What Does a Paralegal Do? 7 Insights That Aren't in the Job Description

Choosing your profession can feel like one of the most crucial decisions you will make.

It's understandable to second-guess yourself. Shows like Better Call Saul, Law and Order and How to Get Away with Murder all feature dynamic law firms and may have piqued your interest in the world of legal professionals.

But is that interest enough to fuel a career? Look closely at any of those TV shows involving a law office or law firms, and you'll notice some background characters who are doing a lot of the work: paralegals and legal assistants.

Take a moment to learn some of the gritty details of working as a paralegal or legal assistant—from the mouths of paralegals and the lawyers who hire them.

Use this expert insight to help you conduct legal research and make an informed decision, and you may end up in a legal profession, working for a law firm to move the levers of power.

What does a paralegal do? [the basics]

Basically, they work with a legal team to keep things organized and running smoothly as their attorneys represent clients.

A paralegal's day could include conducting legal research, drafting legal documents, and doing important legwork. They track down answers, contact outside organizations, schedule conversations with clients and more.

According to the  Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), paralegals support the legal system by assisting attorneys, organizing case files and legal documents, preparing trial notes, performing legal research, preparing legal briefs and sometimes conducting client and witness interviews.¹

A typical paralegal or legal assistant is usually required to:

• Collaborate with other legal professionals at private law firms and government agencies
• Conduct client interviews to gather essential information
• Review legal material and share insights with attorneys
• Draft legal documents for administrative hearings and court proceedings
• Keep clients informed on case progress and field their questions
• Draft settlement agreements and other legal documents
• Draft letters and memos to communicate with opposing counsel
• Conduct legal research to help attorneys gather pertinent information and stay updated on relevant laws and regulations
• Coordinate with government agencies to obtain necessary permits, licenses, and other required documentation
• Schedule meetings, court dates, and appointments, keeping attorneys and clients informed of important dates and deadlines

The above list is just a snapshot; paralegals and legal assistants - depending on the law firms that work with - often have other specific tasks. For example, paralegals in corporate legal departments might help draft a company policy for sick leave.

 (If you're interested in corporate law, check out What Does a Corporate Paralegal Do? It's a very different type of legal environment).

Or if you work in family law, you might establish communications with your local department of human services or help clients navigate the legal process to file for divorce.

What does a paralegal really do? [beyond the job description]

If you're still interested in paralegal studies, you should know those basic job tasks can look way different from workplace to workplace. There are so many types of paralegals and types of law to consider. And ultimately, law firms rely on paralegals in different ways as well—depending on where they have needs and gaps in expertise.

Get a better picture of what paralegals do by hearing from paralegals and attorneys themselves.

As a paralegal, you need to...

1. Be good at learning

“Most paralegal jobs require paralegals to work on contracts, real estate, civil lawsuits and other legal needs,” says Kirk Olson, attorney and instructor at Rasmussen University.

“One case may require multiple areas of law. For instance, a divorce often requires a paralegal to obtain and review real estate, pension, insurance, business and estate planning documents, not just child custody studies.” Whatever students take on in their paralegal education programs, there will always be so much more to learn.

On top of that, the law changes constantly. Anyone who wants to practice law needs to be adaptable enough to learn and change with it.

2. Keep track of every little detail

“There is no room for error in tracking deadlines and working with court scheduling,” says Kevin Queenan of  The Queenan Law Firm, P.C. “Mentoring legal assistants, I hear the same issue every time: I did not know you meant that detail oriented!”

The legal field is famously a stickler for the rules--this is where those rules are made! You have to dot every "i" and cross every "t".

Miniscule mistakes can have big consequences in the legal world, according to Queenan. Having a bad day won't cut it as an excuse if your mistake costs the firm a case, or worse, accusations of malpractice.

Beyond that, paralegals and legal assistants who take initiative to follow up on research ideas can be worth their weight in gold to law firms. “We are suing a major manufacturer, and my legal assistant found several articles that were helpful to our lack of warning claims," Queenan says. "The information was free!”

3. Enjoy variety—or enjoy repetition

Paralegals and legal assistants can take jobs in corporate legal departments with varied daily tasks and experiences if that is what they are looking for.

“In a general civil practice... the legal assistant may be answering discovery [requests] one day and driving out to meet a new client the next day," Queenan says.

Paralegals working in smaller law firms might take on a broader range of tasks to keep things running smoothly—which means every day might look different than the last.

But some paralegal roles are way more repetitive.

“For those who like more structure or repetition, there are law practices involving cookie-cutter lawsuits and issues," Queenan says, explaining that in some places, you might draft the same kind of legal document over and over.

"I talked to a legal assistant yesterday, and her last position involved filing 1,000 credit card lawsuits per month,” Queenan explains. If you like stable, predictable work, there are certainly legal roles that fit the bill.

