Civil Litigation Paralegal Job Description

Lawsuit Paralegals

paralegals help and work under the supervision of attorneys who specialize in litigation They help with the management of legal cases. The paralegals are often the lead in the investigation.

The paralegal may be involved in locating and interviewing witnesses, taking witness statements, gathering documents and evidence, creating case investigation notebooks, organizing documents, and creating a chronology of facts. Initial case assessments and client interviews can be performed by litigation paralegals. Paralegals on the side of the court may help draft pleadings.

The defense side can have paralegals work with the client to investigate the allegations. The paralegals are often charged with the task of filing pleadings with the court. The court requires paralegals to file deadlines and calendar hearing dates.

The majority of paralegals' time is spent in the discovery phase. They help attorneys in drafting requests for production and other documents. Paralegals may be called upon to find knowledgeable people within the client organization to help develop responses to interrogatories and other discovery requests.

Legal research is done by litigation paralegals. Many are tasked with the same responsibilities as a journalist. They must conduct research and gather information from a variety of sources.

Civil litigation paralegals

Civil litigation paralegals draft legal documents such as motions, pleadings, discovery requests and responses. Civil litigation paralegals use a digital database to organize the paperwork they need for litigation. Administrative tasks are part of a civil litigation paralegals job, as they are the attorney's main point of contact with clients, opposing counsel, and others involved in the case.

They coordinate the attorney's schedule, finalize dates for mediation or settlement meetings and more informal appointments. They handle a lot of other things, such as filing court papers and arranging venues for meetings. Civil litigation paralegals help attorneys prepare for civil trials.

They procure the necessary documents, including deposition transcripts and medical records, and arrange trial notebooks. They orient witnesses about the court. There are many paths to becoming a civil litigation paralegal.

A bachelor's degree in paralegal studies is the most straightforward. Those with other degrees can attend one year of law school or take an accredited paralegal program. Most employers require previous work experience of at least one year for jobs with a lot of complexity.

The Role of Litigation Paralegals

Paralegals help attorneys during the litigation process and are a vital part of the trial team. A paralegal can be vital for a number of reasons. They are responsible for coordinating the tasks that must be done.

The Paralegals are responsible for investigating, appealing and maintaining the records of the case. Continue reading to learn more about the role of a litigation paralegal. Pre-claim investigation is usually taken by litigation paralegals.

They are responsible for locating and interviewing witnesses, taking statements from witnesses, gathering evidence, creating case investigation folders, and preparing a chronology of facts for the case. The Paralegal spends most of their time during the discovery process of a case. Attorneys use litigation paralegals to prepare interrogatories and requests for other discovery.

The defense paralegals are responsible for locating people within the client organization to help develop responses to interrogatories. The litigation paralegal is responsible for gathering relevant information from a variety of sources, including libraries, newspapers, police and fire departments, and the media. Paralegals are responsible for setting up exhibits in the courtroom, preparing and issuing subpoenas, assisting in preparing witnesses, and researching and evaluating prospective jurors.

Paralegal Studies at AAfPE

Any type of proceeding initiated by two opposing parties to enforce or defend a legal right is called litigation. The parties involved in litigation can either settle the case out of court or have it heard by a jury. Pre-suit litigation involves paralegals being instructed to complete a number of activities, including: scheduling client meetings, maintaining communication with clients, and researching and collecting evidence.

When all other attempts at getting the client to agree to a trial fail, paralegals help the trial attorneys defend the client in court. Paralegals serve copies of paperwork to the other party when they file with the courts. Post-Trial litigation often continues after the trial is over due to disagreements about monetary award or the decision of the court.

There are a number of motions, orders, and hearings that need to be taken place in cases where both parties agree with the court's decision. All necessary documentation has been completed and signed by a paralegal. The AAfPE and NALA recommend that interns complete their internship at least six months.

The Pay of Litigation Paralegals

A litigation paralegal job description includes helping lawyers investigate cases, prepare legal documents, perform research and prepare for trials. Before a trial, litigation paralegals get evidence from their research and meetings with clients, organize materials needed in the courtroom, prepare witnesses and issue legal documents. They help lawyers with paperwork after the trial and they work closely with the trial team.

Strong technical skills are needed by litigation paralegals, who do a lot of their work on computers. Communication skills and good organizational skills help them manage their busy schedules and interact with the trial team. Legal services firms have a high percentage of litigation paralegals.

Large corporations and governments are common employers. A trial paralegal works under an attorney's guidance and interacts with other paralegals and legal secretaries as well to handle tasks. The work requires traveling to trials with attorneys.

