THE FIELD STUDY OF PARALEGAL - Research Paper Example

Field Study of Paralegal Field Study of Paralegal Paralegals may be defined as professional assistants to lawyers (Miller & Meinzinger, 2007). They are qualified by work experience, training or education. However, the definition may vary depending on the country one is practicing. For example, in Canada, the profession is licensed and regulated such that the paralegals are granted independent statuses within the jurisdiction. Conversely, they do not have government authority in the United States to practice in the same manner as lawyers, neither are they court officers (Miller & Meinzinger, 2007).

This paper will give an insight of what paralegals do and their expected pay in the United States. Most of a paralegal’s duties entail technical paperwork. Paralegals may participate in investigative roles of a case. They play a key assisting task to lawyers preparing for trials, hearings or depositions. They track down relevant information in a case, examine previous judicial decisions and offer referencing articles. The responsibility of preparing written reports to be used by attorneys in deciding case handling strategies lies with the paralegals (Miller & Meinzinger, 2007).

A paralegal’s earnings are determined by experience, training and education levels. There is a general tendency for established firms in urban areas to pay more than the smaller ones outside of big cities. A paralegal employed on full time basis earns an annual salary between USD 39,000 and USD 61,000 (Miller & Meinzinger, 2007). Some firms may offer bonuses and overtime incentives, bringing the annual figure higher. In conclusion, paralegals act as vital assistants to lawyers. They can choose areas of specialization or practice within a broad legal range, therefore, their career is not limited to employment in a law firm.

Their expertise is applicable in organizations whose businesses include dealings in matters of immigration, bankruptcy, real estate or labor relations.ReferencesMiller, R. L., & Meinzinger, M. U. (2007). Wests paralegal today. New York: Delmar Learning.