What Does A Paralegal Do?
A paralegal does much the same work as an attorney but they are not allowed to represent clients in court or to give a client legal advice. In fact a paralegal must make sure that clients are always aware of their position in the firm so that the client cannot claim to have acted on the legal advice given by the paralegal. Legal assistants, as paralegals are also known, will spend their day helping the attorney to advise their clients. This can include compiling legal research and using the data they find to formulate the legal arguments the attorneys will use, interviewing witnesses, checking facts or obtaining further information from other sources.
Paralegals work in all areas of the law. For example if you’re a paralegal working in the area of bankruptcy, you will either work for the attorney representing the clients or the lawyers representing the creditors. If you work for the attorney representing the clients you will probably spend part of your day helping the client to compile a statement of their current financial situation. This will include a list of their assets and liabilities, their income and outgoings, and a full picture of their current creditors.
Once all this information has been compiled you will pass it to the attorney will then be in a position to advise the client what type of bankruptcy they should file for. It may become apparent as a result of the initial work you do with the client that bankruptcy is not the only option available and is in fact an action to be avoided.
Becoming a paralegal allows you to help people.
People rarely understand the adverse impact that bankruptcy can have on their credit file which can affect future employment not to mention the premiums charged for insurance and their ability to seek additional finance. Often the people who seek the help of a bankruptcy specialist are completely stressed out and cannot work out how to resolve their mountain of debts. There is a lot of job satisfaction to be gained in helping people to recover from their financial mistakes. Paralegal to work in the field of bankruptcy also tend to enjoy shorter hours then those who work in an equivalent role in litigation and criminal practice. The law surrounding bankruptcy isn’t as subject to change as it can be in other areas of law.
If you are a paralegal working in civil litigation you may be involved in personal injury cases. You will be responsible for drafting the complaint on behalf of the plaintiff, reviewing files relating to the accident or injury collecting notes and photographs to help document to the client’s case. If you are working for an attorney who is defending the claim, your role will be to examine all the evidence provided to help put together a defense. If you like the idea of being in the courtroom and being involved a lot in interviewing witnesses, this may be a career choice for you.
Many people with an interest in the law should give becoming a paralegal for consideration. Paralegal who work with the larger law firms can earn very high salary, and when you take the cost of the education required to become an attorney, you may find that you are better off becoming a paralegal. Of course there is always the option to become a legal assistant and continues studying while working, qualifying as an attorney at night. This is not the easy route but is an option particularly if funds are tight and you need to start earning as soon as possible.
How long does it take to become a paralegal?
The answer depends on your experience and its qualifications. If you’re already working in a legal practice perhaps as a legal secretary, you can take a short paralegal certification course and start working as a paralegal almost immediately if your lead attorney allows you to. You will probably find that he or she will be delighted to have someone they know and trust working alongside them.
If you have no experience, it may take between 6 to 9 months to complete a paralegal training program. Then you will have to find a junior position where the attorney and other members of staff are prepared to help you train to become a paralegal while working. On-the-job experience is very important as there are some things you can never learn in school.
What is the salary of a paralegal?
The salary of a paralegal will depend on where you work and the area of law you specialize in. Those paralegals who work in the larger law firms in the bigger cities will earn substantially more than those working in small legal practice. Those who work in litigation or in corporate law will earn higher salaries than those working for the public defender’s office or attorneys who specialize in environmental issues. The more relevant work experience and qualifications you have the higher the salary you should be able to earn.