What Is a Paralegal?
The dramatic courtroom scenes that are shown on television and in movies are only a small part of a lawyer’s duties. There is a great deal of research and preparation done on every case, whether they go to trial or not. It is this area where a paralegal, also called a legal assistant, comes in. Paralegals perform a wide range of duties, ranging from research to investigation to writing and plenty of other responsibilities.
A paralegal or legal assistant helps lawyers prepare for hearings, trials and any other legal meeting. They might research legal precedents handed down in similar previous cases for the case at hand. Paralegals also research other relevant materials, such as laws and legal papers. As the case progresses, paralegals and legal assistants will organize and file all the documents so the lawyers can find everything easily.
Other duties of paralegals include drafting contracts, preparing tax returns and planning estates. The type of work a paralegal or legal assistant will do depends on if they work for a litigation law firm, a government agency, a corporate legal department or other setting. In short, paralegals can do any legal task other than the five acts that only a licensed attorney can perform: establish an attorney-client relationship; give legal advice; sign legal papers on behalf of another party; appear in court on someone’s behalf; and set and collect legal fees.
While paralegals and legal assistants are not lawyers, they handle large volumes of legal work and are required to uphold the same ethics standards as lawyers. This requires a specialized education. Many community colleges offer paralegal programs that allow students to earn an associate’s degree. A few schools offer bachelor’s and master’s programs for paralegals. People who have already graduated with a degree in another field can earn can take training courses to earn a paralegal certification. Many of these degree programs and certification programs include job placement assistance. Anyone who is interested in becoming a paralegal should look into programs endorsed by the American Bar association.
While not always required, the National Association of Legal Assistants and the American Alliance of Paralegals have standards that allow paralegals and legal assistants to earn certifications. These certifications must be renewed and will require some continued education.