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Home » Paralegal Job Skills

Paralegal Job Skills

May 16, 2023 by Amy Shanks

CONSIDERING A PARALEGAL CAREER? Here are Ten Everyday Legal Tasks You Should Know

In the past decade, the demand for paralegals and legal assistants has increased in the United
States. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BSL), the outlook for paralegal talent is
projected to grow 14 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all other
occupations.

In the next decade, the BSL predicts there will be an average of 45,800 job openings for
paralegals and legal assistants each year. Many of the job openings are expected to result from
the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or who exit the labor force (i.e.,
retire).

The paralegal profession is ever-evolving. Paralegal roles span various law and legal practice
areas. And due to a shortage of paralegal talent, legal firms, corporations, and governmental
agencies are finding it difficult to hire the required paralegal talent. Furthermore, finding the
right match for employers and jobseeker is time-consuming.

That is where legal recruiters can help. Legal recruiters find that perfect match between job
seekers and law firms while encouraging paralegals to continue to increase their skill sets.
If you are pursuing a paralegal career, being aware of your potential paralegal duties will help
you be a more valuable asset to your current employer and help you advance your career.

Here are ten legal tasks every paralegal should know:

1. Litigation

Litigation refers to the process of resolving disputes through the court system. Paralegals
must learn about the various stages of litigation, including pleadings, discovery, pre-trial
motions, trials, and appeals, to effectively support their attorneys in managing each case.

2. Pleadings

Pleadings are the formal written documents filed with the court to outline each party’s
claims and defenses. Key pleadings include the complaint, answer, counterclaim, and
reply. Paralegals often assist in drafting and reviewing these legal documents, ensuring
they are accurate and adhere to the rules of civil procedure.

3. Discovery

Discovery is the pre-trial phase during which parties exchange information and evidence
relevant to the case. Paralegals play a significant role in managing the discovery process,
which involves drafting and responding to interrogatories, requests for production, and
requests for admission.

4. Depositions

A deposition is a sworn testimony taken outside of court, where an attorney questions a
witness under oath. Paralegals may organize and schedule depositions, prepare deposition
summaries, and manage the relevant documents.

5. Legal Research

Legal research is identifying and retrieving information to support legal decision-making.
Paralegals must be familiar with various research tools, including legal databases like
Westlaw and LexisNexis, and be able to find and analyze relevant statutes, regulations,
and case law.

6. Brief

A brief is a written document that outlines a case’s facts, legal issues, and arguments.
Paralegals often draft, edit, and proofread briefs to ensure they are well-organized and
persuasive.

7. Motion

A motion is a formal request made to the court for a specific action or ruling. Common
motions include motions to dismiss, for summary judgment, to change the venue.
Paralegals must be familiar with the procedures and requirements for filing motions and
may assist in drafting the supporting documents.

8. Docket

The docket is the official schedule of court proceedings, including hearings, trials, and
other matters. Paralegals should be able to read and interpret the court docket. They will
be responsible for keeping track of important deadlines and ensuring filings are timely
and accurate.

9. Statute of Limitations

The statute of limitations is the time limit within which a legal action must be initiated.
Paralegals must understand the applicable statutes of limitations for each type of case and
ensure all critical deadlines are met.

10. Billable Hours

Billable hours are the time spent on tasks directly related to client work and are used to
calculate a law firm’s fees. Paralegals must accurately track and record their billable
hours, ensuring that all their time working on a case is documented.

Strategic Recruitment Solutions has matched top companies with top paralegal talent in the Gulf
Region for over a decade. Moreover, we focus on building long-term relationships with the
companies we assist. We are able to provide our clients with experienced, knowledgeable
paralegals and our job candidates with their dream jobs. Whether you are new to the legal
profession or an experienced paralegal who is looking for a new job opportunity, call 888-366-
6508 can let us help you today.

Filed Under: Career, Employment News, FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions), General Recruiting, Human Resources, Interview Tips, Paralegal Job Skills, SRS Tagged With: executive recruiter, hiring attorneys, Metairie paralegal jobs, New Orleans paralegal jobs, paralegal

November 1, 2022 by Amy Shanks Leave a Comment

CONTINUING EDUCATION WILL HELP YOU SECURE YOUR NEXT LEGAL OR IT JOB

 

Continuing Legal Education is a chess move in your favor.

To remain at the top of your field as a paralegal or IT team member, you must keep your skills current. In addition to keeping up with any changes in statutes and case law, paralegals should stay on top of changes that will affect their ability to do their jobs efficiently. Both paralegals and IT employees should remain tech-savvy and current with document management improvements, trial techniques, and court rules. 

As a paralegal or IT professional, taking continuing education courses is an excellent way to stay on top of changes in the law and advances in the legal field. 

