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The Job Profile and work involved as a Paralegal

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published November 07, 2008

By CEO and Founder - BCG Attorney Search left

Paralegal jobs involve the ability and expertise to handle a broad scope of duties. A paralegal must be able to function independently in the job setting, but they are always under the approval and supervision of the attorney. As new graduates, paralegals usually have less job experience than many legal assistants, and they can find the LawCrossing job board a helpful means of locating entry-level attorney jobs that they are qualified for.

These workers must always be very careful not to give people the mistaken idea that they are actual attorneys. Paralegals and legal assistants both have a legal job, but they are in a different category of legal work than attorneys and cannot give any legal advice to clients. If these legal assistants do this, they would have penalties and fines imposed on them for unauthorized practice of the law. They must always correct any incorrect assumption on the part of the client.

Legal assistants have education, extensive training, and legal office experience. This equips them with the abilities and skills to work as a functional and independent staff member in an attorney's firm or practice.

Paralegals must have demonstrated a detailed knowledge of the law and the legal system in order to qualify as an attorney's assistant. In this capacity, they are able to do a variety of assignments of a legal nature. This work is always done with the approval and the supervision of an attorney.

Beginning in the latter part of the 1960s, many attorneys and large legal firms were devising ways to save time and become more efficient with office duties and routine legal data work. This meant that they could free their time for more billable attorney/client hours.

This was also a time of increasing lawsuits, and this meant that many lawyers were becoming backlogged with legal work. As legal assistants were introduced and brought in as staff members, it became apparent that this would be a good way to relieve the attorney of some of his or her more tedious and routine duties.

Legal assistants and paralegals are descriptions that can be used interchangeably, but legal assistants were actually the first to hold the position of attorney's assistant. As these programs were sending new graduates into the workforce, some attorneys preferred to use their office staff to fill these positions.

These workers were given any additional testing and education they needed. Many of these were legal secretaries with a great deal of in-house experience, and they were advanced to these positions by the attorneys for whom they already worked. For some this was little more than a title change because they were already performing most of the same job duties, just not openly, as they could now do.

Paralegals and legal assistants cannot give legal advice or represent a client in court.

Paralegals can conduct interviews with clients and maintain contact with them to relate information pertaining to the case, as long as the client is aware that they are only a legal assistant.

Paralegals and legal assistants are not allowed to set fees or accept client money for services. They cannot accept or decline a case.

Paralegals are allowed to canvass or search for witnesses that are relevant to any of the practice's cases.

Paralegals have the ability to do legal research for the attorneys; they can also draft legal papers and compose legal correspondence.

Paralegals are allowed to conduct and record client and witness interrogatories, take testimony, handle pleadings, and they can make deposition summaries.

United States
They can attend real estate closings, depositions, and hearings. They can also attend trials if the attorney is also in attendance.

Paralegals can draft, dictate, write, and sign office and legal correspondence originating at their legal practice.

Paralegal jobs involve billable hours that are charged to clients, but the rate is lower than the attorney's hourly rate.

The position of the paralegal must be clear at the very beginning of any client meeting that they attend. They must always correct a client that may mistakenly think of them as their ''lawyer.''

Paralegal training and education is typically through a two- or four-year college program. The following courses qualify a graduate for entry-level paralegal jobs:

Associate Degree Programs — These are two-year programs offered by community colleges, business schools, and a few universities. Between 60-70 semester hours must be completed to graduate. Upon successfully completing this program, an AD in Paralegal Studies is awarded.

Bachelor Degree Programs — A baccalaureate degree in Paralegal Studies is available at some four-year colleges and universities. This program requires 120 semester hours, with 30-60 being paralegal studies.

Certificate Programs — To receive certification as a paralegal, 18-60 hours must be completed in paralegal studies. These certification programs are for those individuals with an AD or BA/BS degree.

Legal Assistant's Training

Legal assistants must successfully pass the Certified Legal Assistant (CLA) examination. The following qualifications also apply:

1. Be an ABA approved program for legal assistants graduate.
2. Have a BA/BS degree and at least six months of actual work training as an assistant.
3. Have three years working with an attorney and six months legal assistant training.
4. Have in-house training for two years as a legal assistant.

Paralegals should continue to see growth and new opportunities in this field. Most of these workers are hired by attorneys, but banks, insurance companies, real estate companies, and title insurance companies are hiring these workers for entry-level legal jobs with attorney supervision.

About Harrison Barnes

No legal recruiter in the United States has placed more attorneys at top law firms across every practice area than Harrison Barnes. His unmatched expertise, industry connections, and proven placement strategies have made him the most influential legal career advisor for attorneys seeking success in Big Law, elite boutiques, mid-sized firms, small firms, firms in the largest and smallest markets, and in over 350 separate practice areas.

A Reach Unlike Any Other Legal Recruiter

Most legal recruiters focus only on placing attorneys in large markets or specific practice areas, but Harrison places attorneys at all levels, in all practice areas, and in all locations—from the most prestigious firms in New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., to small and mid-sized firms in rural markets. Every week, he successfully places attorneys not only in high-demand practice areas like corporate and litigation but also in niche and less commonly recruited areas such as:

  • Immigration law
  • Workers’ compensation
  • Insurance defense
  • Family law
  • Trusts & estates
  • Municipal law
  • And many more...

