The Paralegal Profession

A paralegal, or legal assistant, is a person, qualified by education, training, or work experience who is employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental agency or other entity and who performs specifically delegated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible.

Today a paralegal’s responsibilities may include client and witness interviews, legal research, drafting correspondence, pleadings and other legal documents, conducting real estate closings and summarizing depositions or interrogatories.

In addition to employment with law firms, paralegals are an essential part of corporations, municipalities, state and federal government agencies, public service organizations and advocacy groups.