4. Have strong moral fiber

You might picture working in an office full of driven individuals who want to help their clients fix injustices. But unfortunately, it isn't always like that.

“Not all attorneys are nice, and not all attorneys are ethical,” says Rasmussen University Justice Studies instructor Julia Gordon. “Be aware of your ethical rules and guidelines."

Paralegals might find themselves in situations that distress their conscience. You have to have a strong backbone to be able to stick to your principles, even if that means conflict with your law firm or your attorney. "Never compromise your integrity," Gordon says. "Nothing is worth losing your self-respect over."

5. Stay professional under pressure

Every branch of law is different. But some environments can definitely come with high tension and high emotional stakes for clients and even their attorneys.

Paralegals who work in community legal service programs, for example, might see a fair share of cases where clients deal with heartbreaking odds and the legal team professionals are there out of genuine passion for the community.

Paralegals working in immigration law might communicate with clients whose homes and ability to be with their families are on the line. Paralegals in family law might work with clients arguing over child custody. And of course, in criminal law, you might also work on cases where someone's literal life hangs in the balance.

Communicating clearly and professionally, even if a client is panicking or reacting with anger, is extremely important. "You have your clients' lives in your hands," Gordon says. "Treat the position with the highest reverence.”

6. Catch errors and manage processes

“Lawyers hire paralegals because a good paralegal will find flaws in documents and assist with billing and other detailed functions that keep a law office working," Olson says. "A good paralegal is a ‘deadline cop' who keeps the law firm on track.”

“Finding and warning of a deadline that others missed may prevent a loss of a client's case and may save a $10,000 deductible in a lawyer's malpractice claim,” Olson says.

All that detail-checking includes spelling and grammar. Olson says paralegals and legal assistants often correct citation mistakes, grammar errors and other inaccuracies.

When you start working for an employer, Olson suggests asking for examples of finished case files to see samples of what completed and professional work looks like for that firm. “And be assertive. If something does not look right, insist that it be explained or fixed.”

7. Develop fluency with computers and new software

Most of the research and writing paralegals do will take place on a computer. Proficiency with computer programs is important, as well as the ability to learn and navigate new systems.

“A person considering becoming a legal assistant should take the highest level of available training on Word^®, WordPerfect^® and Westlaw^®,” Queenan says. “A technologically proficient paralegal will wow their lawyers more often and command a higher salary and raises.”

Paralegals and legal assistants have options for getting started

One positive for prospective paralegals is that there’s no “one true path” to working in this field. While some states may require professional certification, there’s a variety of educational paths you can take to finding paralegal work. It is important to check the education and work experience requirements required by the state and employer you hope to work for.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics states that the most common educational path that lead to work as a paralegal is an Associate’s degree, which at Rasmussen University can be completed in as few as 18 months.^1,2

A good Paralegal Associate’s degree program will teach you the legal background and skills paralegals and legal assistants need.

If you've already earned a Bachelor's or Associate's degree in a different field, a Paralegal Certificate program can provide you with the specialized knowledge base you'll need on the job without requiring more years of schooling—in fact, this paralegal certificate program can be completed in as few as 8 months!²

Courses like Torts, Contracts and Family Law zoom in on complex subjects in the legal world, even criminal law, while other courses such as Legal Writing and Legal Research help you build the critical skill sets paralegals and legal assistants need.

For more details on what to expect from paralegal education, check out: Paralegal Courses: Criminal Law, Civil Litigation & 5 Other Topics You Can Expect.

How to get there

Paralegals and legal assistants play an integral role in legal matters. The research, documentation and communication they do can change the course of legal cases. Whether they protect intellectual property and other assets, client rights or corporate policy, formally trained paralegals and legal assistants make a big impact.

If you're looking for an opportunity to work in the exciting legal world, the paralegal profession may be the perfect career choice for you.

Not only can it help you pay the bills, but it can challenge you intellectually and provide you with valuable professional experience to reach your long-term career goals.

If you're thinking this is the career for you, take a look at How to Become a Paralegal: 4 Steps to Start Your Legal Career to see how to get your legal career underway. Also, explore types of evidence you might encounter as a paralegal. 

Related Articles:

• Law Clerk vs. Paralegal: Legal Roles Explained
• Is Earning a Paralegal Certificate Worth It?
• 6 Duties You Probably Didn't Know Were in the Paralegal Job Description

Word^® is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation
WordPerfect^® is a registered trademark of Corel Corporation
Westlaw^® is a registered trademark of WEST PUBLISHING CORPORATION

¹Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, [accessed June, 202]3 www.bls.gov/ooh/. Information represents national, averaged data for the occupations listed and includes workers at all levels of education and experience. This data does not represent starting salaries. Employment conditions in your area may vary.
²Time to completion is dependent on accepted transfer credits and courses completed each quarter.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This article was originally published in June 2014. It has since been updated to include information relevant to 2024. Expert insight remains from original version.