Full-time jobs require hours and overtime to prepare for trials, while some jobs only require part-time work. The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that paralegals make a median wage of $50,410 a year, with half making more and half making less. The lowest paid 10 percent of paralegals have the lowest earnings, while the top 10 percent have the highest.

The paralegals at legal services firms are paid an average of $51,890, while the federal government pays a much higher average wage of 69,090. The District of Columbia and Alaska pay the highest average wages. The paralegal job outlook is very good between 2016 and 2026, with a very fast 15-percent job growth rate expected.

Paralegals: Basic duties and profession

The level of education is what distinguishes a paralegal from an attorney. A lawyer needs a bachelor's degree and 3 years of post graduate education. A paralegal only needs six months of post-secondary education to be certificated.

An attorney is free from interference. Attorneys and their offices serve the courts at their pleasure. Attorneys only answer to the Bar Association.

Paralegals are required to work under the supervision of an attorney. Attorneys use paralegals in many ways. NALA says that proper utilization of the services of legal assistants contributes to the delivery of cost-effective and high quality legal assistance.

paralegals in a law office can help reduce the hours attorneys have to work on a case. The paralegal needs to make the client aware that they have a choice of meeting with their attorney or their assistant, and that they must be aware of this. A paralegal should always be careful to only give legal advice to her managing attorney.

That doesn't mean a client can't be advised on what to do. Recent legislative changes and case law will be current for a paralegal. If you didn't see the recent case of Hooper v. Hooper from the Tennessee Supreme Court, you can make a difference of hundreds of dollars per month in lost child support.

The Legal Paralegal Job

The paralegal works with trial attorneys and will perform many tasks. They are a valuable part of the legal team and are often working on all phases of the trial. paralegals are required to perform routine office duties such as scanning documents and preparing court filings

They may keep litigation files and prepare material for disposal after a case has been closed. The litigation paralegal is often called on to assist in depositions, witness preparation, and research. The paralegal is usually the one who handles exhibits.

They will be acting as an assistant to the attorney during trials. They will be responsible for closing out the case documents after the trial is over. Communication is an important skill.

The paralegal is a liaison between departments. They will need to communicate with witnesses and clients. Communication skills can help a trial succeed.

A lot of time is spent drafting correspondence, pleadings, motions, briefs and many other documents needed for court. Excellent writing skills and attention to detail are important. The paralegal education is a lot of different things.

Paralegals in Litigation Firm

Paralegals have to be comfortable with technology. Most references are becoming computerized, but electronic document management and scheduling software, such as CompuLaw, are becoming de rigeur for managing complex cases with hundreds of critical dates and thousands of documents. The trial is one of the most interesting parts of the job.

Paralegals are used to uncover the facts of the case before a trial strategy is decided. They may conduct most of the interviews with their client, and in fact the rapport they establish early on can lead to their being the primary client contact throughout the case. With the facts in hand, paralegals are expected to help draft pleadings for the court and for the other side.

A flare for writing and a quick ability to conduct legal research are helpful. If lawyers handle the big picture of taking a case to trial, it is up to the paralegals to track and tidy up the little details that can derail major litigation. While lawyers argue the case, paralegals continue to serve as an organizing force.

They can observe and make suggestions, or closely follow the responses of the judge and jury to certain lines of argument, if they step away from the verbal back and forth. Every phase has paralegals keep track of the volumes of paperwork and deadlines. Lawyers who ruin trial schedules are not welcomed by judges.

Junior members of the team, paralegals, help keep the effort on track and hound their attorneys to get work done on time for important dates. Most cases never go to trial. In settlement negotiations, paralegals play a key role in laying the groundwork for agreements with their opposite numbers on the other side of the case.

Paralegals: Communication, Teamwork and Technology

Communication is a must in law practice. Up to 80% of your day is spent communicating with others, whether you are interviewing a new client, contacting an expert, taking the statement of a witness, or discussing a deal with your supervising attorney. As the lawyer's right-hand, paralegals are often used to help clients, experts, vendors, opposing counsel and other parties in litigation or transaction.

The ability to communicate clearly and effectively is a paralegal skill. It's important to have top-notch writing skills in a paralegal position. A paralegal can draft correspondence, pleadings, discovery, motions, briefs, legal memorandums and other documents.

Paralegals draft resolutions, agreements, contracts and related documents. Paralegals who excel in writing will set themselves apart from their peers. Technology skills are a sought after paralegal skill.

Paralegals must master a growing array of software as technology is incorporated into every aspect of law practice. Paralegals are often charged with technology purchases. Legal technology has given rise to paralegal niches.

Paralegals who have advanced technology skills have a competitive advantage. Rarely are paralegals assigned to a single case. In the real world, paralegals juggle multiple tasks and priorities.