When I first started studying at Paralegal school, I was excited yet overwhelmed. It was a new area for me, and it almost felt like I was learning a new language. If you feel the same now, don’t worry. Your professors are only setting a foundation for you.
Stepping into the professional world as a paralegal can be both exciting and challenging. As someone who studied Paralegal Studies and worked hands-on as a paralegal, I reflect upon the valuable lessons I learned in school that provided a solid foundation, as well as the practical skills I had to acquire on the job.
This article will explore the relationship between the theoretical knowledge gained in school and the practiced skills honed as a paralegal on the job through interactions with fellow paralegals, attorneys, and online resources.
How School Helped Me Build a Strong Foundation
1. Legal Research and Writing
In my first year of studying Paralegal Studies, my school provided us with Westlaw/LexisNexis (legal research software) that we used for legal research purposes. The courses in legal research and writing equipped me with the ability to efficiently locate and analyze relevant statutes, regulations, and case law.
These skills helped me conduct comprehensive legal research, understand the legal language, simplify complex information, and draft convincing legal documents/arguments with accuracy and clarity.
Get tips on improving your paralegal writing skills.
2. Understanding Legal Procedures
I was exposed to multiple areas of law such as Civil Litigation, Criminal Law, Business law, etc., which provided me with a comprehensive understanding of the legal system and procedures. This knowledge helped me have a general overview of the types of cases and helped me differentiate between the different areas.
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3. Communication and Professionalism
I took courses in legal ethics, client communication, and professionalism that taught me the importance of maintaining high ethical standards, confidentiality, and effective communication skills.
A lot of these courses strengthened my writing abilities and trained me to understand that clients may not fully understand legal jargon, so explaining concepts in simpler terms would be more successful than quoting directly from the state code.
Learn the 7 C’s of Communication for Paralegals.
4. Organization
In school, I had to be organized. Juggling between classes, work, school involvement, and assignments was a time-management skill I had to acquire, and it trained me to manage my time more efficiently and prioritize my tasks. I had to ensure that no assignments were missed, no tasks were overdue, and no classes were left unattended.
Being in school forced me to adapt to a specific routine that helped me transition smoothly as a paralegal on the job. I found that the stress I went through as a student surpassed the stress I went through as a paralegal so being mentally trained was important and contributed heavily to my success.
Get tips on overcoming stress and anxiety as a paralegal.
How Working in the Field Helped Me Acquire Practical Skills
1. Hands-on Legal Software
When I started as a paralegal on the job, I realized that West Law is not the only legal software that law firms use. I had to adapt to the specific software and case management systems used in my workplace.
I received brief training from lawyers and support staff, who helped me navigate these platforms efficiently and utilize their full potential. Since different firms may use different software learning to adapt becomes important.
2. Document Management and Organization
Being the only paralegal for seven attorneys means having to manage 100+ cases efficiently. That included drafting pleadings, client communications, checking hearings, signing attorneys up for remote appearances, and many other tasks.
I developed an internal system that helped me stay organized and adapted to the electronic aspect of the job rather than relying solely on the paper-based methods I learned in school.
3. Effective Time Management
Meeting deadlines and prioritizing tasks are essential in the fast-paced legal world. Receiving guidance from attorneys helped me develop strategies for efficient time management.
This included creating a shared tasks list where attorneys could see the number of tasks I had to do and place their urgency level on the sheet, creating my own to-do list, and communicating with support staff or responsible attorneys if I needed assistance to meet assignment deadlines.
Get tips on working for multiple attorneys in different practice areas.
4. Client Interactions and Relationship Building
Providing exemplary customer service is crucial in this field, especially because the clients are often in an emotional and vulnerable state. Understanding their concerns and communicating effectively with them is a crucial part of the job.
I learned how to effectively communicate with clients by observing how my attorneys interacted with them and by reviewing the emails that attorneys CC’d me on.
Additionally, I learned how to communicate with opposing counsels and court personnel on a regular basis and I had to learn how to communicate professionally, clearly, and concisely in a variety of situations.
Find out how you can manage clients and their expectations.
How I Learned from Others and Online to Acquire Skills
1. Mentoring and Collaboration
Working closely with attorneys has allowed me to learn from their expertise, observe their work and communication styles, and review templates drafted by previous attorneys.
I have also connected with several attorneys on LinkedIn who have become my mentors and have helped me transition smoothly into this field.
Learn about the power of paralegal mentors.
2. External Training and Resources
Google and YouTube are my best friends, I search for information on anything I am confused about before approaching the attorneys. I watch numerous YouTube videos related to the field. Additionally, Paralegal Boot Camp offers excellent course resources that you can utilize to expand your knowledge.
3. On the Job Training
My boss shared with me a guideline/crash course that served as a mini-training for me. During the first week of me being a paralegal on the job, I started reading it and implementing it as I went through my day.
Repetition in the same task helped me excel and gain more experience. I only asked questions when I truly could not find the answer myself, so this helped me be self-independent and I learned a lot of things along the way.
Overall, there is a great advantage to attending Paralegal school as it provides an excellent entry point for aspiring legal professionals. It helped me succeed as a paralegal on the job and even led to my promotion to a Senior Paralegal position within my first year. As a paralegal, I am constantly learning and growing, and I believe that a willingness to learn and adapt is essential to success in this field.
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Meet the Author
Noor Haleem is a litigation paralegal at a real estate, bankruptcy, family, and business litigation firm. She started her legal career at Cuyamaca College where she majored in Paralegal Studies and studied business and psychology at San Diego State University. Noor worked as a marketing assistant and funding coordinator for several different law firms.
She loves being a paralegal and has hopes to attend law school in the near future. When she is not working, she likes to pray, listen to music, cook delicious meals, and spend quality time with loved ones.
