What makes a good paralegal

From the presentation of the facts to the order in which those facts must be stated, details are extremely important. One cannot overlook anything. Paralegals work with attorneys to determine the best way in which the information should be presented or how documents should be drafted to meet their clients needs and to serve the needs of the organization for whom they are working.

Paying attention to details is an invaluable skill for a Paralegal. So you like the law, are well spoken and write well, are detail oriented and like working with a variety of people. If this sounds, like you, then a career as a Paralegal may be the right career move for you. Now the question is: How do I get started? It is important that when searching for good paralegal programs, you choose a school that will provide you with training in the various areas of law, such as family law, real estate law, general law, criminal law, torts, and here in Florida Immigration Law.

The legal field is very broad, and many firms specialize in specific types of law. Being able to learn the specifics and intricacies of each specialized law field will not only prepare you for a well-rounded career and thus more work options, but it will also help you determine which area of law you have an interest in and are best suited to work in.

Another important factor that should be considered when choosing a paralegal program is whether or not the school requires students to partake in an externship as part of the program. An externship is a wonderful opportunity for an aspiring paralegal to receive valuable on-the-job training. During your externship, you will be able to shadow an experienced paralegal, receive career tips and advice, and network with other professionals in the field and potential future colleagues.

If you are thinking about becoming a paralegal, then contact us today and one of our helpful Admissions Staff will be sure to help get you started on your new journey to becoming a paralegal! Additional information regarding this institution may be obtained by contacting the Commission at West Gaines Street, Suite , Tallahassee, FL , toll-free telephone number Apply Now. You have excellent communication skills both written and verbal Working with the law requires one to both write and speak effectively.

You are a people person. You tend to pay attention to detail. Request Info. This was very enlightening insight on what to expect as a paralegal! Thanks for sharing my patience is my virtue so I can see this working like one and one making two! This article is so good, I decided to print it out and give it to the paralegals at my firm. It really is spot on — skills are important of course, but what makes a great paralegal, lawyer, or other team member in a law firm are their values.

Super job and thanks for the work. Thak you for talking about the importance of choosing a paralegal that knows how to properly communicate. It makes sense that taking the time to do some research can help you choose the best paralegal for your family case. Personally, I would want to check with the BBB and compare several firms to make sure I choose a paralegal that has experience with cases like mine and can provide useful information about it.

Read every single word of this article published by Tonya. It makes perfect sense. Wonderful article. Thank you for sharing. I would add to the list a Kevlar skin, titanum nerves, an iron constitution, an iron will and a strong, or, depending on your point of view, minuscule ego.

Combine the last trait together with the unyielding desire to please people, especially when thanks, recognition or gratitude are not always forthcoming. Do not forget unwavering loyalty, even when treated as an adversary. Willingness to take on responsibility without authority to exercise it. Iron will together with rubber band flexibility, especially when events change without notice for no good reason. Finally, willingness to work many unpaid hours.

Am I a Great Paralegal? Tonya Pierce is a paralegal with over 24 years experience in several areas of the legal field 17 years as a bankruptcy paralegal and trustee paralegal. Comments Beth. Such a great article. Thank you for sharing your experience and outlook on being a paralegal!

This article changed my life and the way I look at my profession. Thank you very much. Hiba — Paralegal. Tonia Haake-Harmon. Leave a Reply. Your email address will not be published. Categories Company. Deposition Tips. Horror Stories. Legal hot topics.

Legal tech trends. Marketing Tips. Paralegal news. Having great research skills is about more than just jumping onto Lexis or Westlaw to find a relevant case. Paralegals in all practice areas use research skills to help attorneys solve their problems every day.

For example, a corporate paralegal might be asked to do some due diligence on foreign corporations that are part of a big merger. A real estate paralegal might be asked to do title research on a big commercial closing transaction. Additionally, paralegal research skills now include being able to find information on social media sites and other internet sites. Once you find the information, then you analyze it to determine if the research leads you to other key information.

Instead, they take it two or three steps deeper because there could be other answers out there waiting for you to find them. Paralegals work long hours. Not every day, but many days they do work long hours. If you are someone who needs to have a job that you are guaranteed to be clocked out by p. One thing that can definitely help reduce those long hours is better time management and increasing your productivity while you are in the office so that you can get out of the office sooner.

Communication skills are fundamental to a paralegal career. A typical day for a paralegal could include all of the following in just one 8-hour day:. Writing is the other important aspect of communication skills.

You are going to be doing a lot of writing, not just when communicating with clients, but also when communicating with opposing counsel, outside vendors, and your attorneys. Consider it to be an investment in your career. Good organization skills are more than just the ability to index, sort, and categorize documents and things. For paralegals, this skill includes the ability to look at the big picture and plan for how and when things will be needed so that you can choose the best method for organizing those things.