High-stakes, high-speed,
and—at times—high-stress,
the workings of the world of law
are supported by the efforts of
paralegals and legal assistants.
These law professionals help lawyers
prepare for hearings and trials,
draft documents,
and coordinate electronic materials,
such as emails, accounting databases,
and websites related to a trial or investigation.
They gather case facts and dig into related laws
and regulations, write up reports,
and schedule meetings and interviews
with witnesses, lawyers, and others.
Not all paralegals work with trial lawyers …
Corporate paralegals
help prepare employee contracts,
shareholder agreements, and financial reports.
They stay current with regulations
to give up-to-date information.
Paralegals also specialize in areas such as
criminal law, intellectual property,
immigration, and family law.
Most paralegals work for law firms.
Some are employed in government
or the finance and insurance industries.
In small firms,
paralegals’ have more varied duties
and their work lasts the duration of a case…
while in large firms,
paralegals may focus on a
particular phase of a case.
Most paralegals and legal assistants
work full time in an office environment,
adding overtime to meet deadlines.
They may occasionally travel for research
or preparation for trials.
Most employers prefer applicants who have
an associate’s degree in paralegal studies,
or a bachelor’s degree in another field,
sometimes with a certificate in paralegal studies.