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Paralegal

Career Overview

Behind every clever, silver-tongued lawyer is a small army of Paralegals. While lawyers are the mouthpiece of a case, the Paralegals (also called “Legal Assistants”) are in the trenches, conducting research and attending to details so the case proceeds smoothly. Helping lawyers prepare for trials and hearings, a Paralegal will gather information and investigate facts, as well as research laws, statutes, and judicial decisions that relate to their specific case. Paralegals assist with the preparation of arguments and court filings, and may provide any necessary legal documents or case files. Just like lawyers, they are expected to be familiar with legal jargon, be fairly well-versed in their particular area of legal practice, and have solid knowledge of the legal process and system.

Job Outlook

• This is a profession that is projected to grow 28 percent – faster than average – between 2008 and 2018
• In order to lower legal costs and make caseloads more manageable, attorneys are delegating more work to Paralegals
• Our expanding population increasingly requires legal services, especially in hot new areas such as intellectual property, healthcare, international law, elder issues, and environmental law

Show Me the Money!

In Los Angeles, the average annual salary for a Paralegal is $60,860. [www.bls.gov] Earnings vary due to education, training, experience, the type and size of employer, the nature of the legal practice, and the geographic location; Paralegals who work for large law firms or in large metropolitan areas earn more than those who work for smaller firms or in less populated regions.

A Day in the Life

• Act as liaison with clients, lawyers, witnesses, experts, court personnel, court reporters and mediators in order to arrange interviews, meetings, depositions, hearings, mediations, arbitrations and trials
• Maintain client files, draft correspondence, monitor deadlines, and gather and organize information for cases
• Draft documents for litigation, as well as prepare arguments and court filings
• Uncover facts, research and highlight relevant case laws and court decisions, collect evidence, obtain affidavits, and assist with depositions and other materials relevant to cases
• Compile all information into a written report

Your Workplace

While the majority of Paralegals work for law firms, corporations and government agencies, some Paralegals work on a part-time or freelance basis, handling overflow from firms’ legal departments and are normally paid on an hourly or project basis.

Training, Degrees or Licensure

Paralegals generally possess a 2-year associates degree, 4-year bachelor’s degree, and/or a paralegal certificate. Paralegals with a bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies or a college degree in any field combined with a paralegal certificate generally have the most career prospects. California is the only state that currently regulates Paralegals; in 2000 our state adopted regulation that requires those using the titles “Paralegal” or “Legal Assistant” to meet certain educational and experiential qualifications, as well as continuing education requirements.

Movin’ On Up

Paralegals, just like lawyers, may center their own employment around different areas of law, including tax, divorce, patent, employment, and immigration law. Paralegals have adapted to more complex laws by specializing. Specialties further subdivide the different areas of legal practice; for example, a Paralegal working within the field of intellectual property may specialize and work only in trademarks.

Traits For Success

This job requires articulate writing and speaking skills, in addition to problem-solving skills. Paralegals must be expert in multi-tasking, organization and attention to detail, as a Paralegal will be expected to juggle many cases, as well as the many individual components that comprise each case.

Did You Know?

Erin Brockovich, despite the lack of any legal education at the time, was instrumental in constructing a case against the Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) in 1993. The case she helped to build resulted in a settlement of $333 million against PG&E, the largest settlement ever paid in a direct action lawsuit in U.S. history.