What is a Paralegal?

Paralegals are professionals trained to assist lawyers in various legal capacities. Paralegal duties entail more responsibility than clerical tasks, and fall into a broad range of substantive legal work. Paralegals conduct factual and legal research, draft legal documents, work with clients, and manage cases. Many paralegals are involved in challenging and exciting assignments that would otherwise be performed by lawyers, but paralegals may not provide legal services directly to the public unless permitted by law.

While paralegals work independently most days, the paralegal profession is a people-oriented profession. Paralegals may work in teams with one or more lawyers, paralegals, and legal administrative assistants as well as communicate with clients, witnesses, and court personnel.

Excellent oral and written communication skills are the key to becoming a great paralegal. Precision in language is a goal. Paralegals must be able to think on their feet, and give or write a complete thought or sentence in a clear, grammatically — correct sentence. Also, computer skills are very important in this stimulating field particularly knowledge of the Microsoft Office products, case management systems, e-filing and e-discovery, and good keyboarding and organizational abilities.

Lawyers often can deliver legal services more efficiently and economically with the aid and experience of paralegals, who are also called legal assistants. Paralegals can help gather and manage large amounts of data to assist the lawyer to produce better quality work under pressure.

Attending our American Bar Association (ABA) approved paralegal program is critical to gain the required skills and education to be successful as a paralegal.

Attributes of a Successful Paralegal

Pamela Packard, a paralegal and member of American Association for Paralegal Education, formulated the attributes with other seasoned paralegals in Oregon, and Charlotte DesHotels, Program Coordinator at LSU Paralegal Studies Program with contributions from William Goren, and Sally Dahlquist, Inver Hills Community College.

Here is the list of paralegal attributes.

• High personal standards and positive work ethics
• Self confidence — persistence, assertiveness, initiative, and a self-starter
• Intellectual curiosity — dedication to continuing education and skill development, and a “need to know”
• Analytical skills — ability to identify the problem, to collect, organize, review, evaluate, and draw conclusions, and to develop strategies
• Organizational skills — systems orientation, ability to conceptualize and prioritize, and time management skills
• Detailed oriented — passion for accuracy, and follow-through
• Oral communication skills
• Written communication skills — command of grammar and the English language
• Interpersonal “people” skills — team player
• Common sense and good judgment
• Research skills — legal research and factual investigation
• Computer Skills — knowledge of word processing, spread sheet, database, presentation software, litigation support, and internet
• Desire and willingness to work in the legal area
• Ability to multitask
• Ability to work under pressure to meet deadlines
• Participation in Pro Bono work
• Ability to speak a second language but not required
• Do not provide legal services to the public unless permitted by law. A paralegal instinctively knows when to let the attorney take the lead on legal matters and when an action would constitute the unauthorized and illegal practice of law.

Paralegal Career Aptitudes and Interests

Students who choose the paralegal career should:

• Enjoy working in a professional atmosphere
• Have above-average written and oral communication skills
• Be detail-oriented
• Enjoy working with people
• Be organized and analytical
• Be able to produce quality work under pressure
• Have or can easily acquire computer and word processing skills

Paralegal Work Duties

Paralegal duties will vary with the employer but generally involve:

• Assisting attorneys, also known as lawyers, with research
• Searching and checking public records
• Interviewing clients, witnesses and others
• Collecting, retrieving, and analyzing information
• Reviewing medical records
• Preparing legal documents and arguments
• Summarizing depositions and other documents
• Preparing briefs and pleadings
• Drafting discovery documents
• Managing and organizing cases
• Assisting attorneys with trial and its preparation
• Drafting wills, deeds and trusts
• Assisting with estates in probate, including estate tax returns

Obtain Computer Skills Independently

It is strongly recommended that paralegal students obtain computer skills independently as these classes are not part of the program. The ability to use the keyboard and word processing, spreadsheet and presentation software are basic skills needed in the paralegal profession. Feel free to plan early with a counselor or program director.

ABA Standing Committee on Paralegals
Career Information

Go to the ABA’s website to find more career information. Click on career and scroll to the bottom of the page to find a wonderful brochure about becoming a paralegal!

American Bar Association Definition

The ABA defines are paralegal as follows:

“A legal assistant or paralegal is a person, qualified by education, training, or work experience who is employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental agency or other entity and who performs specifically delegated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible.”

