A Day in the Life of a Paralegal
Through a combination of education, training, and work experience, a paralegal performs
“substantive” legal work and is “an integral part of the legal team,” according to a vice president
of a major association. If you want to learn the nuts and bolts of the legal profession and understand
the importance of careful and thorough research, then paralegal studies may be the right
occupation for you. The paralegal, or legal assistant, profession is the ground floor to lawyering
and often, every bit as important. In many distinct ways, their duties include the same tasks
lawyers who assume responsibility for the legal work do, but paralegals do not practice law and
are prohibited from dispensing legal advice, trying
a case in court, or accepting legal fees. Paralegals
work hand in hand with lawyers, helping to prepare
cases for trial. In their preparatory work, they uncover all the facts of the case, conduct research
to highlight relevant case laws and court decisions, obtain affidavits, and assist with depositions
and other materials relevant to cases.
A significant portion of a paralegal’s work involves writing reports and drafting documents
for litigation. After the initial fact-gathering stage, the paralegal prepares reports for
use by the supervising attorney in deciding how the case should be litigated. Paralegals who
work in areas other than litigation, such as patent and copyright law and real estate and corporate
law, also assist in the drafting of relevant documents—contracts, mortgages, estate
planning, and separation agreements. Paralegals who work for government agencies maintain
reference files, analyze material for internal use, and prepare information guides on the
law. Those paralegals involved with community legal services help disadvantaged persons in
need of legal aid. Much of their time is spent preparing and filing documents and doing
research. Employee benefit plans, shareholder agreements, and stock options are the primary
concern of the paralegal working for corporations.
Paying Your Dues
Paralegals usually enter the profession after completing American Bar Association (ABA)-
approved college or training programs or are trained on the job. Although most paralegal programs
are completed in two years, a growing number of colleges and universities offer four-year
bachelor’s degree programs. Beyond this, some firms hire liberal arts majors as paralegals
directly after college and then train them on the job. This is a growth profession that attracts
large numbers of applicants, and the competition is strong and healthy. A four-year program at
a reputable college and certification by the National Association of Legal Assistants, the
Certified Legal Assistant (CLA) designation, will greatly enhance employment opportunities.
The paralegal who has demonstrated competence in computer applications will distinguish
him- or herself from the pack and be able to move ahead. Practical experience gained from student
internships, familiarity with legal terminology, and strong investigative skills are also
advantages.
Master of Studies in Law (MSL) programs can boost the careers of non-lawyers. Click for info.
Present and Future Outlook for Paralegal Careers
The paralegal profession is a relatively new and rapidly expanding area. Previously, much
of the groundwork now covered by the paralegal was part and parcel of being a lawyer. Now
lawyers can afford to focus more intently on the strategies of trying cases and resolving legal
problems, thanks to the invaluable preparatory work of the paralegal. Computer technology
will continue to play a significant role in the fact-finding and fact-gathering stages of most
legal cases. Instead of poring over volumes of research material in law libraries, much of this
information is easily accessible from online digitized law libraries and software programs. Of
course the paralegal who specializes in a particular field and who is computer literate will
have the added edge on advancement. Because of the continuous enactment of new legislation
and revised interpretations of existing laws, the paralegal must keep constantly updated
on every change, every proposal, and every nuance of the law.
Quality of Life
PRESENT AND FUTURE
These are the critical years for the newcomer to the profession to take stock, gain
valuable all-around experience, and simply feel his or her way around the profession.
At this stage the paralegal is probably given minimal responsibilities but loads
of work— and working up to 90 hours a week should be expected at times, for those individuals
who want to get anywhere in the profession. The day will be spent doing research in the
law library, poring over tedious documents (looking for witness names through word-searches
and similarly mind-numbing tasks), and preparing reports for presentations (three-hole
punching, formatting labels, etc). The paralegal should expect to be under constant supervision,
assist with clerical matters, photocopy articles, and compile files. The work may seem
never-ending and tedious, but the paralegal with perseverance will take it in stride and absorb
this experience.
FIVE YEARS OUT
If he or she hasn’t opted to attend law school, by now the experienced paralegal has
decided on and begun to pursue a specialized field. The professional paralegal has
more responsibility and significantly reduced supervision. In a corporate environment,
advancement opportunities are possible at this juncture. Usually, paralegals move up
to supervisory or managerial capacities, but many of them may find it easier to move to
another law firm in search of advancement and better salaries.
TEN YEARS OUT
The 10-year mark is the ideal time for reassessment of one’s career as a paralegal. By
now the professional has undergone several career-enhancing changes, such as college
refresher courses, workshops and seminars on changes in the law, becoming
familiar with new computer applications in legal research, and developing an area of specialty.
At this stage, if the paralegal still yearns for more responsibilities and challenges, he or she
should make the decision of whether to pursue a law degree or undertake an alternate career.