THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, November 23, 1994 TAG: 9411190638
SECTION: ISLE OF WIGHT CITIZEN PAGE: 05 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ALLISON T. WILLIAMS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SMITHFIELD LENGTH: Medium: 53 lines
The last thing anyone declaring personal bankruptcy needs to receive is a $1,000 legal bill.
But the average Hampton Roads lawyer charges between $800 and $1,000 to complete the paperwork needed to file bankruptcy, said Rica J. Kersey, a Windsor resident and certified paralegal.
Nowadays, Kersey, is providing an affordable alternative.
Kersey, 23, recently opened an independent paralegal business, Paralegal Plus, at 121 S. Mason St. in Smithfield. She contracts her services to individuals and businesses.
``I do not offer legal advice at all,'' Kersey said. ``If I did, I would be practicing law.
``I am not trained to do that and cannot take that responsibility.''
Of course, it is also a violation of law.
Instead, Kersey uses her paralegal expertise to help people handle their own legal needs, saving them the expense of an attorney. She will be charging clients only $125 to process personal bankruptcies.
Paralegal Plus primarily handles individual bankruptcies, Kersey said. But the business will also work with credit repair, divorce, eviction response, incorporation, name changes, small claims and trusts.
She will only handle legal situations unopposed by a second party.
``Basically, this is a typing service of legal forms,'' Kersey said. ``People must be able to tell me exactly what they want and then I fill out the paperwork.''
People can buy ``how-to'' information packets on common legal problems, such as harassment and divorce, from the Isle of Wight Courthouse, Kersey said. She also has these packages available at her office.
Kersey believes having paralegals assume responsibilities traditionally handled by lawyers is going to become an increasingly popular trend in the United States.
``Paralegals don't charge as much as lawyers for the same work,'' Kersey said. ``This is already an accepted and known way of handling basic legal situations in California and Florida.''
People can make free scheduled consultations at Paralegal Plus. Kersey will refer anyone she can't help to an attorney. MEMO: Call Kersey at 1-800-TAX-RICA or 357-2869 for more information. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
Rica J. Kersey, a paralegal, offers an affordable alternative for
legal services.
by CNB