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By Amanda Rogers, Paganelli Law Group
Paralegals are a valuable — yet often overlooked — part of the legal field. Paralegals are intelligent and necessary and know a lot more of the administrative/procedural processes than most attorneys, because that is literally their job description. We know the ins and outs of e-filing at state and federal levels and their respective quirks, we know about the special local rules, certain documents requirements, and often we have a great communication rapport with court staff. We work alongside attorneys from all stages of a case, from researching claims and counterclaims, discovery, trial and, if necessary, to settlement and post-trial proceedings. Paralegals get invested in cases the same way clients and attorneys do, and we share the passion for the law. There is more to a paralegal’s role than managing attorneys’ calendars, fielding calls and routine document drafting — we can do substantive legal work, too! It is not our job to argue or know the law, but we can certainly assist in fact gathering for the attorneys to do just that.
“Research” isn’t necessarily tied to a case’s facts; it can be about other relevant data. Research on cases varies depending on the facts of the case, but the attorney needs to give direction on what they want from the case so the paralegal can anticipate future needs on the matter. Paralegals are a great resource for scouring the internet for relevant caselaw and can search for other information using social media or research platforms. The onus is on the attorney to tell the paralegal what it is they are looking for, such as precedent, judge’s past decisions, opposing counsel’s trial history, etc., and the paralegal can gather that data. Paralegals are trained to look at issues more broadly, so that gives them an advantage in researching. Often, a paralegal’s research can lead to some interesting discoveries.
Discovery in cases is not a new concept, but e-discovery is a popular and increasingly relevant niche that applies to a vast majority of cases today. Attorneys do not have the time to dig through each and every document in discovery, but the paralegal can get the ball rolling on building important search criteria, gathering data and organizing information. A paralegal can organize information for the attorney to efficiently and effectively review.
The paralegal’s job becomes easier when it comes to trial preparation. As the paralegal is going through discovery, we can flag important documents and anticipate what the attorney will need during trial and when we’re building the trial notebook with exhibits. Paralegals work in tandem with attorneys, being their sounding boards, collaborating on strategies, and organizing thoughts and notes.
Paralegals are the backbone of the legal field. With the right training, support and trust, paralegals can and should do more than answer phone calls, update calendars and draft routine pleadings. To hear more about how attorneys can effectively utilize paralegals, I welcome you to attend IndyBar’s CLE titled “How to Maximize Your Paralegal in Research, e-Discovery, and Trial,” at 4 p.m. on Aug. 10 (link found on IndyBar website).•
Amanda Rogers is a litigation paralegal with Paganelli Law Group possessing nearly 10 years of experience. She is a member of IndyBar’s Paralegal Committee.
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