The National Association of Legal Assistants

The NALA site describes what a paralegal is.

National Federal of Paralegals, Inc.

Go to the NFPA for more description of the paralegal career.

By: Mr. Michael Saunders, C.P.
Website: https://www.affordableparalegalservices.org
Office Phone No.: (800) 820–1226
Email: msaunders@affordableparalegalservices.org

Hi. My name is Michael Saunders, and I am a Certified Paralegal, offering Affordable Clerical Paralegal Services to Attorneys. I offer Research, Document-Formatting, Transcription, Proof-Reading, Printing, along with Document Retrieval and Filing Services.

My services include, but are not limited to the following:

• Transcribing & Formatting Pleadings to be Filed with Courts
• Depositions Summarized & Analyzed
• Preparing & Responding to Correspondence
• Drafting Demand Letters
• Legal Research & Preparing Legal Memoranda
• Billing and Bookkeeping
• Remote/Virtual
• On-Site (Depending)
• File Pick-up & Drop-Off
• Court Runners
• Process Service
• Investigative Services

Between 2012 and 2015, I worked under the supervision of Lawyer David Morgan, Esq. Mr. Morgan and I did our fair share of civil rights litigation, suing agents of the Government in their official and individual capacities, for injunctions and money damages. I would conduct investigations for Mr. Morgan, secure Affidavits, draft pleadings (Complaints, Answers and Affirmative Defenses, Counterclaims and Replies, Motions for Summary Judgment and Responses Thereto, Motions to Dismiss and Responses Thereto, Motions to Quash Service, Motions to Strike, Motions to Compel, Motions for Attorney’s Fees, Motions in Limine, Notice of Removal and Motions to Remand), conduct discovery (Interrogatories, Requests for Production, Requests for Admissions, Deposition Summaries, Preparation for Depositions, and Motions to Compel Discovery) and prepare responses and objections to motions filed by the other-side, until the final settlement agreement, or pursue the matter via direct appeal.

I learned and worked hands on in criminal defense, from assisting in representing clients from their Arraignment and initial Bond-Hearing, preparing motions and responses to them, and drafting Appellate Court documents, such as the Opening Brief, Brief in Opposition, as well as the Reply Brief. I have obtained extensive experience with the Petition for a Writ of Habeas Corpus, pursuant to both 28 U.S.C. 2254 and 2255, along with Civil Rights Litigation pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 1983.

In 2016, I worked exclusively for The Lex Group where I learned Microsoft Word and Adobe Acrobat formatting techniques for Courts all around the Country, in addition to learning how to assure that all documents formatted in those Local, State, and Federal Courts conformed with those Court’s Local and Supreme Court Rules. I am thoroughly trained and highly skilled in Westlaw®, Lexis® and other cutting-edge research tools to provide our attorney-clients with the most comprehensive and efficient legal research on any issue.

I have successfully assisted many attorneys enforce Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which bans employers from discriminating against employees or job applicants on the basis race, color, or national origin, before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and in the Federal Courts. I have also assisted customers who have been presented with a foreclosure action, and clients who have needed a Motion for Relief of Stay or an Adversarial Complaint regarding a bankruptcy case.

Since then, I have been working as an independent Certified Paralegal enabling attorneys’ access to quality paralegal services with affordable hourly rates so they too can enjoy the benefits of having a skilled, professional, and timely Paralegal to take the minutia of the law out the picture so they can spend time focusing on the issues so that justice can prevail on the merits!

In 2019 I became an Associate Member of the American Bar Association; proudly “Defending Liberty and Pursuing Justice.” In 2020 I became a Member of the National Bar Association.

Any publication I produce is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information regarding the subject matter covered. It is based upon sources believed to be accurate and reliable and is intended to be current as of the time it was written. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional services. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person must be sought. Also, to confirm that the information has not been affected or changed by recent developments, traditional legal research techniques should be used, including checking primary sources where appropriate. Terms and Conditions apply. Thank you in advance for your consideration. No paying of a retainer then getting a bill when your case is over with.

Mr. Michael Saunders, C.P.
Website: https://affordableparalegalservices.org
Office Phone No.: (800) 820–1226
Email: msaunders@affordableparalegalservices.org
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/michaelsaundersaffordableparalegalservices
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Feel free to email or call at your convenience. I hope that I can be of service.

OCPA No.: 54334325 https://affordableparalegal.org/

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