Are you interested in seeking a career as a paralegal? Whether you are just starting in your career and have selected this path or considering a career change, making an informed decision is always the best option. Being a paralegal, like many other professions, is riddled with myths and misconceptions. In this post, we shall debunk these paralegal career fallacies for the justice of peace.
After reading this, you will have a better grasp of this profession, which will assist you in making the best selection for your professional path. To begin, let's go over the fundamentals of this vocation.
WHO IS A PARALEGAL, AND WHAT DO THEY DO?
Paralegals typically operate behind the scenes, under the supervision of an attorney to assist in preparing legal matters. Legal research, creating legal documents, conducting client interviews, locating witnesses, conducting witness interviews, and so on are all part of this work.
The paralegal profession is not limited to working in law companies. These specialists can also work for firms and businesses such as hospitals, banks, and insurance agencies. They can also work for the government.
Now that we've covered the fundamentals, let's debunk the most frequent paralegal job myths!
MYTH 1: A PARALEGAL IS A LAWYER'S SECRETARY
Some people believe that paralegals are only there to push documents and answer phones – that they are in charge of menial chores that attorneys do not have time to complete. This, though, could not be distant from the truth. Because paralegals and attorneys undertake many identical tasks, a paralegal's job is both challenging and mentally exciting.
The only distinction is that the paralegal works under the attorney's supervision. As a result, their work product gets integrated into and aligned with the attorney's work product for the client. Furthermore, paralegals do not represent the client in a court near me.
Paralegals are essential because they enable attorneys to transfer obligations that they would otherwise have taken on themselves.
MYTH 2: YOU DON'T REQUIRE A DIPLOMA TO BE A PARALEGAL
A graduate certificate can suffice as your first step toward becoming a paralegal, provided you enroll in a recognized paralegal school program. On the other hand, obtaining a diploma would be the best approach to gain a competitive advantage in the legal industry. The legal profession prefers college-educated paralegals with this type of accreditation. So, while a diploma is not necessary for and of itself, it is essential if you want to boost your chances of being recruited at a more prestigious firm, getting paid more, and progressing in your career faster.
MYTH 3: THIS OCCUPATION IS ONLY A STEPPING STONE TO BEING AN ATTORNEY
Another paralegal job misconception is that paralegals are always either aspiring or disgruntled lawyers near me. But, once again, this is incorrect. A person's career option is to become a paralegal. It is neither a stepping stone to becoming a lawyer or an attorney nor a backup plan.
As we noted in the first misconception, paralegals and attorneys do share a lot of responsibilities. However, paralegals are not responsible for representing clients or providing legal advice. This means that paralegals do not need to pay for malpractice insurance because they simply believe.
Furthermore, paralegals have a more balanced lifestyle, with less stress and less late-night work — all while continuing to pursue their passion for law. Although this implies that paralegals do not earn as much as attorneys, others argue that the trade-off is more than deserving.
MYTH 4: TO BE A PARALEGAL, YOU NECESSITATE TO REMEMBER STATUTES AND LAWS
Let us review the record. Even attorneys and lawyers near me who have spent countless hours studying for the Bar and have years of industry experience do not have all of the statutes and laws memorized in their minds. When you deam about it, that's a lot of knowledge to jam into someone's head.
Furthermore, because the legislation changes regularly, memorizing it is not a sustainable method. However, sufficient legal knowledge is required to conduct successful legal research and create legal arguments. These abilities are significantly more valuable in the field of paralegals.
MYTH 5: IT'S OKAY FOR PARALEGALS TO PROVIDE LEGAL ADVICE
A paralegal's friends and family would occasionally question them about their own legal difficulties due to the profession's name (having the term “legal” in it) combined with a general, weak understanding of the profession. In such a case, it may appear innocent and quite acceptable for the paralegal to comment with their “view on things.” However, this can be a severe ethical violation. As a result, we advise all paralegals to refuse to answer and merely forward such questions to a professional attorney.
MYTH 6: PARALEGALS SPEND ALL THEIR TIME IN COURT
Another prevalent misperception is that paralegals work lengthy hours in court with attorneys. In reality, paralegals don't receive much (if any) time in court near me — although this can vary based on the paralegal's specialty. The majority of a paralegal's work hours are spent in their office, behind the scenes, creating legal paperwork, interviewing clients, interviewing witnesses, conducting legal research, and so on. Paralegals spend the majority of their time contributing to the efficiency of the law company for which they work.
MYTH 7: BEING A PARALEGAL IS MONOTONOUS & SLOW-PACED
The juridical industry is one of the most fast-paced in the world. Some would describe it as exhilarating, while others would describe it as problematic. However, to be perfectly honest, our sector is deadline-driven, high-pressure, and some days can be pretty busy.
Another consideration is that paralegals work under the supervision of an attorney, who is ultimately responsible for the job result. Most allocated responsibilities are urgent and critical; as a result, attorneys are naturally impatient and demanding at times, which may add strain to the paralegal's role.
MYTH 8: PARALEGALS ALWAYS HAVE NINE-TO-FIVE JOB
Overtime is not always necessary for paralegals. However, there may be days when they need to work extra hours to meet deadlines, when more preparation for a trial is necessary, when their supervising attorney requires something urgent, and so on.
MYTH 9: PARALEGALS ARE KNOWLEDGEABLE IN ALL AREAS OF THE LAW.
Paralegals, like attorneys and lawyers around me, have areas of specialty. Regulatory law, family law, insolvency, corporate and business law, criminal law, and real estate law are a few examples of specific things.
For more information on the profession, visit Allied Paralegal Services and book an appointment with the best paralegals today.
Source: Myths Of Being A Paralegal
