What does an Paralegal do?

Answer:
A Paralegal assists a lawyer with researching,

analyzing, and preparing cases. Many paralegals also handle day to day office work, such as replicating case briefs. Because a paralegal is not a qualified lawyer, lawyers must carefully oversee their paralegal staffs, and paralegals may not always be able to work directly with the public in a legal capacity.

The responsibilities of a paralegal vary, depending on where he or she is employed. Sometimes this work requires research in the field, such as contacting witnesses and assisting with investigations. In other cases, a paralegal works solely in the office in a more secretarial capacity. By convention, a paralegal's hours are billed separately to clients, although the services of a paralegal are less expensive than the lawyer's time.

At a minimum, a paralegal usually attends a two year program for certification, although brief certificate programs are also offered. High-end paralegals may take a Master's degree in paralegal studies to make them more appealing candidates for employment.


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