Them: What is a Paralegal and what do they do?

Me: Paralegals are to lawyers, what nurses are to doctors.

Them: So it’s like the series Suits?

Me; Hard No.

We have all heard of that wonderful tv series called Suits. The one that put a spotlight on the paralegal career thanks to the Duchess of Essex, Meghan Markle. While I can not say I have watched it, I know big downer, what I will say is I know it gave some folks a false sense of what paralegal life is really like. I mean, don’t get me wrong, some firms do have enough drama to create a whole series BUT for the most part, paralegals are too busy researching, managing case files and / or worried about their billable hours for the month to be living the Meghan Markle life. Below are a few myths and misconceptions of the paralegal profession.

• You need to memorize statutes and laws: Let us set the record straight. Not even attorneys and lawyers who have been required to study for countless hours for the Bar and have had years of industry experience have all the statutes and laws memorized in their heads. If you think about it, that’s just too much information to cram into someone’s brain. Moreover, since the law changes every now and then, memorizing law is not really a sustainable practice. Sufficient familiarity with the law, however, is needed to effectively do legal research and to construct legal arguments. These skills are far more valuable in a paralegal’s line of work.
• Paralegals Spend a Lot of Time in Court: Another common misconception is that paralegals spend long hours in court with the attorney. In truth, paralegals don’t get much (if any) time in court – but this can vary depending on what area of law the paralegal specializes in. Most of a paralegal’s work hours are spent behind the scenes in their office, preparing legal documents, interviewing clients, interviewing witnesses, doing legal research, and so on. Paralegals spend most of their time contributing to the efficiency of the law firm that they are working for.
• Being a Paralegal is a Nine-to-Five Job: Paralegals aren’t always required to do overtime. However, there may be some days that they need to put in the extra hours when deadlines need to be met, when extra preparation is needed for a trial, when their supervising attorney needs something urgent, and so on.
• Paralegals are just paper pushers: Some people think that paralegals are just there to push papers and answer phones – that they are in charge of menial tasks that attorneys do not have time for. However, this couldn’t be farther from the truth. Paralegals and attorneys perform many similar duties, making a paralegal’s job challenging and mentally stimulating. The only difference is that the paralegal works under the supervision of the attorney. Therefore, their work product becomes a part of and is aligned with the attorney’s work product for the client. Moreover, paralegals do not take the case to court to represent the client. Paralegals are vital because they allow attorneys to delegate responsibilities which they would have otherwise taken on all by themselves.
• Paralegals Know About All Areas of the Law: Just like lawyers and attorneys, paralegals also have their own areas of specialization. A few examples of common specialties include administrative law, family law, bankruptcy, corporate and business law, criminal law, and real estate law.
• This Career is a Stepping Stone to being an Attorney: Another paralegal job myth is that paralegals are always either aspiring lawyers or frustrated lawyers. But this again, is false. Becoming a paralegal is an individual’s career choice. It is not a stepping stone to becoming a lawyer or attorney – nor is it necessarily a fallback plan. As we’ve mentioned in the first myth, paralegals and attorneys do, in fact, share plenty of similar responsibilities. However, paralegals do not have the responsibility of representing clients and giving legal advice. This means paralegals do not need to pay malpractice insurance. Furthermore, paralegals enjoy a relatively more balanced lifestyle with less stress and less late night works – while still being able to pursue their passion for law. Although this also means that paralegals don’t make the same amount as attorneys do, some would say that the trade-off is more than worth it.