Your Virtual Assistant Needs a Development Plan

Let me ask you a question:
If your virtual assistant (VA) disappeared tomorrow… would you even know what they were working on, let alone owning?

This is the gut-check moment I walk law firm leaders all the time. Because here’s what we see too often: a talented VA who could become your MVP—but they’re stuck in checklist mode. And you’re stuck in “delegating by the hour” mode.

You didn’t hire your virtual assistant to be a human inbox and calendar manager. You hired them to create leverage. That only happens when you stop treating your VA like a short-term plug and start building a long-term development plan that supports growth, leadership, and impact.

Here’s how we do it.

Step 1: Onboard Your Virtual Assistant Like a Leader—Not a Micromanager

Too many leaders bring on a virtual assistant with nothing more than a wish list and a Zoom login.
Then they wonder why they’re stuck in “let me just do it myself” mode two weeks later.

Your VA isn’t a mind reader. They’re a team member. And they need structure just like anyone else on your team.

A strong development plan begins with onboarding. That means:

• A 90-day roadmap with real milestones
• Clear documentation of what success looks like

• A weekly check-in on wins, challenges, and next-step ownership
• Values, mission, and vision alignment—because otherwise, they’re flying blind

This isn’t fluff. It’s the foundation for retention, performance, and leadership.

Step 2: Define a Growth Path for Your Virtual Assistant

I hear this all the time:
“Molly, we’re a small team. There isn’t a ladder to climb.”
Yes, there is. You just haven’t built it yet.

Here’s a simple way to start:

Level 1: Execution
They master the playbook, get consistent, and run systems without reminders.

Level 2: Ownership
They start identifying bottlenecks, suggesting improvements, and documenting workflows.

Level 3: Leadership
They train others, monitor KPIs, and make decisions without needing your approval at every turn.

This gives your VA something to work toward. And more importantly, it gives you the freedom you hired them for in the first place.

Step 3: Build a Development Plan for Your Virtual Assistant

Your virtual assistant doesn’t want to be told what to do forever. They want a seat at the table. A role with meaning. A way to grow with your firm.

So ask them:

• What are your career goals?
• What lights you up?
• Where do you want to take more initiative?

Then plug their aspirations into your firm’s roadmap.
If they’re interested in marketing, let them own your email campaigns.
If they’re process-driven, have them audit your intake system.

The magic happens when your growth and their growth align.

Step 4: Give Them Tools to Rise

Let’s be real, if your virtual assistant is working from a messy email chain and sticky notes, you’re not building a leader. You’re building a burnout case.

What do we teach in the Bootcamp?

Structure = safety.
Safety = leadership.
Leadership = results.

Set your VA up with:

• A project management system (we love Trello, ClickUp, Asana—whatever fits)
• SOPs that they can follow and update
• A weekly KPI dashboard
• A communication channel to share updates, feedback, and quick wins

When your virtual assistant knows what success looks like—and feels empowered to reach for it—they stop waiting for instructions and start leading.

Step 5: Invite Your Virtual Assistant Into the Big Picture

Here’s where everything changes.

Most virtual assistants stay stuck in task mode because they’re treated like background support. But the moment you start including them in vision, planning, and firm strategy… they start thinking like owners.

They’re not just support staff. They’re the frontline of your operations.

• They manage your time.
• They shape your client’s first impression.
• They protect your focus and energy.

Let them in. Give them a voice. Ask for their perspective.
And when they crush it? Celebrate the hell out of it.

That’s how leaders are made.

You Don’t Need to Hire Another Virtual Assistant. You Need to Develop the One You Have.

Too many law firm owners keep hiring for capacity… when what they really need is capability.

Your virtual assistant has the potential to become your second-in-command.

They just need the right support, structure, and confidence to step up and lead.

At The Law Firm Admin Bootcamp + Academy™, we specialize in transforming VAs, legal assistants, and admin professionals into powerful leaders who drive the firm forward without waiting for permission or micromanagement.

If you’re ready to stop babysitting your virtual assistant and start building a leader… we’re ready to help.

Enroll now to join our next Bootcamp cohort.

Let’s stop managing tasks and start growing people.