IS PARALEGAL THE CAREER FOR YOU?

Is Paralegal Life For You?

Sometimes known as legal assistants, paralegals assist law firms with case administration and preparation.

Paralegals can’t legally advocate on behalf of clients, however, they do support cases in a significant way under the supervision of an attorney.

Without paralegals, legal professionals, corporations, and firms might not be capable of managing and moving documents within the judicial system. Their responsibilities may include case intake, planning, legal case studies, and drafting legal documents. Paralegals are essentially legal researchers. They may assist attorneys by learning case facts and case precedents, collecting proof, organizing documents and exhibits, and contacting witnesses.

While their function is vital, paralegals may come across obstacles, including time pressure, lack of upward mobility, lack of visible appreciation, and a lack of technological or external resources. The efforts of paralegals are essential to an attorney's progress on a court docket. The legal precedents that paralegals find can permit attorneys to argue related factors and get proof admitted in a case. Despite the significance of the paralegal's work, attorneys are frequently too busy with their own commitments to display gratitude to paralegals.

Paralegals usually do not have high visibility outside of the court docket, so do not expect rounds of applause when you complete a task. (Of course, many attorneys are great leaders who will often acknowledge your efforts; your mileage may vary).

Ethics

During your career, it’s likely that you’ll come across attorneys, co-employees, and clients who may ask you to ignore your ethics — just this one time — to assist them. If a person is pressuring you to do something unethical or illegal, you should refuse. Consider taking the situation up with a partner or another person of authority if it’s a larger firm. Failing that, you can want to take the problem up with your state’s bar association or relevant regulatory organization.

Paralegals are trained to expect most anything. When you’re going about your work aware of legal ethics and responsibilities, you’ll be more prepared to respond to those issues.

Time Pressure

Attorneys often have high expectations and may not provide much turnaround time, often resulting in quickly changing priorities as well as skipped lunches and long days on your part.

Limited Technology

Advanced technology now allows paralegals to better organize and prepare case files digitally.

Unfortunately, some attorneys may not understand the benefits of how new technology has the potential to make their law practice even more efficient. This often results in additional time-consuming tasks for paralegals and other staff. Look for opportunities to use software from various vendors on a free trial basis in order to demonstrate how it helps productivity. Unless the partner or your manager is quite literally shown the potential benefit in productivity and cost savings, purchases of productivity software or hardware may not receive serious consideration.

Limited Upward Mobility

Exceptional paralegals can often command a larger compensation package and increased responsibilities at larger law firms, however, the role may not offer much upward mobility without gaining additional credentials and other talent development experiences. This is even more relevant at smaller law offices, where the professional development opportunities may be limited, and you may sometimes be wearing more than one “hat.” In cases like this, do your best to politely ensure that you are recognized for all of your hat-wearing, either informally. or in the performance appraisal process if one is in place.

Self-Care

Paralegals are expected to maintain and ensure the highest standards of ethical behavior. Some law offices won’t even hire a paralegal who has misdemeanors on their police record. Even credit score rankings are now and again reviewed due to the fact that a record of unpaid payments may also be thought to show instability. Clearly, it’s nearly as important for paralegals to act as ethically in their personal lives as they do at their workplace. If you are searching for any role within a law office, expect that your posts on social media as well as your personal reputation have a way of getting around. It’s a small world, this industry of ours.

As a Paralegal, you’ll perform difficult, challenging, and stressful tasks—but that doesn’t mean you should accept or allow hostile or debilitating workplace conditions. It’s crucial to recognize the early symptoms of anxiety and learn to cope with them before they are allowed to threaten your mental and physical health.

How each of us chooses to respond in those situations can vary, but if your workplace offers a confidential employee assistance program or other mental health benefits, seek out the ones that might best suit your needs. Self Care may be the most important factor when considering this or similar roles. Planning for responses to difficult situations, healthy eating habits, getting sufficient sleep, and scheduling regular times for exercise are just some ways to defend yourself.

Existing Paralegals or Law Firm Staff seeking a new process serving team to help make your work life easier are always free to contact us at Logical Services/Bergen County Notary & Document Services.   

For more information on the role of a Paralegal, visit national or state professional associations such as NALA, The Paralegal Association, and other resources.