Paralegal Activities Law Students can Undertake

Introduction

You must have seen "SUITS", the American classic. You must have seen SUITS to be familiar with "paralegal". Remember Racheal Zane in suits? Meghan Markle, an actress, has acted as a paralegal in suits at the renowned law firm "Pearson Spectre". The work of paralegals is vital in law. Because they do all of the investigation work on cases, the Paralegal is the foundation of a case. They are expected perform the back functions of attorneys.

Who is a Paralegal

Paralegals are qualified individuals who act as subordinates to lawyers. Paralegals work in law offices and other similar agencies, performing the work that is delegated by their superiors. They assist lawyers by researching precedents, investigating casters and preparing legal documents. The senior associates in most law firms rely on the paralegal's work.

Duties of a Paralegal

Paralegals are responsible for providing support to attorneys. Assist senior lawyers in preparing documents and organizing them for meetings, hearings, etc.

Paralegals must maintain confidentiality and decorum within the law firms where they work. Paralegals cannot represent clients in court. They can only do subordinate work. These are the main duties that a paralegal can perform:

1. Collecting the documents, like evidence or affidavits

2. Researching on the case, through online or on fieldwork

3. Writing research papers or reports for the law firm they work in

4. Draft pleadings for submission in courts

5. Prepare documents like Sale contracts, property transfer papers, or wills, 

6. They can interview the clients or witnesses

7. They review the legal documents that need to be submitted in the court of law

8. Briefing about the case to their seniors is one important task they have. 

These are the duties of paralegals. Paralegals might not be permitted to perform certain duties. Some activities that fall under their purview include providing legal advice or representing clients in court. Paralegals must be able to research well and have patience. Paralegals who are successful should be able to communicate well with clients so they can interview them. Also, a paralegal should be tolerant enough to take the orders from their seniors.

Career advancements for a paralegal

Paralegals in India are not very common. This is because most paralegal work is performed by legal interns (students at law colleges who work at the firm to gain experience) or new entrants interested in learning about the practical aspects and legal frameworks. But, If one needs employment, within a relatively short amount of time, it’s one of the best options for you.

Paralegals are becoming more important in the workplace. There have been many job openings for paralegals at top-notch law firms recently. Paralegals are an excellent opportunity for those who love the law. Paralegal can be a career option for you, as well as being a lawyer. Paralegals might work for a specific law firm or agency. They could also work freelance and provide contract-based service, such as 1 or 2. Paralegals are not certified like lawyers. Many Indian and foreign universities offer certification for paralegals. Paralegals can find many opportunities within the law firms or agencies they work in. The average salary of a paralegal in India is Rs,335,731.

Paralegals can find work at many organizations such as banks, insurance companies and private law firms. They also have the opportunity to work with professional trade organizations, real-estate firms and corporate legal departments. You could be promoted to management if you have a lot of experience as a paralegal. Paralegals are also needed in other countries, such as the USA and the UK.

In May 2019, the median annual salary for paralegals/legal assistants was $51,740. The projected growth in employment of paralegals/legal assistants from 2018 to 2028 is 12 percent, which is faster than the average rate for all occupations. For the best job opportunities, paralegals who have been professionally trained and possess strong database and computer management skills will be able to find them.

Eligibility for Paralegal and courses available

The student must have passed 12th grade in commerce, science, or the arts. Paralegals do not need to have 5-7 years of formal education, unlike lawyers. The majority of paralegal certifications or courses are offered through diplomas and last between 1-2 years. An associate degree can be applied for in 2 years. Online programs are also available for paralegals. Paralegals can even take a 3-month course online.

• Diploma course IGNOU is the most popular University offering this course in India- It’s a 1 years course for paralegal certification.

• Diploma in Paralegal Services (D.P.S.)- by Symbiosis law school, Pune.

• Duration: One Year;

• Mode: Evening Programme.

Types of Paralegals 

The law is a broad subject and the types of attorneys that are available can vary depending on their specialty. One could be a corporate, criminal, or civil attorney. The Paralegal work is done under the supervision of these attorneys. There are many types of paralegals. Those are mention herewith:

1. Litigation paralegal: The process of settling a dispute in court is called litigation. Paralegals are responsible for preparing for trials, conducting research, interviewing witnesses, clients, and assembling documents for senior. One of their most important tasks is to find the evidence needed to defeat the opposition. This type of paralegal job is for you if you enjoy hustle and don’t mind working at a desk.

