Behind the Scenes: Why Attorneys Need Paralegals
Law firms kept running smoothly with well-trained paralegals
Fans of television shows like Law & Order and CSI (or any other show which features an attorney), may not have a clue of the role that paralegals play in real-life law firms. The backbone of a successful law office will most likely consist of at least one paralegal.
Roles of a Paralegal
- Document Preparation: Paralegals prepare documents, deeds, correspondence and anything else that may need to be drafted. Paralegals are able to work independently on these matters with little or no guidance.
- Legal and Factual Research: Attorneys do not have adequate time to conduct all of the research necessary for each case. Paralegals are responsible for making sure the attorney has the relevant information that is needed.
- Working with Clients: The client is as equally important as the case. A paralegal will usually meet with clients, interview and gather the data needed to build the case.
A paralegal's duties will vary according to the caseload, clients and needs of the attorneys and this is by no means an exhaustive list. Similar to television, the attorney may be the star but in real-life law firms, it's certainly possible that the paralegals actually run the show.
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