Paralegal Services Vs. Attorneys | What’s the Difference and What Does a Paralegal Do?
Most people are familiar with what a lawyer does for a living. An attorney can provide assistance to their clients in many areas of the law for a variety of circumstances. In any law office, there is usually also one or more paralegals – these professionals offer the lawyers they work with the support they need to satisfy the needs of their clients!
What exactly are the responsibilities of a paralegal? A paralegal handles various tasks in service of the licensed attorney or attorneys who supervise them. You can find paralegals at law firms of any size, as well as on legal teams across a wide spectrum of industries. Even though there’s some overlap between the duties of a paralegal and a lawyer, because paralegals work for lawyers, a limit is placed on what tasks they may execute. Under the law, a paralegal can’t say they are a lawyer. Generally, paralegals handle the following:
- Draft legal documents
- Communicate and/or interview clients
- Conduct research
- Summarize testimonies/depositions
- Assist lawyers at hearings, depositions, trials
How Paralegal Services Make an Attorney’s Job Easier
Why do lawyers employ paralegals to do work they themselves can do? It expedites the process of generating necessary legal documents and case preparation! An attorney can certainly do all that a paralegal does, but their focus should be on acting in the best interest of their clients. Having a stellar paralegal team, which costs the firm or company less money than a lawyer doing the work, allows lawyers to offer comprehensive legal services to clients in an efficient manner. A licensed attorney is permitted to give clients legal advice and represent them in the courtroom. Paralegals aren’t allowed to do either!
In addition to appearing in court and arguing on behalf of their clients, the services of a lawyer encompass advising clients on legal issues, interpreting the law, and preparation of contracts, wills, and lawsuits.
The Specific Skills of a Paralegal
Are there specific skills that paralegals need to possess? Paralegals are an integral component of any given legal team. A lawyer relies on a paralegal to ensure they have everything they need to provide their clients with top-notch legal services. As such, paralegals ought to have a healthy knowledge of the legal system! The following attributes may determine a paralegal’s success in the position:
- Clear and concise writing. A large part of paralegal services involves the drafting of legal documents. Being clear and succinct in writing is super important! Also, a good paralegal should be able to edit the writing of others.
- Computer and technology skills. Like many industries, the legal field is rapidly integrating more technology into its daily workflow. Knowing how to navigate document management software, research tools, and presentation programs is a huge asset.
- Detail-oriented approach. Paralegals are responsible for the details! The more detailed and error-free a paralegal’s work is, the more streamlined the attorney’s work is. Legal matters can be very complex – getting all the facts correct is crucial.
- Organization and time management. The varying nature of the work of any law firm and its clients means paralegals often work on many different tasks all at once. A successful paralegal will be able to prioritize time-sensitive tasks and stay on top of deadlines!
- Customer service. The paralegal is frequently the first person a client speaks with when they contact a law firm or legal team. Knowing how to speak from a place of empathy and understanding is key!
Paralegals can find professional fulfillment by assisting clients who need to resolve complicated legal situations. A paralegal expedites the process of satisfying clients by taking care of all the detailed behind-the-scenes work for the attorney(s) who supervises them.
At Stockman & Poropat, PLLC we consider the paralegals on our team absolutely essential! If you require our legal services, contact us today for a free consultation. Our attorneys and the paralegals who support them look forward to helping you resolve your legal matters!
