The Work of a Paralegal
The Work of a Paralegal
By Jonathan E Richards
Paralegals, also known as caseworkers or legal assistants work in the legal profession although they are not qualified lawyers. They work across all sectors from law firms, in all areas of industry and size of business, and also in the public sector. Many thousands of people work as paralegals in the UK, and with a rise in the number of litigation prospects are good for this profession.
Although a paralegal does not have to have any qualifications to work in this area the area is starting to become more professional and there are a number of organisations providing training. These include The National Association of Paralegals, the Institute of Paralegals, The Institution of Legal Executives and also an association which provides distance learning for those working in the profession, Paralegal Distance Learning.
The typical duties of a paralegal will include
• Answering the telephone and taking messages for lawyers and solicitors
• Arranging meetings, carrying out routine administrative tasks for more senior members of staff
• Taking notes at meetings, attending court hearings and taking notes, writing letters
• Proofreading documents and preparing documentation for court hearings
• Researching as and when required
• Ensuring all filing and indexing is completed satisfactorily
• Making sure they are up to date with legislation regarding procedures and relevant policy documentation
• Meeting with clients (if the paralegal is fairly senior)
• Managing case work and files
• Having good I.T skills since so much work is now completed on a computer
• Collating time sheets and undertaking billing on behalf of lawyers
• Overseeing the work of more junior paralegals
• Attending training courses as required
The actual tasks undertaken by a paralegal will vary widely depending on the size and nature of the organisation and how experienced they are. Very experienced paralegals will be given much more responsibility and have more contact with clients.
Some people work as paralegals in order to gain legal experience, in terms of becoming qualified as a paralegal. Sometimes paralegals decide to go on to study for law exams in order to progress to lawyer status.
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