A paralegal must have good investigation skills that include interviewing, legal research and discovery management. These three skills are necessary for a paralegal to be successful in their career. When a paralegal utilizes these three skills they will prove to be valuable to their employer and the clients they are helping to represent. “Interviewing and investigation involves the application of critical thinking, organizational, communication, research, writing, and computer skills,” (Education, Paralegal Core Cometencies, 2002). A paralegal needs to know the right questions to ask and the right way to ask the questions when they are interviewing a client, witness or victim in the case they are working on. A paralegal also needs to have a good knowledge of the case that is being worked on before they conduct the interview. Knowing the case will help the paralegal to know what questions to ask. Paralegals need to know the different types of witnesses, victims, and clients they are interviewing. Each interviewee has different personalities. The interviewee could be defensive, passive, manipulative, honest or dishonest. To get the truth a paralegal needs to ask certain types of questions. As talked about in (Conducting Effective interviews, AICPA, 2013) there are five important types of questions to ask in an interview. Informational questions (unbiased in nature, non-confrontational), open questions (what, when, where, why, how), closed questions (yes or no answers), Leading Questions (contains part of the answer in the question to confirm facts already known), and admission seeking questions (questions geared toward getting admissions). All of these types of questions can get the right information out of the interviewee i... ... middle of paper ... ...xpert witnesses. Interviews and statements can be used in court if they are documented properly. The expert witness is used to support the evidence that has been obtained. These three things can preserve the discovery and support the case in court. To properly protect the evidence a paralegal will need to put documents together properly and securely. Put important documents, photographs and other evidence in plastic. This protects the evidence yet can still be viewed through the plastic. A paralegal should put all the case file and evidence in a clearly marked box and make backups and copies of all evidence gathered. “Learning basic investigative techniques will make you better at your job and increase your marketability to other firms. It’s also a lot of fun. Your next accident photo or witness interview might be the factor that wins the case.” (Bevans, 2004).
A Paralegal is defined by the American Bar Association as 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. Paralegals work under direct supervision of an attorney and follow the same ethical rules of the ABA as a lawyer does. ABA Rule 5.3, states that a lawyer must give such assistants appropriate instruction and supervision concerning the ethical aspects of their employment, particularly regarding the obligation not to disclose information relating to representation of the client, and should be responsible for their work product. Per the State B...
They perform the most important work behind the scenes that are indispensable to all other legal professionals. Paralegals must have excellent analytical, interpersonal and organization skills. Similar to attorneys, they are expected to maintain professional dress, demeanor and behavior at all times. Paralegals are highly valued within their firms and enjoy the prestige that comes with their profession.
I think that one of the most important parts about this job it that it helps people, probably not in the way most people would like it, but it can help certain people. It helps especially in trials, when the prosecutor or defender needs evidence against the criminal to prove his or her innocence.
Paralegals are continuing to assume new responsibilities in legal offices and perform many of the same duties as attorneys. Through formal education, training and experience, paralegals have knowledge and expertise regarding the legal system and law procedures, which qualify them to work under the supervision of an attorney. Along with preparing legal documents, contracts and other legal materials, a paralegal can also interview witnesses, and conducting legal research. The most important task a paralegal may have is helping an attorney prepare for hearings, trials, and meetings. Although a paralegal is trained to perform the same tasks as attorneys, they are explicitly prohibited from carrying out duties considered to be within the scope of the practice of law, such as setting legal fees, giving legal advice, submitting signed documents to court, and presenting cases in court. Paralegals are an essential part of today’s legal practice; furthermore, a competent paralegal can improve a law office’s profitability and the delivery of legal services. With these new responsibilities comes a higher level of demand and respect. In turn...
The practice of law involves giving legal advice to clients, drafting legal documents, and representing clients in legal negotiations and court proceedings. It is applied to professional services of a licensed lawyer. UPL’s statutes prohibit individuals from legally practicing law without a proper legal license. Paralegals may violate UPL by performing 3 specific tasks that are not delegated to paralegals, these include; responsibility for establishing an attorney-client relationship, establishing the amount of fee to be charged for a legal service, and responsibility for a legal opinion rendered to a client.
