Paralegal Careers

If you are interested in a career as a paralegal, you have come to the right place. Before you pursue the first steps in your new paralegal career, you should understand what the job entails. This page will discuss what paralegals typically do and what they don’t do at a law office, focusing specifically on the differences between the responsibilities of a paralegal and those of a lawyer. This page also discusses common paralegal requirements and resources by state, paralegal job descriptions, different types of paralegal careers, and salary and job outlook information for paralegals.Paralegal Careers

What Do Paralegals Do?

A paralegal is trained in legal matters and assists lawyers with researching facts for cases, preparing documents, maintaining files, and preparing for trial. Paralegals must work under the supervision of an attorney and are commonly employed by law firms, corporate legal departments, and government agencies, though opportunities for paralegals exist in other industries. Paralegals’ tasks may vary from being more specialized (in larger firms) to more generalized (in smaller firms). Specific tasks may include:

• Researching and investigating facts or laws related to a case

• Maintaining files and documents for various cases

• Interviewing witnesses to gather and investigate evidence

• Writing reports and compiling legal documents such as memos, briefs, depositions, or procedural motions

• Taking notes for attorneys

• Working with teams of other paralegals, attorneys, and staff on cases

What DON’T Paralegals Do?

Just as important as what they DO, understanding what paralegals can’t do will tell you more about the profession and how it differs from the career and responsibilities of a lawyer. Paralegals cannot provide legal services or advice directly to the public. Instead, they must work under the supervision of an attorney, who is ultimately liable for their work. Paralegals cannot be called “officers of the court,” cannot be “counsel of record” in court proceedings, and cannot sign court documents (except in limited circumstances, such as functioning as a notary). Paralegals can voluntarily become certified by organizations such as the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) or the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA), but in the US there is no status of “licensed paralegal” in the sense that an attorney can be a “licensed attorney.” However, in addition to voluntary certification, in some states paralegals are required to meet certain standards and become “certified” or “registered” at the state level.