Many people seeking legal help may be unaware of what a paralegal is and the services they provide.
- It is important to understand that paralegals differ from lawyers but are no less necessary or integral to any law office or firm.
- Knowing the difference between the two can be beneficial to you with any legal situations you may have now or in the future.
- In this blog, Intrepid Paralegal Solutions, Inc. will explain what exactly paralegals are and the services they offer their clients.
Intrepid Paralegal Solutions is here to assist with all your paralegal needs. Contact us or give us a call today to learn more.
What is a Paralegal?
A paralegal is an individual who assists lawyers in the practice of law. Paralegals may be employed by law offices or firms, government agencies, corporations, or other organizations. They are not legally allowed to give legal advice or represent clients in court. In lieu of legal counsel, paralegals can offer insight into cases that are public and alike.
Paralegals typically have specialized training in areas such as legal research and writing, including:
- Investigate and gather the facts of a case
- Conduct research on relevant laws, regulations, and legal articles
- Organize and maintain documents in paper or electronic filing systems
- Gather and arrange evidence and other legal documents for attorney review and case preparation
- Write or summarize reports to help lawyers prepare for trials
- Draft correspondence and legal documents, such as contracts and mortgages
- Get affidavits and other formal statements that may be used as evidence in court
- Help lawyers during trials by handling exhibits, taking notes or reviewing trial transcripts
- File exhibits, briefs, appeals, and other legal documents with the court or opposing counsel
- Call clients, witnesses, lawyers, and outside vendors to schedule interviews, meetings, and depositions
Paralegals often have degrees from accredited colleges or universities in addition to several years of experience working with licensed attorneys. Paralegals may also be certified by passing certain tests administered by professional organizations such as the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA).
How Are Paralegals Different From Lawyers?
Paralegals are not qualified to practice law and cannot provide legal advice as lawyers can. They are also not licensed as attorneys. However, they can perform many tasks that lawyers would otherwise have to take on themselves, such as conducting research, preparing documents, and organizing evidence for trials.
The primary difference between a lawyer and a paralegal is that only attorneys can give legal advice and represent clients in court proceedings. In contrast, a paralegal’s job focuses on completing tasks that support a lawyer’s work by gathering facts and data related to cases or investigations. This includes researching case laws applicable to the case at hand as well as helping draft motions or other important documents related to the case.
Paralegals Can Help With Your Legal Needs
Paralegals play an essential role in any law office or firm by providing critical support services for lawyers and their clients throughout each stage of legal proceedings. With specialized training and experience working with attorneys, paralegals can provide valuable assistance with research projects, document preparation projects, and more – making it possible for your lawyer to focus on providing quality representation for your case. If you ever find yourself needing legal assistance, it’s important that you understand the difference between a lawyer and a paralegal so that you know who can help you best with your needs. By understanding exactly what roles each individual plays within the field of law, you will be better prepared when it comes time to seek out legal counsel.
Intrepid Paralegal Solutions is a national virtual paralegal service. We are committed to being a completely remote work company to be more efficient. Our mission is to help our clients by providing the highest quality of virtual paralegal services and related support services. We are not lawyers, but we strive to connect the most qualified personnel within the legal field to allow the most fluent and unparalleled level of legal assistance possible. We offer several professional services to our clients, including:
We are always looking for new clients and businesses to assist. We are committed to being a completely remote and virtual work company so that we can provide the most efficient and cost-effective services possible. If you are in need of paralegal assistance, contact us or give us a call today to speak with our team.
