometimes they'll answer phone calls, sometimes it could be a short text message. I've been accommodating in any way that is possible."
Talking to your clients, or not
One of the most common concerns attorneys have is how client communication gets handled. Do they hand that over, or keep it in-house? Kathleen says it's entirely up to the attorney, and about half go each way.
When she does reach out to clients directly, she's careful about how she introduces herself. "I don't introduce myself as a NextChapter paralegal. I just say a paralegal working with the attorney to get your documents in your bankruptcy case going, so they know that there's a paralegal actually working on it." The attorney is always included on every email, and if a client is hard to reach, she brings the attorney into the loop right away.
She's also found that a personal phone call often makes all the difference when it comes to getting documents in. "Sometimes the phone call with the client, and knowing that they're speaking with somebody personally that can understand and kind of work with them with those documents, is a lot easier, and you get a better response."
Getting documents in the door
Document collection is where cases slow down, and Kathleen has developed a system to keep things moving. She sends clients a welcome email that explains exactly what's needed and what the process looks like. She also uses a detailed paper questionnaire alongside the standard intake fields in NextChapter.
"I prefer to use the questionnaire because it's more detailed, and it's less questions that I will be asking. If they fill it out correctly, you don't really have a whole lot of questions left."
Everything that comes in gets stored directly in the NextChapter platform so it's always accessible from the attorney's account, whether it comes through the MyChapter Client Portal or lands in her email first. "If a client does send them to my email, I would download them directly into the NextChapter platform so that way they're there when you're looking for them."
From intake to filed
Once the documents are in, Kathleen takes the case through to completion. She enters everything into NextChapter, notifies the attorney when the petition is ready to review, and helps coordinate the signing appointment with the client. After that, the attorney can file the case themselves or hand it back to her.
"Once you do the signing, just let me know if you need me to file it, or if you prefer to file yourself.” She can also submit documents to the trustee ahead of the 341 meeting when directed, as long as the attorney provides the necessary login credentials.
Turnaround times, honestly
Turnaround depends on one thing more than anything else: documents. "It's typically based upon the attorney and the client, and just receiving documents," Kathleen explains. For emergency filings, the case goes out immediately with remaining documents gathered within 14 days.
But here's what a lot of attorneys don't realize: if a firm gathers all the documents before assigning the case, the timeline changes dramatically. "Having all the documents is a big plus. Once you have all the documents, it's easier to get them in and out. I would say within 24 to 48 hours."
Staying in the loop
Attorneys are never left wondering where a case stands. Kathleen updates through NextChapter case notes, email, phone, or text, depending on what works best for each attorney. "However you prefer as an attorney to be reached out and let know, that's how I do it."
Post-Petition Supplemental Filing
The relationship doesn't have to end at filing. "We do provide post-filing services as well, so that would just be something you would need to let us know how you would want to proceed with that." It's simply a matter of flagging it when the case is assigned.
Pricing
All packages cover Chapter 7 cases with 12 months to assign from the date of purchase.
Curious what this looks like for your firm? Reach out and we'll walk you through getting your first case assigned.