Legal Teamwork: The Paralegal And Lawyer Relationship

Lawyers are usually assisted in their jobs by paralegals. Paralegals perform a lot of the same things as lawyers except tasks considered to be actually practicing law itself.

Paralegals work directly under the supervision of lawyers and are delegated many, many tasks by the lawyers they are working with. They do a majority of the background work for lawyers.

While preparing cases for trial, paralegals investigate and organize all the facts of cases and make sure they have found all the relevant information that pertains to that case. Paralegals also conduct legal research to find out about appropriate judicial decisions, legal articles, laws, and other materials that might help build a case.

Paralegals analyze and organize all of the information they gather and prepare written reports that lawyers use when determining how a particular case should be handled. If the lawyers decide a client should be filing a lawsuit, paralegals help prepare the arguments, pleadings, and motions that will be filed with the court as well as obtain affidavits. All documents and materials relating to a case are organized and handled by the paralegal.

The lawyers rely on the paralegal to be efficient, organized, and trustworthy. Paralegals and lawyers that work on large cases should be well aware that much of what they are doing may be confidential in nature and having a good relationship between the lawyer and paralegal helps ensure no sensitive information leaves the office.

While lawyers make many appearances in the courtroom, the paralegal doesn't leave the office very much. Most of their work is in law libraries, desks, and computer databases. It can be frustrating for a new paralegal who just prepares similar documents over and over if they work for a lawyer or firm that has a very specialized clientele. A lot of new paralegals have trouble with the first few months if they are hit with repetition but if they stick with it, they will move up the paralegal ladder and receive more new and exciting assignments.

Paralegals don't get to share the spotlight with the lawyers they work for very much but often receive bonuses for great performance and some lawyers might even give them a commission for all their hard work on long and drawn out cases. In general, the paralegal-lawyer relationship is very close and they spend a great deal of time working together daily. Lawyers that have preferred paralegals sometimes ask them to come with them when they get promoted or open their own firms. This is a great reason to always cement that relationship and do great work.