WHAT IS A PARALEGAL?

PARALEGAL: An Exciting Career

Paralegals work side by side with lawyers and other legal professionals. Paralegals work under the direct supervision of an attorney, drafting documents and preparing them for filing, performing legal research, assisting the attorney with trial preparation, and working with clients.

The American Bar Association defines paralegals as "a person, qualified by education, training or work experience who is employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental agency or other entity and who performs specifically delegated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible" (Note: Paralegals may not provide legal services directly to the public except where permitted by law.)

Where do paralegals work?

Paralegals work everywhere! You will find them in law offices, legal departments in financial institutions, real estate offices, government, and corporations. Some paralegals prefer helping others and choose family law or legal aid. Others like the excitement of the court room and enter litigation. There are many people with nursing and health backgrounds who prefer personal injury, or medical malpractice. And others may prefer the excitement of criminal law.

What types of duties do paralegals perform?

• Investigate facts and laws and work with the attorney on how to prepare cases.
• Gather and analyze laws or decisions that were made on similar cases.
• Analyze and organize material for cases.
• Prepare written reports for lawyers that summarize their research.
• Prepare legal documents such as briefs, pleadings, wills, contracts, and other documents.
• File pleadings with court clerk.
• Use computers to locate or organize legal records.
• Collect information in preparation for lawsuits.
• Digest and index information obtained prior to trial.
• Maintain complex dockets and files, both manually and on a computerized basis, for availability to attorneys.
• Direct and coordinate office activities or workers.

Wages and outlook

• In Kentucky, the number of jobs for paralegals is expected to grow faster than average through the year 2012!!
• In 2004, the nationwide the average salary for paralegals was $44,373. In Lexington, Kentucky, the average salary for beginning paralegals is approximately $28,000 and for paralegals with five or more years experience is $38,000.
• Wages vary by education. In general the more education, the higher the wages. Type and size of the employer also affects wages.
• Many paralegals also receive bonuses and benefits, including sick leave, paid vacation, health insurance, and retirement plan.

Sources: Iseek.com Career: Paralegal, NALA 2004 National Utilization and Compensation Survey Report, Greater Lexington Paralegal Association, http://www.abanet.org/legalservices/paralegals/home.html.