What does a paralegal do?
Paralegals are law firm or legal department employees who work on cases with lawyers. They handle different activities, usually administrative or clerical, such as organizing and maintaining files, updating records, and managing correspondences, among others. Paralegals also handle different activities directly related to active cases being worked on by lawyers in the firm or department. They assist lawyers on cases by preparing materials needed for trials, conducting legal research, verifying trial facts, helping during interviews, getting statements from those involved in the case, and creating presentation materials. Paralegals should have knowledge of laws and should be familiar with landmark cases.
Paralegal responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real paralegal resumes:
- Manage client expenses and prepare billing and financial statements using PClaw and reconcile attorney's escrow and general accounts using QuickBooks.
- Manage discovery process of lawsuits by preparing pleadings and subpoenas for records and answering requests for production and interrogatories.
- Manage large volume of documents, enabling attorneys to easily identify key documents that are critical for mediation and arbitration.
- Prepare H-1B petition with supporting evidence and supplementary forms for attorney review and filing with USCIS.
- Conduct legal research on Lexis and factual inquiries regarding pending litigation.
- Review Lexis Nexis for any and all relevant documents regarding hormone replacement litigation.
- Provide legal support for mediation and family settlement conferences to resolve issues without the necessity of litigation.
- Prepare final drafts of pleadings and assist home equity foreclosure and bankruptcy attorneys in determining litigation and settlement strategies.
- Provide outstanding support with litigation file preparation for a specialize law firm focusing on residential foreclosures by delivering essential paralegal duties.
- Assist in-house and outside counsel in coordination of mediation or arbitration proceedings, including preparation and production of documentation and evidence.
- File documents electronically using the CM/ECF filing system.
- Handle single-touch specialty cases in addition to standard H-1B petitions and filings.
- Draft, redact & proofread correspondences, motions, briefs, & misc.
- Conduct legal and asset search using county civil docket, property search and pacer.
- Confer with experts on cases and work closely with an in-house consultant/expert on malpractice cases.
Paralegal skills and personality traits
We calculated that 15% of Paralegals are proficient in Litigation, Legal Research, and Law Firm. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Computer skills, and Interpersonal skills.
We break down the percentage of Paralegals that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Litigation, 15%
Position: Litigation Paralegal/Paralegal Coordinator.
- Legal Research, 12%
Performed legal research and prepared correspondence to congressional offices and consulates abroad related to the preparation of immigration interviews.
- Law Firm, 9%
Provide paralegal support to law firm concentrating in plaintiff representation for personal injury, premises liability, and wrongful death litigation.
- Discovery Responses, 9%
Interpreted legal documents; summarized discovery responses; reviewed, indexed, and summarized pleadings and correspondence produced by opposing parties.
- Subpoenas, 5%
Drafted subpoenas, organized discovery material, coordinated all discovery sessions with defense attorneys, and inventoried all case documents.
