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Areas of Paralegal Employment

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published February 24, 2014

By CEO and Founder - BCG Attorney Search left

Paralegals typically find work in several areas.
 
  1. Law firms - These are traditional forms of legal practice in which income is generated from the fees of individual clients.
     
  2. Legal clinics - These are nontraditional private firms that usually charge lower fees and rely on a high volume of cases. They are more likely to advertise and to rely on extensive use of paralegals than the more traditional law firms.
     
  3. Government agencies - These include the civil service departments of federal and state agencies. Examples of agencies that hire paralegals are the attorney general, legislature, U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the civil rights division of government agencies.
     
  4. Criminal law offices - These are governmental agencies such as the prosecutors, district attorneys or public defender's office as well as private defense counsel.
     
  5. In-house legal departments - These are law departments within businesses or corporations.
     
  6. Legal aid or legal service clinics - These are community legal service offices that provide legal services to the poor.
     
  7. Special interest groups - These include environmental protection groups, consumer protection groups, unions, trade associations, and other such groups that monitor legislation, lobby, and provide legal services for the organization. For more information about freelancing, go to www.paralegals.org/reporter, click on "Summer 2000," and read the article "Freelancing Paralegal Services to Small Firms and Solos."
     
  8. Freelance paralegals - These are independent paralegals who work as independent contractors for attorneys on special projects, but who are supervised in this work by an attorney; they are sometimes referred to as independent paralegals.

Freelance paralegals can be defined as self-employed paralegals who work as an independent contractor for attorneys on special projects. They are sometimes referred to as independent paralegals or contract paralegals. Others use the terms independent paralegal or legal technician to refer to a paralegal that works directly with the public and is not supervised by an attorney.

Within the wide variety of areas of employment in which paralegals may specialize, some possible areas of specialization include the following.
 
  1. Administrative law - Paralegals represent citizens and the government before some administrative agencies. They do legal research, assist in preparing for administrative hearings, conduct investigations, draft documents for hearings and for proposed regulations, conduct interviews, and attend rule-making hearings.
     
  2. Bankruptcy law - Paralegals help clients assemble documents and fill out forms, conduct investigations, prepare documentation, draft bankruptcy petitions, prepare status reports and asset inventories, and coordinate with creditors and bankruptcy trustees.
    United States
     
  3. Collections practice - Paralegals prepare inventories, draft pleadings, conduct investigations, file documents, and assist in collecting judgments and settling claims.
     
  4. Contract law - Paralegals review contracts, prepare forms, do legal research, and conduct investigations.
     
  5. Corporate law - Paralegals draft a number of forms and reports (including minutes, bylaws, annual reports, and resolutions), record documents, conduct research, and file documents.
     
  6. Criminal law - Paralegals conduct legal research, serve as a liaison with other agencies, conduct witness interviews, prepare documents, conduct investigations, and assist in trial preparation.
     
  7. Environmental law - Paralegals conduct legal and factual research, draft documents, assist in trial preparation, and assist in the preparation of legal briefs.
     
  8. Family law - Paralegals communicate with clients, prepare and file documents, conduct interviews, draft pleadings and motions, assist in gathering and analyzing financial information, and help prepare for hearings.
     
  9. Intellectual property law - Paralegals conduct investigations, collect data, help prepare contracts, assist clients in applying for copyrights and patents, conduct patent searches, conduct research, and file applications.
     
  10. Labor law - Paralegals conduct investigations, assist companies in designing policies, and assist in litigation.
     
  11. Litigation - Paralegals prepare and organize files, conduct investigations, research records, conduct investigations, file documents, assist in discovery and in trial preparation, serve as liaison with clients and witnesses, conduct legal research, draft pleadings, and assist in obtaining experts.
     
  12. Probate law - Paralegals collect data, draft documents (such as wills and trusts), perform investment analysis, manage accounting of trusts and estates, file documents, assist in valuation of assets, organize financial data, conduct factual and legal research, draft documents, and assist in litigation.
     
  13. Real estate law - Paralegals prepare drafts of contracts, research regulations, perform title searches, collect data necessary for closing, prepare and organize documents, record and file documents, assist in closing, prepare a number of forms (such as UCC-1 financing statements), and assist with sale documents.
     
  14. Water law - Paralegals conduct legal and factual research, communicate with agencies, prepare documents and reports, prepare historic use affidavits, and perform title searches.

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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