Paralegals have varied responsibilities, including client interviews, legal research, writing legal documentation and administrative duties. The details of a paralegal’s duties can vary depending on the type of work their employer handles, such as bankruptcy cases, family court cases and criminal law.

If you’re thinking about pursuing a legal career but aren’t quite sure whether you want to go to law school, you might consider becoming a paralegal. Continue reading to learn more about what paralegals do and how you can get started in this career.

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A paralegal fulfills a support role in a law firm or other organization. They perform a lot of the behind-the-scenes work, such as gathering the facts of the case, researching relevant laws, preparing legal documents and assisting lawyers during trials. Paralegal job duties might appeal to you if you are a detail-oriented person who enjoys research and has great organization and communication skills.¹

The job requirements for paralegals vary according to the employer. Some employers prefer to hire paralegals who possess a bachelor’s degree and perhaps also a certificate in paralegal studies from a program accredited by the American Bar Association.¹ If you think you’d like to work as a paralegal before determining whether law school could be right for you, then earning a legal studies bachelor’s degree could be a smart move.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, paralegals and legal assistants had a median annual salary of $60,970 as of May 2023.²

Here are some of the major duties performed by paralegals.

1. Client Interviews

One of the main responsibilities of a paralegal is conducting client interviews. Most often, attorneys conduct client interviews. However, paralegals are usually present in order to take notes and observe the questioning. Their presence allows them to be prepared to conduct follow-up interviews with clients and witnesses if necessary. After interviews, a paralegal will prepare a memo summarizing the information and testimony for the attorney.

2. Legal Research

Paralegal job duties include conducting legal research in order to help an attorney prepare for trial. The paralegal will gather information relevant to the case, as well as other judicial decisions and legal articles relevant to the details of the trial.

After conducting the research, the paralegal puts together a written report to help the attorney analyze past cases and determine how to proceed. A paralegal can organize this legal research into a presentation for clientele once an attorney decides how to move forward.

3. Draft Written Documentation

Paralegals draft legal documents in law offices. They may draft legal complaints, subpoenas and deposition notices. 

Other documentation may include:

• Contracts
• Wills and trusts
• Power of attorney documents
• Pretrial orders
• Interrogatories

Paralegals may collaborate with others to write legal briefs. Excellent communication skills are essential for a paralegal.¹

4. Law Office Administrative Work

In many law offices, a paralegal may handle administrative tasks. These can include in-office and in-courthouse administrative tasks. For example, at a law office, a paralegal may handle filing, answering phone calls and record-keeping. They may be in charge of scheduling appointments and forwarding calls, as well as making travel arrangements for their attorney. Paralegals often spend time on the phone with clients, witnesses, expert witnesses, court personnel and lawyers.

Additionally, the paralegal may schedule themselves at many of the same events as the attorney they work with. The paralegal will attend trials and court hearings along with the attorney. In-court administrative duties can include observing the process, taking notes, drafting memos and creating records.

Paralegals can work in a variety of environments. The top employers of paralegals are law firms and other legal services companies. Some paralegals work for government agencies, while others work for finance and insurance companies.³

Law firms and individual lawyers customarily specialize in one or a few areas of law, such as criminal law, bankruptcy, family law, personal injury and so on. Because of this, paralegals who work for law firms will typically gain significant exposure to one or two specific types of legal cases. Paralegal job duties can vary based on the type of law practice they work for.

For example, some lawyers, such as criminal defense attorneys, go to court more often than others (i.e., contract law attorneys). Paralegals working at a criminal defense firm can generally expect to assist attorneys at court hearings and trials.

The size of the law firm can also affect the job description of paralegal professionals. At a small firm, a paralegal might work on a case from beginning to end, while at a larger firm, a paralegal might specialize in one particular phase of a legal case.