Employment law practices — representing employees in discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, and wage claims — face a distinctive mix of high-volume intake (many inquiries, most not viable cases) and intensive case management for the cases they take. EEOC charges must be filed within strict time limits. Discovery in employment cases involves extensive document production from employers. Expert witnesses need to be coordinated. Damages calculations require financial record compilation. A virtual assistant for employment attorneys handles the intake, document management, and case coordination functions that allow employment lawyers to screen more potential clients efficiently and manage active cases without getting buried in administration. This guide covers what employment practices can delegate.
Employment Law Practice Tasks for VA Delegation
| Task | Description | VA Level | Rate Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prospective Client Intake | Inquiry handling, initial questionnaire collection, consultation scheduling | Entry–Mid | $10–$14/hr |
| EEOC and Agency Filing Support | EEOC charge information compilation, agency correspondence tracking | Mid | $13–$17/hr |
| Document Collection | Employment records requests, payroll records, personnel file documentation | Mid | $13–$17/hr |
| Case Calendar Management | EEOC deadlines, court dates, discovery deadlines, statute of limitations tracking | Mid | $14–$18/hr |
| Discovery Support | Document production organization, deposition scheduling coordination | Mid | $13–$18/hr |
| Damage Calculation Support | Lost wage calculation compilation, benefits records organization | Mid | $13–$17/hr |
| Client Communication | Status updates, document request follow-up, hearing preparation coordination | Entry–Mid | $10–$14/hr |
Case Intake and Statute of Limitations Monitoring
Employment law intake involves screening many potential clients, most of whom call with situations that may not meet the legal threshold for viable claims. Managing this intake volume — providing good customer service while efficiently screening cases — requires systematic intake processes.
A VA manages employment law intake: responding to prospective client inquiries promptly, distributing intake questionnaires that collect the factual information attorneys need to make case viability assessments, scheduling consultations for cases that appear potentially viable based on intake information, and following up with prospective clients who started the intake process but haven't completed it.
Critically, for cases involving EEOC charge requirements, they track the initial contact date to flag cases approaching EEOC filing deadlines — the 180/300-day window from the discriminatory act — so that deadline risk is identified early.
"Employment law intake is high volume and most calls don't turn into cases. My VA handles all initial contact, distributes our intake questionnaire, schedules consultations, and flags anything with an approaching EEOC deadline. I spend my consultation time on cases that are already pre-screened, not explaining to callers why I can't help them." — Employment Attorney, employee-side practice, Atlanta, GA
Document Collection and Records Requests
Building an employment case requires extensive documentation: personnel files, payroll records, performance reviews, disciplinary documentation, comparator employee records, and the communications that form the factual narrative of the claim. Getting these records from employers requires formal requests and persistent follow-up.
A VA manages document collection: preparing employment records request letters to former employers (leveraging applicable discovery requests or pre-litigation demand letters), following up on outstanding records requests, organizing received records by category (performance, compensation, disciplinary, communications), and preparing the documentary foundation that the attorney needs to evaluate damages and liability.
Court Deadlines and Discovery Coordination
Active employment litigation generates continuous deadline management: answer dates, discovery propounding and response deadlines, expert witness designation deadlines, summary judgment briefing schedules, and trial preparation timelines.
A VA manages case deadlines: entering all scheduling order deadlines in the case management calendar, generating alerts at appropriate intervals before each deadline, coordinating deposition scheduling with opposing counsel and court reporters, and preparing the logistical infrastructure for depositions (subpoenas, exhibits, transcript ordering).
Getting Started with Employment Law VA Support
Employment law VA support runs $10–$18/hour. Intake management and EEOC deadline monitoring protect both client access and statute of limitations compliance. Document collection and case calendar management support efficient litigation.
Virtual Assistant VA provides virtual assistants with employment law and litigation support experience. Contact us to discuss how VA support can improve your employment law practice.