What Does a Paralegal Do? A Breakdown of Paralegal Job Duties

Reviewed by: Joseph Spada, Paralegal Studies Program Director

A vital fixture at law firms and legal departments, paralegals are legal professionals who carry out administrative, organizational, and research tasks that support lawyers and the legal process. In order to prepare you for this crucial role, we’ll take a look at the various responsibilities that paralegals have.

Key Takeaways:

• Paralegals are legal professionals who bill clients for the time spent on any given project and that helps the law firm raise revenue.
• Paralegals carry out essential responsibilities including research, documentation, writing, organization, case management, trial preparation, and client communication.
• Paralegals can specialize in several areas, including family law, criminal law, corporate law, and business law.
• Completing a paralegal studies program can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in this role.

What Is a Paralegal?

Paralegals are legal professionals who have received the education, skills training, and work experience to be qualified for substantive legal work while being supervised by a lawyer.

What Skills and Education Do You Need to Become a Paralegal?

There are no universal criteria or requirements for paralegals like there are for lawyers, but most law firms and legal departments will require at least a bachelor’s degree and education in paralegal studies. Some states have specific requirements for paralegals, so make sure you research any requirements that your state has.

Aspiring paralegals will also need a variety of important skills, such as:

• Technology skills, especially file management and internet research
• Critical and analytical thinking
• Research
• Organization
• Writing

While you can learn these skills through various educational paths, a paralegal studies program with a comprehensive curriculum will equip you with these skills in a way that is tied to the legal environment.

How Does a Paralegal Differ from a Lawyer?

In most states, lawyers must have a license in order to practice law, which involves earning a Juris Doctor degree, passing a state Bar Exam, and being approved by a board. Paralegals do not have such stringent requirements but are nonetheless able to make an impact in the legal environment in a meaningful way. Without the contributions of paralegals, many law firms would not be able to process cases at a meaningful volume.

How Does a Paralegal Differ from a Legal Assistant?

These two terms are sometimes used interchangeably, but paralegals and legal assistants have key differences in their level of responsibility:

• Legal assistants handle the administrative and clerical tasks, such as filing paperwork, organizing files, and scheduling.
• Paralegals complete more advanced tasks that require legal knowledge, such as drafting legal documents and conducting research.

In a smaller firm or department, paralegals will likely take on both levels of tasks. In large firms, both types of legal professionals will be employed.

What Are the Typical Duties and Responsibilities of a Paralegal?

Conducting Legal Research

In the legal world, many cases revolve around precedent, case law, and past rulings. In addition, legal codes can be very complex on the local, state, and national levels. To provide lawyers with the information they need, paralegals should be very adept at performing legal research.

With careful attention to detail, paralegals will:

• Conduct relevant research using the five primary sources of the law
• Provide lawyers with the key information they need, as well as a list of sources they can refer to for their case
• Apply research to real-world cases and clients

Drafting and Organizing Legal Documents

Nearly every case will require some type of documentation. Lawyers will typically be the ones to finalize and sign off on documentation, but paralegals often write the first drafts in a strong, well-reasoned manner.

Some of the documents that paralegals may write include:

• Pleadings
• Contracts
• Agreements
• Legal correspondence of all kinds
• Legal memoranda
• Affidavits and declarations
• IRAC memo

In addition, paralegals should also know how to organize documents that are easily accessible for all parties, either in a well-labeled file cabinet or a secure digital drive.

Supporting Case and Trial Preparation

In a trial, clients need to know what to expect, lawyers need to be prepared for every possibility, and paralegals need to support both parties and make sure they have what they need.
Paralegals can work on any of the following and more when it comes to case and trial preparation:

• Coordinate schedules between attorneys, experts, clients, and witnesses
• Manage the details of travel, accommodations, rides, and technology (Zoom meetings or live video testimony)
• File any necessary motions
• Assist with jury selection, specifically with notetaking
• Prepare witnesses for testimony
• Organize all documents and files for attorneys
• Support the supervising lawyer with anything and everything they may need

Managing Client Communication and Cases

While much of law is based on past precedent, each case is unique and complex. A case that appears simple on the surface can become complicated, extending into a months- or years-long ordeal.

Given this, strong organizational skills and interpersonal skills are some of the most important things for a paralegal to have. When it comes to client and case management, paralegals will:

• Maintain detailed records and organized case files
• Support clients through both the technical aspects of the case and provide an empathetic, listening ear
• Schedule meetings with clients and other stakeholders
• Ensure that lawyers remain up-to-date on new case developments
• Keep on top of all cases under their purview, ensuring that nothing falls through the cracks

What Are Some Types of Paralegal Roles?

Criminal Law

Criminal law is a very complex, high-pressure area of the law to work in. While it can be a stressful specialty, it can also be one of the most rewarding and impactful areas for paralegals.

The two types of criminal law are prosecution and defense. No matter which side of the aisle they’re on, criminal law paralegals will help lawyers build cases, with tasks such as:

• Talking to witnesses, police officers, and subject-matter experts
• Gathering evidence, such as police reports, drug/alcohol test results, and photographs
• Preparing or reviewing disclosure statements
• Appropriately redacting and sending documentation to the defense/prosecution
• Plan strategies based off the facts of the case

Family Law

Like other areas, family law paralegals will be responsible for filing paperwork, communicating with clients, supporting mediation sessions, and drafting documents. These will be tailored to complicated legal matters, such as:

• Divorce and asset division
• Child custody, child support, and parenting plans
• Adoption and guardianship

Given the emotional nature of this area of law, family law paralegals should have very strong communication skills with both children and adults. They should also be prepared to explain highly technical concepts to individuals who aren’t used to dealing with the law.

Real Estate Law

With a housing and rental market that grows increasingly complex each year, paralegals who specialize in real estate are highly in demand. Paralegals support complex processes relating to the construction, purchase, and sale of properties.

Paralegals support the real estate process by:

• Supporting lawyers with contract negotiations where multiple stakeholders are involved (real estate agents, buyers, sellers, contractors, etc.)
• Drafting various documents, such as bankruptcy pleadings and escrow documents
• Communicating with insurance companies and other third parties
• Collaborating with other real estate professionals, such as landlords and brokers

Real estate law is a complex area where multiple legal factors converge. In order to effectively support the holding and transfer of property, paralegals need to have a strong understanding of real estate law.

Corporate and Business Law

Given the distinct legal considerations that regulate the business world, corporations and large businesses tend to hire dedicated paralegals to work in their legal departments. Rather than working at a firm serving multiple clients, corporate paralegals work with in-house counsel.

Collaborating with lawyers and fellow paralegals in the legal department, business law paralegals will ensure that all business decisions follow relevant laws and that all documentation is legally sound.

In the corporate environment, paralegals will play key roles related to:

• Entity formation
• Mergers and acquisitions
• Compliance
• Corporate governance
• Taxation

What Are Some Benefits and Challenges of the Paralegal Profession?

The work of a paralegal can be fulfilling, interesting, exciting, challenging, and complicated — sometimes all in one day. Some of the things you might face in this role include:

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Sources

• American Bar Association — Paralegals
• Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook — Paralegals and Legal Assistants
• FindLaw — California Code, Business and Professions Code – BPC § 6450
• Indeed — Paralegal vs. Lawyer: What’s the Difference? (With Salaries)
• Clio — Mastering Legal Research: Tips, Tools, and Techniques
• Brown and Crouppen — An Inside Look at Paralegal Trial Preparation
• Paralegal Boot Camp — The Role of a Criminal Law Paralegal
• LawInfo — The Role of a Family Law Paralegal