As a VBA, your job is to prepare bankruptcy petitions for clients, that will be filed in bankruptcy court. The attorney you work for will review the petition before it is filed in court. You must be organized, people-oriented and willing to learn some bankruptcy basics. Compensation is usually per petition; in 2010, compensation was $175 to $350 per petition. Your compensation is based on experience and certification.
VBA training can be obtained in a number of ways--in the classroom, online or through a textbook. Because bankruptcy is so specialized, training is not available through typical paralegal courses. Training prepares you to take the Virtual Bankruptcy Assistant Certification Exam, offered by the National Association of Virtual Bankruptcy Assistants. The exam, which requires an 80 percent to pass, tests your level of knowledge in preparing bankruptcy petitions as well as your Internet research skills and overall administrative skills. Certification is not required to become a VBA but can give you an edge over your competition.
Once you begin your career, you will need to keep up with changes in the law. Many organizations offer short courses about updates in bankruptcy law. However, you are not required to re-take the certification exam as the law changes.