Lawyers and legal teams may need help to perform essential tasks from professionals who can assist them in doing legal work. Thanks to the assistance given by a paralegal or legal assistant, they will ensure the legal processes will run smoothly and efficiently.
Core Duties of a Paralegal or Legal Assistant
You can rely on the services of a paralegal or legal assistant in providing legal research. This involves the conduct of research on case law, statutes, and legal precedents in order to support lawyers. Additionally, they are able to summarise findings in clearly written and organised reports.
They can also prepare legal documents and assist in drafting pleadings, discovery requests, and other court-related materials. Moreover, it is their responsibility to handle case management tasks. Among these tasks are organising case files, managing deadlines, and maintaining case schedules. They can also use legal software to track progress and ensure timely filing of documents.
You can also communicate with a paralegal legal assistant as a way of getting in touch with a lawyer. They can explain the legal process to clients under the supervision of the lawyer. It is also their job to provide assistance to lawyers in preparing for hearings, trials, and depositions.
Industries Where Paralegals Are Indispensable
Law firms can take advantage of paralegals or legal assistants because they can support lawyers in the litigation, family law, and criminal defence, including corporate law practices. They can also provide services for corporate legal departments. Their task is to affirm that the company is compliant with laws and regulations. In addition, they also provide in-house counsel with corporate legal matters.
Government agencies can also take advantage of paralegals because they support legal teams in the conduct of public administration, investigations, and regulatory enforcement. In the same fashion, the real estate industry may consider paralegals in assisting in property transactions, legal documentation, and regulatory compliance.
Insurance companies need the assistance of paralegals because they can support legal teams in processing claims, resolving disputes, and managing risks. This is also the case for non-profit organisations because paralegals can help them navigate legal issues.
How Paralegals Provide Vital Support to Lawyers
- Reduce Lawyer’s Workload
The heavy caseloads of lawyers make them preoccupied with different tasks that may lead to getting drained and losing focus. The good thing is that you can hire a paralegal or legal assistant to help free up lawyers with clerical tasks. Therefore, they become more effective as they can concentrate on major legal tasks that involve court appearances, negotiations, and strategic decision-making.
- Enhance Cost Efficiency
The legal tasks performed by paralegals may result in lower costs in comparison to hiring qualified lawyers. This also reduces the expenses of both law firms and clients. Most of all, delegating the clerical work to paralegals will not compromise the quality of legal services.
- Legal Research and Documentation
The conduct of in-depth legal research and assistance in drafting documentation compliant with court rules and deadlines is also the job of a paralegal or legal assistant.