- Trial Preparation, 5%
Managed approximately 20 trial groups for local Westinghouse asbestos defense counsel - Assisted with trial preparation for national asbestos defense counsel
Most paralegals use their skills in "litigation," "legal research," and "law firm" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential paralegal responsibilities here:
Communication skills. The most essential soft skill for a paralegal to carry out their responsibilities is communication skills. This skill is important for the role because "paralegals must be able to document and present their research and related information to their supervising attorney." Additionally, a paralegal resume shows how their duties depend on communication skills: "coordinate multi-faceted office functions, such as scheduling appointments, court meetings, and client communications. "
Computer skills. Many paralegal duties rely on computer skills. "paralegals need to be familiar with using computers for legal research and litigation support," so a paralegal will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways paralegal responsibilities rely on computer skills: "managed intake of new and transferred arbitration matters entering matters into prolaw computer system. "
Interpersonal skills. paralegals are also known for interpersonal skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to paralegal responsibilities, because "paralegals spend most of their time working with clients and other professionals and must be able to develop good relationships." A paralegal resume example shows how interpersonal skills is used in the workplace: "secured interpersonal relationships with other firms/counsels to guarantee documents are executed prior to confirmed foreclosure sale dates. "
Organizational skills. paralegal responsibilities often require "organizational skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "paralegals may be responsible for many cases at one time." This resume example shows what paralegals do with organizational skills on a typical day: "court filings and other organizational tasks. "
Research skills. A commonly-found skill in paralegal job descriptions, "research skills" is essential to what paralegals do. Paralegal responsibilities rely on this skill because "paralegals gather facts of the case and research information on relevant laws and regulations to prepare drafts of legal documents for attorneys and help them prepare for a case." You can also see how paralegal duties rely on research skills in this resume example: "support litigation including legal research, factual investigation, medical records review, and document management. "
The three companies that hire the most paralegals are:
- Robert Half234 paralegals jobs
- Iron Mountain88 paralegals jobs
- Pearson47 paralegals jobs
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Compare different paralegals
Paralegal vs. Litigation assistant
Litigation assistants are professionals who provide administrative support as well as perform tasks such as filing legal documents, communicating with clients, and conducting legal research for law firms or legal departments. These assistants are required to draft and prepare a variety of court and legal documents that include expert witness designations, motions for preference, and complaints. They must receive many phone calls from clients they are handling as well as examining information about the cases they are working on. Litigation assistants must also work closely with bookkeepers to ensure that all invoices are paid.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a paralegal are more likely to require skills like "affidavits," "real estate closings," "legal support," and "due diligence." On the other hand, a job as a litigation assistant requires skills like "phone calls," "proofreading," "defense counsel," and "office equipment." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Litigation assistants really shine in the construction industry with an average salary of $63,516. Comparatively, paralegals tend to make the most money in the professional industry with an average salary of $55,416.The education levels that litigation assistants earn slightly differ from paralegals. In particular, litigation assistants are 0.0% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a paralegal. Additionally, they're 3.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Paralegal vs. Summer associate
Summer associates are law students hired seasonally by law firms. The aim is for future lawyers to be exposed to the practical aspects of a firm. Typically, this program lasts for nine weeks, beginning in May and running through July. Summer associates are expected to be friendly and kind to people, preserve company reputation, support other associates, and perform legal tasks appropriately.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that paralegal responsibilities requires skills like "discovery responses," "affidavits," "real estate closings," and "legal support." But a summer associate might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "first hand," "client facing," "team work," and "financial models."
On average, summer associates earn a lower salary than paralegals. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, summer associates earn the most pay in the professional industry with an average salary of $86,415. Whereas paralegals have higher pay in the professional industry, with an average salary of $55,416.summer associates earn higher levels of education than paralegals in general. They're 7.0% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 3.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for paralegals in the next 3-5 years?
Sharon Sawyer
Program Coordinator of Justice Studies, Assistant Professor, University of Maine at Augusta
Paralegal vs. Law internship
A law internship is a program that is designed for law students to give them valuable insight into the professional lives of attorneys and judges. Law interns need to understand and observe what being a lawyer involves. They are required to conduct research and present it to their superiors for case preparations. They must assist their senior lawyers in organizing all of their legal paperwork that includes case files, evidence records, and legal documents. Law interns are also required to be present in the courtroom to assist lawyers and experience actual courtroom proceedings.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from paralegal resumes include skills like "discovery responses," "affidavits," "real estate closings," and "legal support," whereas a law internship is more likely to list skills in "legal memos," "real estate," "legal intern," and "intellectual property. "
Most law interns achieve a similar degree level compared to paralegals. For example, they're 2.5% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 12.3% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Paralegal vs. Executive legal assistant
An Executive Legal Assistant provides comprehensive support to lawyers and legal offices. They start as entry-level assistants before specializing in a field after a few years with experience; litigation, criminal law, family law, international law. Their duties include performing legal research by gathering case information for presentation, writing legal reports based on research and interviews, scheduling meetings, organizing travel arrangements, and organizing documentation for easy accessibility. An Executive Legal Assistant must be well organized, analytical research skills, and experience in case management. They typically spend long work hours spent in libraries and offices, requiring occasional travel.
Types of paralegal
Updated January 8, 2025
