A Day in the Life of a Paralegal: Realistic Expectations and Job Responsibilities

A paralegal provides legal support services to attorneys and organizations. Paralegals do research, organize evidence, prep documents, draft correspondence, and manage files in criminal and civil litigation cases. Paralegals also assist attorneys by preparing for hearings and trials. They may also investigate facts related to a case, interview witnesses or experts, draft contracts and agreements, and keep in touch with clients.

Paralegals must know about state laws related to their area of practice as well as the rules of procedures for court filings and other tasks. They need strong organizational skills and an understanding of the legal system. A paralegal should have excellent research skills to locate relevant information quickly. Professionalism and discretion are also essential traits for this role since many cases involve sensitive issues demanding strict confidentiality.

Those who make a career out of being a paralegal might specialize in specific areas of law such as family law, criminal law, real estate law, bankruptcy law, or patent law. The job of a paralegal can expose you to areas of the law that you find interesting, but that excitement can be mitigated by having to perform repetitive tasks. As a result, paralegals report an average job satisfaction.  

All 50 states and the District of Columbia regulate paralegals in different ways. Some states, such as Colorado, allow paralegals to deliver services that might traditionally be performed by a lawyer, so long as they do so under a lawyer’s direct supervision. Other states, such as Idaho, do not have any paralegal-specific restrictions other than that they not engage in the unauthorized practice of law. This term is generally defined as performing tasks that are traditionally done by a lawyer, such as by appearing in court to represent clients or holding oneself out to the public as an attorney.

Every day as a paralegal is different, but some tasks are common no matter where you work. One moment, you might be making phone calls to maintain contact with clients and update them on the status of their cases. The next moment, you might spend several hours conducting legal research into a complicated issue of law and summarizing your findings into a legal memo. If your employer represents clients, you could be asked to draft legal pleadings and motions for an attorney’s review and file them with the court.

To complete these and other tasks, you will need to use your legal knowledge, problem-solving abilities, and other skills learned through your paralegal studies as even similar tasks, such as researching an issue, can vary depending on the assignment. For instance, you might be asked to research the statute of limitations on a personal injury case one day and then be asked the next day to look into whether a contract dispute is governed by a different statute of limitations.

Many firms use technology in their offices to help manage and complete assignments. Any paralegal will need to become familiar with whatever programs their employers use. However, the Microsoft Office suite of programs, such as Word, Excel, and Outlook are popular programs for offices that are PC-based. Offices that use Apple products might use programs like Pages, Numbers, and Parallels in addition to traditional Microsoft Office programs.

In virtually every setting where a paralegal can be found, the paralegal will be expected to collaborate with other paralegals and with attorneys as part of their daily jobs. While some paralegals may spend 50% or more of their time working independently with minimal direction, a sizable or even equal portion of their time can be spent discussing their findings and the results of their efforts with others within the organization. Superior communication skills, therefore, are a must.

Despite the challenges, being a paralegal can be tremendously rewarding. You'll know you're playing a crucial role in the legal process and helping clients. You'll have the opportunity to work on a variety of cases and projects, which can keep your work exciting and engaging.

Paralegals who work in law firms that focus on litigation can expect more collaborative work throughout their day. They can also expect to travel to and from court more frequently than their in-house counterparts to attend and observe court hearings and help their assigned lawyers prepare themselves and witnesses for court.

For paralegals working in a litigation firm, you may perform more traditional paralegal tasks such as conducting legal research on issues that are present in cases handled by the firm. You could be asked to summarize your findings and present them orally or in writing to a supervising attorney. You could also be asked to draft petitions and complaints, respond to discovery requests, and draft substantive legal motions.

In addition, a considerable amount of your day could be spent speaking with clients, gathering significant details from them that are pertinent to their cases. You might also interview witnesses who will be involved in the case on which you are working. You will be expected to take copious notes and share them with the assigned attorneys so they can be informed of this information and take appropriate action.

In court, a paralegal might sit at counsel’s table with their attorney or in the public gallery area. You could assist your attorney by taking notes of the hearing and drafting orders or pleadings based on what happened in court. If you are tech-savvy, your attorney may ask for your assistance in operating equipment such as a laptop computer and projection system to introduce evidence in court.

The median annual salary for a paralegal in the United States is $53,000. Salaries can vary significantly by region and experience level. Paralegals at the lower-end of the pay range might make as little as $36,410 annually, while some of the highest-earning paralegals can make in excess of $88,000 per year. Paralegals who work for the federal government generally earn the most, while those who work for private firms and offices earn toward the bottom of the pay range.

Bonuses and extra compensation depend on the employer and the individual's performance. On top of salary, many firms offer health insurance, retirement plans and paid vacation time as part of a complete compensation package.

The best way to get started with your career as a paralegal is to acquire the necessary education and skillset that will make you attractive to employers. Although some firms and offices might consider paralegal applicants who have nothing more than a high school diploma, completing a paralegal certificate program can give you an advantage over competing applicants. A typical certificate program will include courses on legal research and writing as well as introductory courses on various areas of the law. Today, many online certificate programs are available from accredited colleges and feature specialized coursework.

Those who wish to take their paralegal studies further could pursue a bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies offered by any number of schools. However, any bachelor’s degree program that emphasizes written and oral communication, research skills, or that introduces you to substantive areas of the law can provide you with information and skills that translate well to a paralegal career.

Taking paralegal education in specific areas of law can benefit those looking to specialize in a particular area. Paralegal certifications from national organizations like the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) can also help demonstrate competence and expertise for potential employers.

Networking is another important step in the process of finding a job as a paralegal. Participating in professional paralegal associations such as NALA or the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) as well as attending events are effective ways to gain contacts within the legal community. These contacts can help you build relationships that could potentially lead to employment opportunities. 

It's also wise to create an online presence with professional profiles on websites such as LinkedIn, allowing potential employers to find you easily and view your credentials. Researching different firms or companies that offer legal services is another great way to get acquainted with the different career paths available as a paralegal.

With dedication, hard work, and attention to detail, anyone can succeed as a paralegal!