Our world as paralegals is drastically changing. For the first time, we are witnessing artificial intelligence taking over and having a significant role in the legal community.
We’re recognizing professional burnout and then actively doing something about it.
We’re in the middle of groundbreaking work as we set boundaries within the workplace and witness the massive push for information at our fingertips, available in a matter of seconds.
I’m intrigued to see how artificial intelligence will continue to improve things for paralegals, like research, writing, and analysis, but I still feel like the basics will always be ingrained in our brains. I know that might not make too much sense if you’re new to this… but I’m talking about the basic, drill sergeant, organized, never missing a task or beat, creating checklists on checklists, routine that paralegals have assumed since the beginning of time.
The basics do live on, but whether you are a seasoned paralegal or someone who is just entering the legal world, our everyday paralegal lives will continue to transform.
Paralegals strive to feel accomplished, organized, accurate, and reliable. But what makes us well-rounded?
According to Google, the definition as it applies to a person is to “have a personality that is fully developed in all aspects”. Now, take that definition and apply it to us as paralegals. In this blog, I’ll share with you four ways to become a well-rounded paralegal.
1. Be in the know
We constantly read that one of the keys to being a rock star paralegal is to stay up to date on laws, rules, and recent precedent-setting court cases. This includes continuing your education and making sure you know where rules, laws, or regulations stand in your practice area.
The goal is to be a paralegal that is fully developed in all aspects, so branch out even further and explore other areas of law. We receive all sorts of CLE opportunities through our local paralegal organizations or through our employers. Why not take them?
There is value in becoming an asset to attorneys, and I’m a firm believer in the phrase “when you know better, you do better”. If you’re a personal injury paralegal, take a CLE in business law disputes.
If you’re a corporate paralegal, take a CLE in estate planning litigation. The more you know, the more you can become exposed to, and that way, when your attorneys are in a jam and need someone to file something in Chancery court, you feel confident enough to rise to the challenge.
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2. Be a part of something bigger than you
It’s always so rewarding to be a part of something bigger than yourself in general, but I feel as if it is an equally important part of being a well-rounded paralegal.
Most of us in our everyday lives find that through giving blood or paying it forward in the drive-through line. But as paralegals, we are innately a part of something bigger than ourselves.
We are working every day for the benefit of someone else, whether a corporation or a local small business. I know our paralegal association does a lot for veterans and kids in need.
I’m a huge fan of this type of contribution in the legal community because it just reminds us to be human. It’s easy to get swept up in the idea of law firms and the hustle and bustle of deadlines and egos.
We should actively look for ways to reconnect with what’s important. You should strive to be a part of something and expose yourself to other perspectives to have a better understanding of other legal professionals around you.
3. Be self-aware
I don’t read a lot about this one for paralegals. I guess because it’s a touchy subject. We don’t want to upset our co-workers and generally wish to keep the peace in the office. I totally get that. And I think this one is the hardest to accomplish on the road to being a well-rounded paralegal. Because it gets personal, and a lot of law firms, big or small, do not wish to go there. But this is 2025. We should be breaking barriers, and it is so important to be self-aware in your professional life.
If you are self-absorbed and not able to see past yourself at work in your specific area of law, you can become unbearable to work with individually and in a team setting. At the end of the day, it hinders the workplace culture.
Example: I used to like to decorate and want to do things and then once I started seeing that trend, it was like a domino effect. I don’t know about you guys, but I’ve worked with paralegals who prioritize their specific area of law over everyone else’s like blatantly and rudely. As if one is more important than the other. That ultimately hurts the firm overall. It hurts morale, and it makes it difficult to function as a team. I’m completely up to my neck in to-do lists but if someone from another office needs their client to stop by and sign a document, it’s a no- brainer to help. I’ve also worked in a fast-paced real estate firm where all of us were working toward a common goal, no one person’s work was more important than the other. It was the best environment I’d be in, and I looked forward to going there every day. Being self-aware and not having that dictatorship style co-worker environment makes a world of difference. We spend most of our time in the office, away from our families, a lot of the time bringing work home. Being a well-balanced paralegal means making a conscious effort not to be miserable at work.
4. Be courageous
There is so much strength and value in being a paralegal who knows everything there is to know about a particular area of law, but don’t be afraid to go.
Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s impressive, being a paralegal who specializes in specific practices and finding that niche. You Queens are considered the pioneers of your practice area and never back down from defending it or exploring it. You have spent decades learning and growing with it. You know all of the inner workings and history. It’s very admirable.
I started my paralegal career thinking that was the only thing I was ever going to do. I enjoyed Personal Injury work so much, and eventually, the circumstances led to me closing that chapter for a brief time. I learned a lot from my team and grew as a person. I’m forever grateful for those six years.
The good and the bad experiences shaped who I was as a paralegal and a team player. Those wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t decided to step outside of the box. Try something new. Don’t be afraid to take a hard left.
After leaving, I went to another firm and started to learn something else. It was there that I realized what I don’t really like. However, on the path to where I am today, the basics I learned in real estate help me to be a more well-rounded paralegal now. I can help out with basic deed preps and know the general steps to making sure it’s done correctly, but that’s not what I’m assigned to. I think that’s a well-rounded paralegal.
Meet the Author
Christina West is a paralegal at Parkowski, Guerke & Swayze, P.A. After practicing in personal injury for six years, she decided to expand her knowledge of the law and transitioned into a real estate paralegal role. After a year of learning all things real estate, her journey led her to her current firm where she handles a variety of matters for multiple attorneys.
She is a Delaware native and graduated from the University of Delaware with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. She continued her education at Delaware Technical Community College earning her Paralegal Certificate in 2017. She is the Newsletter Editor of the Delaware Paralegal Association since 2021. She lives at the beach with her family, and enjoys reading, movies, and being outdoors.
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