A paralegal is a professional legal staff member who performs delegated substantive legal work under attorney supervision. They assist attorneys with a variety of tasks in law firms, corporate legal departments and government agencies.
Depending on the type of law they specialize in, these duties may include conducting legal research, drafting documents and assisting with case management. They may also attend court proceedings with attorneys or record evidence in a trial.
Legal Research
Legal research is an essential part of a paralegal’s job. They must be able to conduct searches through legislation, case law and law journals in order to find the relevant information for a particular case or legal issue. This requires a keen attention to detail as well as the ability to understand and interpret the findings of legal research. It is also vital to have a strong understanding of legal terminology and a good working knowledge of the law in general.
In addition to performing legal research, paralegals may be responsible for reviewing and organising voluminous documents during the discovery phase of a case. This is particularly common in cases involving large corporations or government agencies where large volumes of paperwork can be involved. In addition, paralegals may also be required to assist in trial preparation. This can include locating and retrieving evidence, ordering and reviewing transcripts and preparing exhibits for the trial.
Paralegals can also be called upon to assist with the management of case files and drafting of reports and memoranda for attorneys. This can involve organising files, indexing and filing documents, drafting a chronology of events for a case and preparing a schedule of witnesses. This can be a very time consuming process and the best paralegals have an inherent drive to continue learning and acquiring new skills in this area.
For paralegals working in family law or criminal law, there may be more emotional and stressful aspects of the job. For example, a paralegal who is involved in the preparation of criminal trials can expect to be exposed to a lot of highly sensitive and personal information. This can take its toll emotionally on the paralegal, so it is important for them to have a good support network in place.
Although a paralegal is not legally required to be certified, it can go a long way in increasing their employability and their pay scale. Those looking to become paralegals should consider enrolling in an ABA-approved certification program, which usually takes the form of an associate degree. This will give them a competitive edge over those who do not have the qualifications necessary for this position.
Document Drafting
The work paralegals do on a daily basis depends on their employer. Some paralegals work at law firms, while others can be found in government agencies and corporate legal departments. For those that do work at law firms, a typical day of tasks might include legal research and preparation of documents such as contracts and mortgages. In addition, paralegals help attorneys prepare for trials and hearings. This might involve researching case laws, judicial decisions and statutes relevant to each case. They may also attend court proceedings, which can be both exciting and challenging.
Document drafting is another important task that paralegals do on a daily basis. This involves preparing and reviewing legal documents such as contracts, pleadings and briefs. It’s common to use templates for many of these documents, but it’s important that each one is drafted with the audience in mind. For example, a contract drafted for a business partner is likely going to differ significantly from a contract drafted for an employee. It’s also important to review these documents for accuracy and completeness before sending them out.
Paralegals, along with attorneys, must also keep abreast of changes in the law and legislation that impact each case or matter they’re working on. This can be done through legislative monitoring, reading journals and periodicals and attending conferences and meetings. In some instances, paralegals may be required to write or speak on a topic related to the law at a conference or seminar.
A paralegal’s responsibilities may also include interviewing and corresponding with clients regarding their case. This is particularly true if the case involves a sensitive or complex matter that requires client communication.
The ABA notes that while there are some similarities between paralegal duties and those of a legal assistant, paralegals usually have more substantive duties and are compensated at a higher rate. It’s important for those considering a career as a paralegal to learn more about the role and how it differs from a legal assistant so that they can determine if this is the right field for them. If they’re unable to determine whether or not this is the appropriate career path, they can always opt for an internship in order to gain experience and see if this is truly the profession for them.
Case Management
In many cases, paralegals are responsible for a large portion of the paperwork that goes out to clients or to courts. As such, it’s important that they be able to draft documents with accuracy and precision. They also need to have excellent written communication skills, as they often write letters and emails to clients. Additionally, they may be asked to compose pleadings, which are notices that are sent out to defendants to let them know that their case is being argued in court.
Aside from drafting legal documents, paralegals may also need to interview witnesses, investigate facts, and conduct research on topics related to the case at hand. In addition, they are often called upon to assist attorneys in trial preparation and assisting clients, as well as to attend court proceedings.
Paralegals often work in law firms, however they can be found working for government agencies, corporate legal departments, insurance companies, healthcare organizations, real estate and title companies, and nongovernmental organisations. They can also choose to specialize in certain areas of law, such as criminal, family, civil, or corporate.
It’s not uncommon for paralegals to continue their studies and qualify as a solicitor, barrister or chartered legal executive. This can be a great way for paralegals to advance in their careers and increase the level of responsibility that they take on within their firm.
Paralegals are a vital part of a legal team and play an important role in helping to make sure that cases are properly handled, efficiently and effectively. As such, they’re highly sought after positions with salaries that vary depending on experience, area of expertise and practice environment. Those who are interested in pursuing this career path can do themselves a favor by tailoring their resumes to reflect the specific types of legal practices that they’re most interested in. This will help them stand out to potential employers and demonstrate their understanding of the complexities that come with the job. In addition, prospective paralegals should highlight any relevant work or volunteer experience that they’ve had in order to show potential employers that they have the right attributes for a successful career as a paralegal.
Client Communication
A paralegal is a legal professional who works under the supervision of an attorney. Their duties include conducting legal research, drafting legal documents and helping with client communication. They work in a variety of settings including law firms, corporate legal departments, and government agencies.
The scope of a paralegal’s responsibilities can vary depending on the type of law practiced. For example, a paralegal who is assisting an attorney on criminal cases may be expected to attend court hearings and police interviews with suspects. This can require extensive travel and may necessitate working irregular hours, particularly when deadlines for trials are nearing.
A seasoned paralegal is expected to have strong organizational skills and be able to manage multiple tasks simultaneously. They also need to be able to work under pressure and adhere to strict deadlines. Because they are a vital member of the legal team, it is important that they build a positive working relationship with their supervisors and co-workers.
Whether the work requires interaction with clients is another factor that can impact paralegals’ daily routines. Depending on the law firm and type of work, some paralegals have minimal or no direct contact with clients while others engage in regular client contact to collect relevant information for the case at hand.
In addition to this, it is important that a paralegal understands the limits of their role and avoids taking on duties that would be considered the unauthorized practice of law. This includes providing legal advice, representing clients and negotiating fees.
According to Fremont University, a paralegal program in Cerritos, CA, it is important for prospective paralegals to highlight any relevant internships or previous work experience on their resume. This will help them to stand out to employers who are looking for candidates who can hit the ground running.
The qualifications for a paralegal role can vary widely but most companies prefer a minimum of a 2.2 (or 2:1) degree in a relevant subject such as law, supplemented by a pass on a legal conversion course such as the LPC. Many students secure part-time paralegal jobs to gain experience in the sector while completing their studies and this can be an excellent way of getting into a law firm.