Most problems with a new remote assistant are not about skill. They come from unstated expectations: how you want files named, which exemptions you usually claim, what your trustee insists on. A short, deliberate onboarding fixes most of this before it becomes rework. Here is a simple plan for the first 30 days.
Before day one: set up the basics
- A written scope of work. What they will prepare, what you will review, the turnaround you expect and how you will pay. (See what to put in a written agreement.)
- A secure way to share files. Agree how documents travel in both directions, and do not rely on ordinary email attachments for sensitive records.
- A single point of contact. Decide where questions go and who answers them, so nothing stalls in a shared inbox.
Week 1: share how your office works
Give the assistant what a new in-house hire would receive, in a form they can reuse:
- Your intake questionnaire and the documents you normally collect.
- Your local rules, trustee preferences and any court-specific habits.
- The exemptions you generally claim, and the situations where you want to decide each time.
- Naming conventions and the format in which you want drafts delivered.
- One or two closed sample files, with identifying details removed, so they can see what "done" looks like to you.
Week 2: one case, closely reviewed
Send a single straightforward case. Review it against a checklist rather than rereading it from the top; this checklist is a good starting point. Keep a running list of the corrections you make. The point is not to find fault, but to learn what the assistant catches on their own and what they need from you.
Week 3: close the loop
- Send the correction list back, and ask the assistant to confirm that they understand each item.
- Ask what was unclear in the file or the instructions. Their questions often reveal gaps in your intake.
- Send two or three more cases of increasing complexity, and see whether the corrections shrink.
Week 4: decide how much to hand over
By now you should have a feel for three things: accuracy, communication and reliability on deadlines. If all three are good, you can raise the volume and, if you wish, include a Chapter 13 case. If any of them is weak, you will know which to address, and early is the best time to do it.
What good looks like at 30 days
- Drafts arrive in the format you asked for, on the schedule you agreed.
- Your review time per case has dropped, and the same corrections no longer appear twice.
- Questions come back to you early and in writing, instead of being guessed.
- Advice questions go to you, and your assistant does not answer them on their own.
Keep the supervision going
Onboarding does not remove your responsibility for the filing. Keep a review step in every case, and revisit the arrangement every few months. Our guide to supervising a remote assistant covers the ongoing side, and the hiring page explains how the NAVBA directory works if you are still looking for someone to start with.
This article is general information about bankruptcy practice, not legal advice. Local rules, trustee preferences and state law vary, so confirm current requirements for your jurisdiction.
