Litigation Paralegal Jobs Paralegals perform the groundwork for attorneys. They are employed in law firms, corporate legal departments, courts, government offices, etc. They undertake a variety of different tasks that help in providing excellent legal services. The work of the paralegals depend on the type of law practice or agency they work in, as well as on their knowledge and experience. Paralegals may specialize in different areas of the law, including corporate law, criminal law, bankruptcy, personal injury, employee benefits, intellectual property, litigation, etc. Typical duties of a litigation paralegal may include collecting and organizing information, performing legal and factual research, investigating facts, interviewing witnesses, drafting legal memoranda and briefs or pleadings, assisting at trial, and aiding in preparing appeals. They also help in preparing legal arguments for lawsuits, obtaining affidavits and helping attorneys during trials. An Associates degree in paralegal studies or a Bachelors degree with a certificate in paralegal studies is required for paralegal jobs. Ability to track exhibits, monitor jury reactions, and quickly access pertinent information as the case unfolds is very critical to be successful in this area. A litigation paralegal should always be prepared to work in a fast paced environment and should also be extremely deadline oriented, since missing a deadline can result in a default judgment (automatically losing a case). Legal research and writing skills are absolutely essential to be successful here.