The Job Profile and Responsibilities of a Paralegal

Paralegals and legal assistants held more than 200,000 jobs three years back, and private law firms employed 70 percent of the total employed paralegals. The others worked for corporate legal departments and government organizations.

Paralegals have more responsibilities and do nearly all the tasks that legal professionals can do, but they are not licensed. They also require less supervision. Experienced paralegals may have to delegate assignments to the clerical staff. Advancement opportunities mostly depend on their level of experience and might result in some managerial or legal positions. Paralegals often find relocating to another firm for further advancement more lucrative than staying on within a single firm.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for paralegals is fantastic, with an expected growth rate of 33 percent per year through 2010. A 22 percent growth rate is predicted over the years 2006–2016. Many economic factors are responsible for the growth. Paralegals are in great demand to do some of the necessary legwork in various legal firms. Having a paralegal to do the routine work saves respective employers enormous amounts of money.

Paralegal jobs are mostly affected by the business cycle, though to a limited extent. Recession can trigger a decline in the demand for paralegals, especially in some discretionary legal services such as planning estates and handling of real estate transactions. Financially too, most corporations will opt to avoid legal implications in the face of a downturn. Also, in such a scenario, legal professionals, especially paralegals, might have to face the axe or bear with salary cuts. Most legal corporations which provide assistance in practice areas of bankruptcy, foreclosures, and divorces face the most problems due to a drop in demand. Comparatively speaking, paralegals provide many of the same legal services lawyers do, but at a lower cost. Hence, they will fare relatively better in difficult conditions.

Law firm corporations, various businesses, and non-profit agencies hire paralegals for helping with the legal work. While the paralegal job market is great according to the predictions, competition is expected to be extremely tight. With competition growing, it is essential for legal assistants and paralegals to present themselves in the best light. Many paralegals are also now on the verge of retiring, and hence there are more opportunities for new paralegals entering the field. Most of the firms now want to replace paralegals who are past the prime of life with paralegals who have just ventured into the field, but who are capable of handling responsibility.

Many colleges offer paralegal training, and the duration of the courses is generally two years. Some colleges and universities offer paralegal training as an intrinsic part of a four-year course. There are many available paralegal courses on the Internet. Many online organizations have come up with many short-term courses which can even act as stepping stones to a legal career. Researching is vital to find paralegal avenues for one’s interests and to cut out those which will not help one progress in the field. One should take time to look at all the training possibilities available to match with time and budget constraints.

Other than training and certification as a paralegal, one needs to have knowledge of the current legal scenario. It is also very important for paralegals to be in sync with their bosses. Getting into the good books of one’s employer will provide a possible safety of one’s job during an economic downturn. It is also mandatory for paralegals to know the role and functions of one’s job clearly. Knowledge of all these factors will ensure success in a legal assistant’s career.