What is a Paralegal?

Paralegals perform substantive legal work under the direct supervision of an attorney. Paralegals must have a knowledge and understanding of legal concepts, as they perform a wide variety of tasks including but not limited to: conducting interviews with clients and witnesses, gathering facts, researching the law, managing databases, reviewing, analyzing and assembling records and documents, drafting legal pleadings and discovery items such as complaints and interrogatories and maintaining conflicts of interest systems. Experienced paralegals often accompany counsel during trial and help with document management and organization, witness preparation and research.  Paralegals may not provide legal services directly to the public, except as permitted by law.

For more information on the paralegal profession and the type of work paralegals perform in different practice areas, visit the websites of the National Federation of Paralegal Associations and the National Association of Legal Assistants.

Finally, if you want to see why the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected the paralegal profession to grow much faster than average for all occupations though 2016, read the Occupational Outlook Handbook here.

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