2. Intellectual property paralegal: IPR is a hot topic in Indian law. Everyone needs to protect their inventions, and the creation of the world. Intellectual property plays a crucial role. IPR is made up of three main segments: Patent, trademark, and copyright. Paralegals can work in any one of these areas. Because most paralegal work requires research and study, this job is primarily a desk job.

3. Real estate paralegal: A paralegal who specialises in this area, needs to review the sale and purchase of properties; writing lease agreements etc. 

4. Bankruptcy Paralegal: Since the introduction of The Bankruptcy Code 2016, the work associated with managing bankruptcy has taken a substantive turn.

5. Consumer protection paralegal: This requires an in-depth knowledge of acts such as the Consumer Protection Act 2019, Sale of Goods act 1930, and The Contract Act 1872. Interviewing clients and supporting senior advocates in the trials in consumer courts are the duties expected of them.

6. Corporate Paralegal: Large corporate companies have their own legal teams. Research is required in the areas of mergers, acquisitions, and competition laws.

7. Family paralegal: Family paralegals work under civil and family law and deal with issues such as divorce, inheritance, division, determining legality or illegality of wills, and adoption cases. Interviewing clients requires patience and sensitiveness.

8. Freelance paralegal: A freelance paralegal is not tied to one firm or attorney. Instead, they work on a contract basis. If they are a freelance paralegal, one can be their boss. One must ensure that they have enough clients to use their services. If they do not have sufficient contacts with law agencies and firms, it is impossible to start a freelance paralegal business. This job involves formatting contracts and preparing transcripts in accordance with court guidelines.

9. Immigration paralegal: Paralegals can work for the government, or in an immigration department. Paralegals must be proficient in multiple languages. They must not only have legal knowledge but also be fluent in different languages, particularly those of neighboring counties.

10. Employment paralegals: Employment paralegals carefully examine the employment contracts or laws related to trade disputes and non-discriminate payment. Interviewing labours requires one to be very attentive and sensitive. Also, fluency in local languages and human interaction skills are additional sets of skills required for the Employment paralegals. 

Advantages of becoming a Paralegal

1. Good returns with low investment: The paralegal studies can be completed in a maximum of 1-2 years. This is mainly through diploma or online courses. You can combine this course with other law-related or managerial courses. You wouldn't have to take only one course; you could also take several others. Paralegal certification courses are available for those who don't have the time to study for 5-7 years. Paralegal jobs are increasing in demand, so the return on investment is quite substantial.

2. In-depth knowledge of the subject:Paralegals would love to do extensive research. You will gain a greater understanding of the subjects you are assigned. You will gain an extensive knowledge of your field over time. This will help you to get a top-ranking position in the companies you work for.

3. Opportunity for growth: there is an opportunity for a paralegal to secure managerial and supervisor positions. 

4. Intense about of job options: Paralegals could either work in various different areas of law, or they could even choose other fields than law, like, insurance, finance, armed forces etc

5. Open avenues for law schools: Paralegal work before you go to law school can help you in two ways. One, it is a great experience and the other is that if you have a financial problem, a paralegal job will help you save money on the salary. This will give you an advantage over other law school students who have just graduated. You would be able to draw on your extensive knowledge and experience as you have already researched many subjects. Students who want to enter the Ivy Leagues work as paralegals. After gaining experience and a letter of recommendation, they can apply for the law school of their choice.

Conclusion

The job of paralegal seems to be quite fascinating since the jobs of a paralegal involve the new research, and obviously interviewing new clients in every case. If you’re someone who is inquisitive, this is a perfect job for you. It helps you in understanding human nature as well as gaining expertise in the field you work in. The need for paralegals is directly related to the demand for lawyers in the country. India definitely needs a lot of lawyers, hence, the demand for paralegals would enhance too. But, in India, there is no such job as a paralegal as such, because most of the work entrusted to a “paralegal” is done by the interns, junior associates, or Company secretary. However, it’s not a bad idea if one can do an additional certified course of paralegal since it’s hardly for 6 to 14 weeks generally.