This breadth of placements is unheard of in the legal recruiting industry and is a testament to his extraordinary ability to connect attorneys with the right firms, regardless of market size or practice area.

Proven Success at All Levels

With over 25 years of experience, Harrison has successfully placed attorneys at over 1,000 law firms, including:

  • Top Am Law 100 firms such including Sullivan and Cromwell, and almost every AmLaw 100 and AmLaw 200 law firm.
  • Elite boutique firms with specialized practices
  • Mid-sized firms looking to expand their practice areas
  • Growing firms in small and rural markets

He has also placed hundreds of law firm partners and has worked on firm and practice area mergers, helping law firms strategically grow their teams.

Unmatched Commitment to Attorney Success – The Story of BCG Attorney Search

Harrison Barnes is not just the most effective legal recruiter in the country, he is also the founder of BCG Attorney Search, a recruiting powerhouse that has helped thousands of attorneys transform their careers. His vision for BCG goes beyond just job placement; it is built on a mission to provide attorneys with opportunities they would never have access to otherwise. Unlike traditional recruiting firms, BCG Attorney Search operates as a career partner, not just a placement service. The firm’s unparalleled resources, including a team of over 150 employees, enable it to offer customized job searches, direct outreach to firms, and market intelligence that no other legal recruiting service provides. Attorneys working with Harrison and BCG gain access to hidden opportunities, real-time insights on firm hiring trends, and guidance from a team that truly understands the legal market. You can read more about how BCG Attorney Search revolutionizes legal recruiting here: The Story of BCG Attorney Search and What We Do for You.

The Most Trusted Career Advisor for Attorneys

Harrison’s legal career insights are the most widely followed in the profession.

Submit Your Resume to Work with Harrison Barnes

If you are serious about advancing your legal career and want access to the most sought-after law firm opportunities, Harrison Barnes is the most powerful recruiter to have on your side.

Submit your resume today to start working with him: Submit Resume Here.

With an unmatched track record of success, a vast team of over 150 dedicated employees, and a reach into every market and practice area, Harrison Barnes is the recruiter who makes career transformations happen and has the talent and resources behind him to make this happen.

A Relentless Commitment to Attorney Success

Unlike most recruiters who work with only a narrow subset of attorneys, Harrison Barnes works with lawyers at all stages of their careers, from junior associates to senior partners, in every practice area imaginable. His placements are not limited to only those with "elite" credentials—he has helped thousands of attorneys, including those who thought it was impossible to move firms, find their next great opportunity.

Harrison’s work is backed by a team of over 150 professionals who work around the clock to uncover hidden job opportunities at law firms across the country. His team:

  • Finds and creates job openings that aren’t publicly listed, giving attorneys access to exclusive opportunities.
  • Works closely with candidates to ensure their resumes and applications stand out.
  • Provides ongoing guidance and career coaching to help attorneys navigate interviews, negotiations, and transitions successfully.

This level of dedicated support is unmatched in the legal recruiting industry.

A Legal Recruiter Who Changes Lives

Harrison believes that every attorney—no matter their background, law school, or previous experience—has the potential to find success in the right law firm environment. Many attorneys come to him feeling stuck in their careers, underpaid, or unsure of their next steps. Through his unique ability to identify the right opportunities, he helps attorneys transform their careers in ways they never thought possible.

He has worked with:

  • Attorneys making below-market salaries who went on to double or triple their earnings at new firms.
  • Senior attorneys who believed they were “too experienced” to make a move and found better roles with firms eager for their expertise.
  • Attorneys in small or remote markets who assumed they had no options—only to be placed at strong firms they never knew existed.
  • Partners looking for a better platform or more autonomy who successfully transitioned to firms where they could grow their practice.

For attorneys who think their options are limited, Harrison Barnes has proven time and time again that opportunities exist—often in places they never expected.

Submit Your Resume Today – Start Your Career Transformation

If you want to explore new career opportunities, Harrison Barnes and BCG Attorney Search are your best resources. Whether you are looking for a BigLaw position, a boutique firm, or a move to a better work environment, Harrison’s expertise will help you take control of your future.

? Submit Your Resume Here to get started with Harrison Barnes today.

Alternative Summary

Harrison is the founder of BCG Attorney Search and several companies in the legal employment space that collectively gets thousands of attorneys jobs each year. Harrison’s writings about attorney careers and placement attract millions of reads each year. Harrison is widely considered the most successful recruiter in the United States and personally places multiple attorneys most weeks. His articles on legal search and placement are read by attorneys, law students and others millions of times per year.

More about Harrison

About LawCrossing

LawCrossing has received tens of thousands of attorneys jobs and has been the leading legal job board in the United States for almost two decades. LawCrossing helps attorneys dramatically improve their careers by locating every legal job opening in the market. Unlike other job sites, LawCrossing consolidates every job in the legal market and posts jobs regardless of whether or not an employer is paying. LawCrossing takes your legal career seriously and understands the legal profession. For more information, please visit www.LawCrossing.com.
Gain an advantage in your legal job search. LawCrossing uncovers hidden positions that firms post on their own websites and industry-specific job boards—jobs that never appear on Indeed or LinkedIn. Don't miss out. Sign up now!

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