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Career Details :: Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Description
Assist lawyers by researching legal precedent, investigating facts, or preparing legal documents. Conduct research to support a legal proceeding, to formulate a defense, or to initiate legal action.
Experience
A minimum of two to four years of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Education
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Training
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Tasks
- Gathers and analyzes research data, such as statutes, decisions, and legal articles, codes, and documents.
- Prepares legal documents, including briefs, pleadings, appeals, wills, contracts, and real estate closing statements.
- Investigates facts and law of cases to determine causes of action and to prepare cases.
- Appraises and inventories real and personal property for estate planning.
- Calls upon witnesses to testify at hearing.
- Arbitrates disputes between parties and assists in real estate closing process.
- Presents arguments and evidence to support appeal at appeal hearing.
- Keeps and monitors legal volumes to ensure that law library is up-to-date.
- Directs and coordinates law office activity, including delivery of subpoenas.
- Answers questions regarding legal issues pertaining to civil-service hearings.
- Prepares affidavits or other documents, maintains document file, and files pleadings with court clerk.
Related Careers
- Court Clerks
- Law Clerks
- Lawyers
- Legal Secretaries
- Loan Interviewers and Clerks
- Municipal Clerks
- Tax Preparers
- Title Examiners and Abstractors
- Title Searchers
Important Abilities
General Work Activities
- Getting Information Needed to Do the Job
- Communicating With Other Workers
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Analyzing Data or Information
- Evaluating Information Against Standards
Important Skills
Frequent Work Context
- Consequence of Error
- Importance of Being Sure All Is Done
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Indoors
- Job-Required Social Interaction
Related Majors
| Major | Add to XapPack |
|---|---|
| Architectural CADD Technology |  [ add ] |
| Legal Assistant | [ add ] |
| Legal Assistant Studies | [ add ] |
| Legal Assistant/Paralegal | [ add ] |
| Paralegal | [ add ] |
| Paralegal Assistant | [ add ] |
| Paralegal Studies | [ add ] |
| Paralegal/Social Services | [ add ] |
Institutions Offering Related Majors
No institutions found.