What Type of Work Does a Paralegal Do?
A paralegal—or legal assistant—usually helps an attorney or an agency prepare for corporate meetings, hearings or other legal proceedings. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) divides paralegal work into two very broad categories: public sector and private sector. Each has a very different set of demands and responsibilities.
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Definition
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According to the American Bar Association (ABA), a paralegal is someone hired by a lawyer, law office, government agency or other institution to perform duties associated with legal matters. The paralegal must be qualified by training, experience or education in the field . The BLS adds that paralegals are expressly prohibited from practicing law or performing duties within the scope of law practice. For example, a paralegal would not be allowed to argue a case in court or provide legal advice.
Tasks
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The duties of paralegals range from very general to very specific, depending on the focus of the employer. According to the BLS, helping lawyers prepare for closings, trials, meetings and hearings is the paralegal’s most important duty. The ABA explains that the more general tasks assigned to most paralegals include organizing and accessing client files, writing emails and letters, fact-checking and research, drafting, analyzing and investigating documents, and monitoring deadlines. In some cases, paralegals also serve as liaisons to clients and other parties.
Public Sector
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Some paralegals employed in the public sector will help low-income and elderly clients, as well as others in need of legal assistance. According to the BLS, most will perform “litigation paralegal” duties, such as collecting evidence for public hearings. Other paralegal tasks in the public sector include analyzing material for use within an agency, preparing informative material on policy, laws and regulations, and, when legally appropriate, representing clients in administrative hearings.
Private Sector
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In the private sector, corporate paralegals often review government requirements and regulations to ensure their employers are operating legally. Paralegals frequently help corporate attorneys with shareholder agreements and employee contracts, as well as stock option and benefit plans. The BLS notes that corporate paralegal work can also include duties ranging from recording minutes at corporate meetings to preparing annual financial reports. Private law firms employ nearly 71 percent of all paralegals.
What to Expect
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The work schedules vary as much as the positions, but the BLS says most paralegals work year-round for an average of 40 hours per week. In some cases, paralegals work temporarily during the busier times of the year. In the private sector, paralegals can sometimes expect to work long hours when a deadline is looming. Most of the work is done in libraries and law offices, as new paralegals usually spend a great deal of time gathering and organizing files from computer databases.
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