The paralegal job description may vary from one employer to another. In its most basic definition, a paralegal helps lawyers and other legal professionals with documents and procedures. Paralegals must have specialized training. The training is usually done by people who have experience inside the legal environment.
A paralegal is also known as a legal assistant. A paralegal functions in a wide variety of roles. For instance, at one office a paralegal will specialize in a specific area like bankruptcy, however at another smaller office there may be a need for flexibility. Therefore the legal assistant will need to be cross-trained.
The job description of a paralegal should not be confused with that of an attorney or lawyer. While both careers deal with law, a paralegal works under the supervision of attorneys. Much of the time, a paralegal takes care of the more time consuming work, so an attorney is able to pursue other business. In some cases the paralegal may know more about the inner-working of a procedure or case than an actual attorney. In those cases, the paralegal will bring the attorney up to speed on a case. Most of the time, the paralegal usually follows the lead of a supervisor.
Some people are intimidated by a paralegal’s job description. Oftentimes prospective candidates believe they know nothing about law. One should not fret. Here are a few candidates who became paralegals:
Woody’s parents were small business owners. He did not want to follow his parent’s footsteps but his background gave him special insight to a paralegal career. Woody is a jack-of-all-trades. He works for a small law office that specializes in real estate title work, workmen’s compensation cases, and estate planning. While working in this office, the firm decides to test the waters on class action lawsuits. In order to be successful Woody must be familiar with all the business angles for his employer.
As a former teacher and union representative, Tina understands the procedures of basic employment law. She works as an employment law paralegal. Tina must deal with paperwork surrounding unlawful termination, sexual harassment, discrimination, union related matters, and safety compliance. Tina will carry a specialized knowledge of federal and state laws as well.
Tracy has experience in the medical field. She started working for a hospital as a teenager in food preparation. She became a secretary for a pediatrician, and through networking was offered a position for a urology practice. Tracy’s unique background prepared her for work as an insurance paralegal. Now Tracy works with a law firm that outsources insurance related cases. She helps define coverage issues, and seeks remedies within the limits of a policy.
Chip’s family has a farm in east Ohio. His parents were approached by a representative from a small natural gas supplier. His parents were able to retire with a residual income source for life. Chip becomes a paralegal to help other families realize the economic potential for their property. His familiarity with oil and gas leasing contracts, real estate knowledge, and personal story make him an easy fit as a paralegal.
These paralegal job descriptions share a similar theme. None of these paralegals thought they knew anything about law or the paralegal profession. However, each candidate brought a unique background that easily fit into a legal niche of paralegal. In fact, all things considered, the experience each candidate had, allowed them a degree of expertise that would have otherwise gone untapped. While none of these individuals were interested in pursuing a legal degree, their specialized experiences prepared them for a career as a legal assistant. The broad range of a paralegal job description allows people from all walks of life to pursue this fun and exciting legal career.