PARALEGAL/LEGAL ASSISTANT

Paralegals support Attorneys in law firms by gathering, organizing and preparing various documents and files for court cases. They may also regularly meet with attorneys, clients or other legal professionals to gather helpful details about upcoming court cases. Paralegals will prepare other legal documents, like wills, contracts, briefs, appeals and pleadings.

They’ll perform investigations to fact-check information for different cases by searching through public records and other resources provided by clients. Paralegals are also in charge of coordinating deliveries of subpoenas and other important legal documents. During the hearings, they’ll call on witnesses to testify.

- Certification or associate’s degree in paralegal studies (bachelor’s degree is preferred)
OR
- A minimum experience of two years in a paralegal role
- Investigative mind and strong research skills
- Working knowledge legal database software
- Experience in preparing legal reports
- Excellent communication and time management skills

Paralegals must have an excellent understanding of legal procedures and terminology. They should have good communication skills and be well-versed in documentation and reporting. Except for entry-level positions, you may want the successful Paralegal candidate to have a minimum of two to three years of experience. Since a Paralegal’s area of operation is quite broad and can consist of many different areas, you should look for a candidate with some experience related to your specific industry. Additionally, experience in office administration is highly helpful for Paralegal positions.

Paralegals typically report to Attorneys and Lawyers within a law office. They’ll typically work side-by-side with this Attorney and will complete smaller tasks associated with court cases and other legal duties. This gives Attorneys more time and energy to focus on more big-picture legal items.

A great Paralegal must be organized to regularly sort, manage and file various client documents. They should also have impressive computer skills as they regularly use different applications to organize information and input data. Excellent verbal and written communication abilities are needed as well to effectively interact with clients and attorneys. They’ll also need these written skills to draft and proofread legal documents.