The career of a paralegal is a profession which may become one of the top-paying jobs in the near future. It is based on the general knowledge and expertise that are used while working as an employee in this workforce. A large number of people around the world would like to get employed as a paralegal, but they do not have an idea about what jobs can be done by them. When it comes to choosing a career that can give you flourishing opportunities, then what’s better than working as a paralegal?
A paralegal is a legal assistant who works under the supervision of a lawyer. They perform research, prepare documents, and help clients with administrative tasks. Paralegals are usually required to have a bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies or criminal justice. Some states require that paralegals have passed the state’s paralegal exam before they can work as an assistant to a lawyer.
A paralegal’s job duties vary depending on their employer and the field in which they specialize. Some common tasks include:
-Researching legal issues and preparing documents for the client
-Attending court proceedings and taking notes on what happens during the hearing
-Gathering information from witnesses and other people involved in criminal or civil cases
-Preparing legal forms such as affidavits and complaints, or drafting documents like wills or contracts
What jobs can a paralegal do
Introduction
The world of law is a fascinating and rewarding one for many people. It’s very interesting, there’s always something new to learn, and you get to help people in an important and meaningful way. But it’s also an incredibly hard field to break into, both because of its popularity among job seekers and the lack of positions available. Which is why becoming a paralegal can be such a great option! A paralegal does much of the same work as an attorney: they do legal research, draft documents that are used in court proceedings, interview witnesses, conduct depositions, take notes during court proceedings and depositions, and assist with discovery. But they don’t need to go through law school or pass the bar exam to become one—a paralegal certificate or degree program will do. The position also doesn’t require licensing or certification; however most employers prefer candidates who have completed at least two years of post-secondary education in legal studies or related fields such as business administration before entering into their first “real” job. And while there’s no guarantee that being a paralegal will lead directly into becoming an attorney (though it certainly helps), working as one can still provide all sorts perks associated with being part of this exciting profession like good pay rates so long as you’re willing to put in some time on top of your regular hours spent doing paperwork tasks like prepping documents for upcoming trials), flexible schedules (including working from home), access to other benefits attorneys receive such as free CLE webinars online),
Assist in the preparation of legal documents.
Assist in the preparation of legal documents.
- Preparation of pleadings and other legal papers, such as motions, briefs, interrogatories, subpoenas and discovery requests.
- Preparing documents for trial (e.g., trial notebooks).
- Preparation of exhibits at trial if you have been designated as an expert witness or have previously testified on behalf of someone else in a case where the other party wants to cross-examine you about what occurred during your testimony.
Assist with legal research, investigation, and discovery.
You can expect to do a lot of research and investigation as a paralegal. Your legal research skills will be put to the test when you are asked to find laws, cases, or other documents that relate to your client’s case. You may also be asked to investigate facts about evidence in the case such as financial records or eyewitness accounts. Finally, it’s important for paralegals working in litigation and litigation support roles to assist with discovery procedures—the process by which each party shares information (documents, testimony) with their opposing counsel before trial begins so that both sides can have access to all relevant evidence prior to arguing their cases before a judge or jury.
Attend court proceedings and depositions.
Attend court proceedings and depositions.
Paralegals attend trials and hearings as an observer, taking notes on the proceedings. They may take photographs of evidence or witnesses, both for their own use in legal cases and to provide to clients who are unable to attend the trial themselves. Paralegals also interact with witnesses and other parties involved with a case, such as judges or opposing counsels. They often meet directly with clients during this time as well, helping them understand what’s going on in court proceedings and how they can best participate in them (or if they even need to).
Conduct legal research.
Conduct legal research.
Paralegals are in charge of conducting legal research, which can involve finding and extracting relevant information from various sources, including statutes, regulations and previous court decisions. They also work with other professionals to obtain information outside the scope of their own expertise or training.
Draft pleadings and documents, including interrogatories, motions, and subpoenas.
Draft pleadings and documents, including interrogatories, motions, and subpoenas.
- A pleading is a formal document filed in court. You may be asked to draft everything from simple complaints and answers to complex responses that include exhibits (supplemental evidence).
- Interrogatories are questions asked by one party of another during discovery—the pretrial exchange of information. They can range from very simple “yes” or “no” questions to more elaborate requests for detailed information about things such as company policies or procedures. You’ll need to ensure that the interrogatory answers are complete and accurate so they don’t expose your client’s case or create new problems for it later on down the road at trial. For example: “Please state whether you’ve ever been convicted of any crime,” might be answered with “Yes.” A poorly drafted response could lead someone who has been convicted before but wants their record sealed out into trouble when they try applying again because they failed to disclose this information on their application (which requires all criminal history).
- Motions ask the court for relief from some kind of legal obligation—like asking permission not too pay child support anymore because your ex-spouse has remarried above her ability level now that she’s working part-time job instead full-time.”
Gather evidence by interviewing potential clients and witnesses.
Interviewing clients and witnesses is a skill that can be learned, but it’s an important one. To gather evidence in your case, you’ll need to interview these people.
Interviewing helps you determine what information is relevant to your case and how best to present it in court. It also helps you understand what questions your client needs answered so that they can make informed decisions about their case.
Interviewing plays an integral role in the legal process because it allows attorneys to gauge witness credibility before trial begins.
Organize files, exhibit books and trial notebooks.
- Organize files. Files are the documents of a case, which can include client statements, police reports and legal motions. There may be several files per case and they’ll need to be maintained so they can be easily accessed by attorneys at any time.
- Exhibit books and trial notebooks. Exhibit books are organized displays of evidence used in trial; trial notebooks are binders used to collect information during trials that might not have been entered into evidence yet. Both of these require organization so that they don’t become disorganized while still being easy enough for other paralegals or associates to find what they need quickly when needed.
A paralegal can do a subset of what an attorney can do but not everything
As a paralegal, you can do many things that an attorney can do. However, there are some things that you cannot do. In order to practice law in most states, you must be licensed by the state bar association and pass the bar exam. Paralegals may assist with drafting paperwork and research but cannot give legal advice or appear in court on behalf of clients without an attorney present.
Conclusion
We hope that this article has helped you understand the range of jobs for which a paralegal may be qualified. It is important to note that the legal field is constantly evolving and growing more complex, so it is always advisable for a paralegal to keep up with changes in the law by attending continuing legal education courses and reading legal periodicals regularly. This will help ensure that he or she remains an asset to his or her employer.