Paralegals have become an essential part of today's legal system, and as the profession becomes one of the leading and fastest growing occupations in the U.S. economy; these individuals perform delegated tasks under the supervision of attorneys. Education has played an important part on this matter; it has facilitated this development by allowing lawyers to use these skills professionals as agents to delegate specific tasks such as legal research, gathering of information and the drafting of specific legal documents under the supervision and final approval of their principals. This has been very significant because now; we can enjoy a speedy process in a cumbersome legal system. From en economic standpoint, it has also been beneficial by decreasing the substantial amount of the legal cost a firm could incur if only lawyers were allowed to perform this kind work.
Hatch, Scott A., Hatch, Lisa Zimmer. Paralegal Career For Dummies. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Pub., 2006. Print.
First have an excellent LinkedIn account (a social networking site for professionals), make sure all aspects of it is very strong, appealing, and unforgettable especially the profile (first seen). Then get an internship or volunteer in a law office. According to George, “When you finally get inside a law firm observe, read the letters, peruse the files, listen to what is happening around the office. Listen to attorneys and paralegals, offer to drag the files to court for trial, take documents to the printer for trial exhibits, and drive witnesses to deposition or to a hearing. Finally, make coffee and copies (all the time reading what is being copied) and learn why so many copies are needed and who they are being given
They are not qualified to represent clients in court, in legal advice, accept cases, or set a fee. Paralegals do what the attorney tells them to. They have a wild range of different tasks they do. It is the paralegal’s job to locate and conduct interviews with and maintains general contact with the clients and witnesses, as long as they are clear that the paralegal works under the supervision of the attorney. Another task is conducting investigations, statistical, documentary and legal research. Paralegals also draft legal documents, summarize depositions, testimony and interrogatories. Also they attend executions of wills, court hearings, trails, depositions and real estate closings with the attorney (Nala.org,
A paralegal must possess people skills, legal research and writing skills, investigative skills and strong organizational skills to be successful in this profession. Cassandra Oliver, a senior paralegal at a large company states paralegals are organized, detailed, flexible and possess the ability to multitask (Hollingshead). As an investigator, I utilized many of the skills needed, and through classes, developed the legal research and writing skills. I will learn the ethical responsibilities that my internship has not taught me, in my ethics class this fall.
...e and opposing sides. There can also be multiple experts hired by either side, some of whom won’t have to write a report or testify, but can be brought in for consultation purposes. Experts hired for criminal law purposes must follow the policies set by the courts and law. If hired by the prosecution, the expert must disclose all notes taken on the case, lab reports, results, and chain of custody documentation to the defense. The expert hired by the defense isn’t required to disclose any information about the case and it is up to the defense if they want to allow the prosecution any information. The expert there is to give testimony in order to, basically, sway the jury one way or another. Though there may be differences among the various sides an expert can be hired as, the goal in the end is same: for the facts to be accurate and presented in a professional manner.
Expert witnesses often play an important role in civil litigation by using their experience and knowledge to reach just conclusions.
Education has played and continues to play a vital role in the development of the paralegal profession. Although "on the job training" remains an important element in developing successful paralegals, the role of higher education and formal paralegal education is increasingly important in the growth and development of the paralegal profession.
...court, be honest, use current cases (shepardize), and always be honest with the court. Paralegals are not to sign the attorney’s name under any circumstances and are not to misrepresent their selves at any time. When in doubt of the research project, ask questions to further help completing the task, and never be afraid to others for help.
First, I asked her to explain her educational background. She has an Undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice. Next, I asked her if she had a graduate degree. She explained that she has a Master’s degree in Forensic Psychology. Later, I asked her if she could explain why she decided to get a degree in Forensic Psychology. She explained that she really enjoyed learning more about the mind and being able to apply that knowledge to Forensics. Then, I asked her what is the name of her current position. She told me that she is currently a senior agent for parole and probation. I asked her how long as she held the current position. She mentioned that she has been holding that position for 4 years. I then asked her to explain her responsibilities and duties as a senior agent for parole and probation. She told me that her duties include effective community supervision of offenders placed on probation/parole this supervision process includes office and field contacts, court appearances, treatment referrals, drug testings, warrant and processing services, financial collection management, interviewing, counseling and investigation when required. Next, I asked her what is her what does she like the most about her job. She let me know that the thing that she likes most is the aspect of Public Safety. In addition, I asked what she dislikes about her job. She explained that one thing she dislikes is that as a probation agent, she is not