Duties in the 40-Year-Young Paralegal Profession

Some say life begins at 40. Well, the paralegal, or legal assistant, profession began in the 1960s, and now, 40 years later, it's one of the fastest growing professions in the nation. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are more than 220,000 paralegals and legal assistants employed throughout the U.S. And with median annual earnings of $39,130 (the top 10 percent of legal assistants earn more than $61,390), why not consider this career?

In brief, a paralegal helps lawyers prepare for closings, hearings, trials, and corporate meetings. Since legal assistants are not lawyers, they are prohibited from doing anything considered to be the practice of law. That includes giving legal advice, representing a client in court, establishing a fee, and accepting a case on behalf of a client.

So what exactly does a legal assistant do?

When preparing for a case, a paralegal will:

• investigate the facts
• interview witnesses
• ensure that all pertinent information is considered
• identify laws, judicial decisions, legal articles, and other materials relevant to the case
• analyze and organize all information gathered
• prepare a written report so the attorney can determine how to handle the case

If the case goes to trial, a legal assistant will:

• prepare the legal arguments
• draft pleadings and motions to be filed with the court
• obtain affidavits
• organize and track files of all important documents
• make the files available and easily accessible to the attorney
• provide any additional assistance during the trial

Additional daily functions of a paralegal may include:

• drafting contracts, mortgages, separation agreements, and instruments of trust
• preparing tax returns and planning estates
• coordinating the activities of other law office employees
• maintaining financial office records

Of course, these duties require formal paralegal training. There are about 1,000 legal assistant schools in the country, approximately 260 of which are approved by the American Bar Association. Paralegal training covers legal terminology, legal applications of computers, performing legal research on the Internet, new developments in the law, ethical standards of the legal profession, and more. Aside from legal theory, legal assistant schools emphasize practical job skills and incorporate an internship experience.

Plus, paralegal training provides these critical career skills:

• problem-solving
• organization
• clear and concise writing
• clear and concise speech
• attention to detail
• prioritization
• working independently
• working with a team
• technological proficiency

Ready for your career life to begin? Embrace the 40-year-young paralegal profession.

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