What Is A (VA) Virtual Assistant?

A Virtual Assistant (or VA) is a service provider who specializes in providing offsite administrative support services as an independent contractor and works with clients in an ongoing, collaborative professional relationship. Virtual Assistants work from their own offices and utilize today's technology to deliver their services and communicate with clients. A Virtual Assistant's support is foundationally administrative, secretarial and clerical in nature. However, many Virtual Assistants offer additional specialties that fall under creative and technical services. Virtual Assistants come from a variety of business backgrounds, but the single-most important qualification to become a Virtual Assistant is at least five (5) years administrative experience earned in the real (non-virtual) business world working in upper level capacities such as administrative assistant, executive assistant, secretary, legal assistant, paralegal, legal secretary, real estate assistant, office manager, etc. From this level of experience, a VA is expected to possess the skill sets, training and business knowledge which are the hallmark of a truly qualified Virtual Assistant.

Virtual Assistant Definition from the Virtual Assistance Chamber of Commerce

What Is A (VBA) Virtual Bankruptcy Assistant?

A virtual bankruptcy assistant (VBA) is a trained professional who works under the sole discretion of debtor bankruptcy attorneys; preparing Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy petitions, virtually, from their home office.  The process is simple:  the attorney downloads a free set of client intake forms; the debtor fills them out and returns them to the attorney; the attorney collects all the documents required to fulfill due diligence.  (A list of the required documentation is provided to the attorney by the VBA.)

Next, the attorney faxes or emails the client intake forms to the VBA.  The VBA is trained to prepare a well detailed petition and compile a list of questions the debtor will need to answer before the petition can be finalized.  After the client interview (by telephone), the bankruptcy petition is returned to the attorney in PDF format for review.  After approval by the attorney, either the VBA or the attorney files the bankruptcy petition electronically through PACER.

Virtual Bankruptcy Assistant Definition from the National Association of Virtual Bankruptcy Assistants