Here are the top 3 benefits of continued education:

  •  Increased value to the firm. Increasing your knowledge, building additional skills, and strengthening your current skills will make you invaluable to your law firm. In the long run, staying on top of your game may also lead to a raise or promotion.
  • Better performance. As you gain confidence by learning how better to perform your job, you will be able to handle more tasks. Your new techniques and skills will make you more productive and efficient.
  • Advanced communication skills. Paralegals often are the “go-between” for all parties involved in a case (attorneys, clients, courts, experts, witnesses). IT personnel are usually solving multiple problems at once under highly stressful situations. Successful law firms are built on great communicators!

Paralegals and IT team members who regularly attend continuing education courses are more marketable and have more opportunities for career growth. Not only does learning more help you to be an asset to your law firm, but it will also open the door for your career growth. Remember to update your resumes annually with your completed continuing education credits. 

Top IT Skills

 In February of this year, Team BRYTER wrote that in-house legal technology budgets will grow 200% by 2025. As these departments become increasingly dependent on technology to keep up the pace, IT specialists and tech-savvy legal professionals will most likely skyrocket.

One specialty predicted to continue in high demand is e-discovery/litigation. As document formatting changes due to improvements in software, professionals who are well-acquainted with the latest in e-discovery and knowledgeable about file compatibility across different platforms will have a leg up against other candidates. A paralegal with a background in predictive coding and further analysis software might cut document review by hours and make for a highly valued prospect. 

What Recruiters are Looking For 

Workflow, in general, will continue to embrace both automation and digitization, and having tech-friendly skills at hand will only help your chances on the market. Updating your skill set in these areas will raise your chances of success in the face of future tech innovations and a changing work environment. 

Recruiters look for candidates with experience using legal research products such as Westlaw and LexisNexis. Potential employers may also expect proficiency in client software suites such as Google Workspace and Office 365. In addition, if you know law practice management software such as Clio and PracticePanther, you may gain an edge over your competition.

At Strategic Recruitment Solutions, we have matched top companies with top talent in the Gulf Region for over a decade. Our focus is on building long-term relationships with the companies we assist. Call us today at 888-366-6508. We can help you find the best candidate to join your legal or IT team or aid job seekers in finding the most appropriate position for their talents. 

Filed Under: Career, Employment News, General Recruiting, Interview Tips, IT Jobs, Paralegal Job Skills, Professional recruiting, Work Culture Tagged With: continuing education, hiring legal candidates, It, legal recruiter, paralegal jobs, Strategic Recruitment Solutions

August 22, 2022 by Amy Shanks

FIVE WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR PARALEGAL WRITING AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Strategic Recruitment Solutions - Paralegal Job Skills
Land your dream job as a paralegal by learning these five ways to become a confident legal writer and communicator.

 

Mastering communication and writing skills are essential for paralegals. Part of a paralegal’s job is to communicate with clients, opposing counsel, and the courts. Paralegal work also includes doing legal research, writing and drafting legal documents (pleadings to be filed with the court), and drafting internal documents (legal memorandums).

Here are five ways to become a confident legal writer and communicator:

 

1. Practice

Good communication and writing for paralegals come only from practice – there’s no shortcut to becoming a great writer. Spend some time researching online resources to improve your legal writing, broaden your skills, and learn tips to improve your writing.

2. Seek Feedback

Asking for feedback is a good way to improve your writing. Seek feedback from a legal professional at your firm or someone outside your organization. Seeking feedback from co-workers can also help strengthen your workplace relationships.

3. Re-check your work

When it comes to legal documents, every word is critical. While mistakes happen, maintaining credibility is integral. Fact-checking your work is essential to ensure that you are communicating correctly.

4. Check Your Grammar

Grammatically correct writing is also critical in paralegal communication and writing. Following grammatical conventions helps you maintain credibility and will ensure your writing is clear and concise.

These reference books on grammar are an excellent place to start: Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation (Lynn Truss)   will help you understand and apply proper punctuation.

The Elements of Legal Style (Bryan A. Garner): This book is essential for helping you with word choice and grammar and gained praise as one of the best books for the legal profession. Remember, improving your reading and writing skills requires time, perfect practice, and repetition.

5. Keep Current

Schedule time each week reading legal news to stay current with court rulings. By concentrating on defining and researching any term or legal principle that you don’t understand, you will greatly enhance your learning process.

 

Thinking about how to move forward in your career? At Strategic Recruitment Solutions, your success is our success. Our reputation for superior client satisfaction results from a tireless commitment to exceeding our clients’ objectives. We are the recruiting firm for top employers inNew Orleans, Baton Rouge, and the Gulf Region. Our recruiters will partner with you in searching for highly talented legal, management and technology hires. They will lend their industry knowledge, experience, tools, and technology to enhance your recruiting strategy. Furthermore, we have matched top companies with top talent in the Gulf Region for over a decade. Our focus is on building a long-term relationship with your company. Call us today at 888-366-6508. We can help you find the best candidate to join your legal or IT team.

Filed Under: General Recruiting, Paralegal Job Skills Tagged With: Amy Shanks, communication skills, hiring legal candidates, job search, legal recruiter, legal research, legal writing, Paralegal skills, writing legal briefs

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