Office Legal Assistance / Volunteer Opportunity

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Job Description:

Paralegals and legal assistants do a variety of tasks to support lawyers, including maintaining and organizing files, conducting legal research, and drafting documents.

Job Duties:

• Investigate the facts of a case;
• Conduct research on relevant laws, regulations, and legal articles;
• Organize and maintain documents in a paper or electronic filing systems;
• Gather and arrange evidence and other legal documents for attorney review and case preparation;
• Write reports to help lawyers prepare for trials;
• Draft correspondence and legal documents;
• Get affidavits and other formal statements that may be used as evidence in court;
• File exhibits, briefs, appeals and other legal documents with the court;
• Call clients, and witnesses to schedule interviews, and meetings;
  • Use technology and computer software for managing and organizing the increasing amount of documents, calendars, and data collected during a case.

Education and Training:

Have an associate’s degree in paralegal studies, or a bachelor's degree in another field and a certificate in paralegal studies. In some cases, college graduates with a bachelor’s degree with no legal experience or education.

Important Qualities:

Communication skills. Must be able to document and present their research and related information to their supervising attorney.

Computer skills. Need to be familiar with using computers for legal research and litigation support. They also use computer programs for organizing and maintaining important documents.

Interpersonal skills. Spend most of their time working with clients and other professionals and must be able to develop good relationships. Must make clients feel comfortable sharing personal information related to their cases.

Organizational skills. May be responsible for many cases at one time. They must adapt quickly to changing deadlines.

Research skills. Need good research and investigative skills to conduct legal research.