Changing the Legal Landscape: The Evolution of the Paralegal

CHANGING THE LEGAL LANDSCAPE THE EVOLUTION OF THE PARALEGAL Did you know that just a few years ago, the term "paralegal" did not even exist? The evolution of the paralegal profession is marked by speed. The paralegal role was created in the 1970s THE PARALEGAL PROFESSION The paralegal profession has evolved significantly since it emerged in the 1970s, making it easier to define paralegals' roles by what they can't do: sign pleadings, represent clients in court and give legal advice. The new paralegal plays a strategic and fundamental role in the modern legal model. INVESTIGATE THE FACTS OF A CASE FOR THE ATTORNEY. CONDUCT RESEARCH ON RELEVANT LAWS, REGULATIONS, AND LEGAL ARTICLES. KEEP INFORMATION RELATED TO CASES OR TRANSACTIONS IN COMPUTER DATABASES. ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN NETWORK OF EXPERT WITNESSES. CONTACT AND COMMUNICATE WITH CLIENTS ON BEHALF OF THE ATTORNEY. DRAFT CORRESPONDENCE AND OTHER DOCUMENTS, AND FILE THEM WITH THE COURT. GET AFFIDAVITS & OTHER FORMAL STATEMENTS THAT MAY BE USED AS EVIDENCE IN COURT. ORGANIZE ATTORNEY'S CALENDAR & ASSIST WITH SUBSIDIARY SCHEDULING NEEDS. ORGANIZE AND PRESENT MOTIONS AND RELEVANT LEGAL DOCUMENTS. WRITE REPORTS TO HELP LAWYERS PREPARE FOR HEARINGS AND TRIALS. WHERE CAN YOU FIND PARALEGALS TODAY? INDUSTRIES WITH THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF EMPLOYMENT TOTAL NUMBER OF PARALEGALS IN THE FOLLOWING INDUSTRIES Data: MAY 2012 50,000 100,000 150,000 200,000 197,750 LEGAL SERVICES LOCAL GOVERNMENT 14,310 (OES Designation) FEDERAL EXECUTIVE BRANCH 13,970 (OES Designation) STATE GOVERNMENT 9,970 (OES Designation) 6,390 MANAGEMENT OF COMPANIES & ENTERPRISES PARALEGAL WAGES COMPARISON PER INDUSTRY Data: MAY 2012 HOURLY $23.16 $24.30 $31.57 $21.43 $29.10 MEAN WAGE ANNUAL $48,170 $50,540 $65,660 $44,570 $60,520 MEAN WAGE LOCAL GoveTATEAENT LEGAL PRACTICE SPECIALTIES PARALEGAL VS LAWYER WHAT'S THE BIG DIFFERENCE? PARALEGALS ARE THE DETAIL-ORIENTED TECHNICIANS, ORGANIZERS, AND FACT EXPERTS. ATTORNEYS ARE THE PLANNERS, STRATEGISTS, AND DIRECTORS. EMPLOYMENT QUICK FACTS PARALEGALS & LEGAL ASSISTANTS MEDIAN PAY $22.44 $46,680 PER HOUR PER YEAR 256,600 The employment, or size, of this occupation in 2010 for the whole U.S. NUMBER OF JOBS 46,900 EMPLOYMENT CHANGE 25 JOB OUTLOOK 18% 20 Competition will be strong. Experienced, formally-trained paralegals should have the best prospects. 15 10 JOB GROWTH 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 PARALEGAL EMPLOYMENT STATISTICS 18% $46,680 17th MEAN ANNUAL WAGE RANKING ON THE PROJECTED JOB GROWTH BETWEEN 2010 - 2020 LIST OF CAREERCAST'S 200 BEST JOBS LAW SCHOOL / JURIS DOCTOR EMPLOYMENT STATISTICS i. Comparative data of newly graduated JDs of 2007 and 2011 EMPLOYMENT RATE DROP FOR FULL-TIME LAWYERS (82nd 100 90 74.1% 59.8% THE NUMBER OF 80 NEW JDs WORKING PART-TIME OR RANKING ON THE 70 UNEMPLOYED HAS LIST OF CAREERCAST'S 60 MORE THAN DOUBLED 200 BEST JOBS SINCE 2007 50 40 10% 20 4.1% 5.8% 12.1% 10 FULL-TIME PART-TIME 2007 UNEMPLOYED LAWYERS LAWYERS LAWYERS 2011 WHY EMPLOYERS ARE SO INTERESTED IN PARALEGALS Paralegals are highly educated support professionals who use judgment and discretion. Firms can bill paralegals' time to clients at a far lower rate than attorneys' time. Unbilled time costs the firm less. "Lawyers are overqualified for many of the tasks they have performed in the past. To the extent that well-qualified paralegals can take on a larger portion of the work, the lawyer can justify a higher hourly rate for a more limited role, without increasing the cost to the client." - American Bar Association Paralegals can maintain a high level of client contact and produce a large portion of a client's work, lowering client bills and leaving attorneys free to do tasks that only they can do. 10 REASONS TO HIRE A PARALEGAL Paralegals provide increased profitability for your firm by increasing revenue and decreasing expenses. 6. Paralegals permit attorneys to focus on complex legal work. Paralegal time can be billed out separately lo the client and at a lower cost. 7 Paralegals improve client satisfaction by being accessible points of contact. Paralegals can bandle many substantive tasks under an attorney's supervision, freeing attorneys to direct cases and cultivate clients, Paralegals reliably track deadlines and make sure attorneys meet them. Paralegals perform substantive legal tasks such as legal research, interviewing clients, drafting documents, drafting pleadings, assisting at closings and more. Paralegals can assist on pro bono cases, benefiting the firm, the attorney, the legal profession, and society. Paralegals free up attorney time allowing firms to increase their caseload. Paralegals round out the legal team by improving the overall efficiency and productivity of the law office. 10 REFERENCES INTRO DATA hmpmw.kworoing.convatikle00010297e Evoluion-ol-tho-Paraloga Profosciont ROLE OF PARALEGAL hmp/www.paradegak.org'associadions/22701losparalogalsponibilispdt WHERE TO FIND PARALEGALS heplwwwbls gowoesfouronoloes232011ham PRACTICE SPECIALTIES hmp//www.loworooding.com/arice/O0010297/The Evoludon of the Paralegol Profossione LAWYER VS PARALEGAL p/ww wreing.com/anide/000n297The-Evoluion of the Pamlogel Pvdeslon mulh omedran THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY | hmp://wwwwamedcanber.org/groups/pasleg yalegamsuroastodermation dor lue ntorJowyen howpanlegalcn_improvn_your_pramion html EMPLOYMENT QUICK FACTS Lwyere hnp:t/www.bln gowlonhlegallwywn hm Paralagal: hmpolwwwbk goulach/lagal/Pamingale-andinga l-aistants htm | http://www.l.goulach/lagalParlngals-and-legakanintants htmikab-s Law School / JD: htp:lww.lcinen.com/oommunityportal'atidlaatides apacig-OATYLJIUS- ScPaeHEICSOM-Ba-TWugEnDRMB- | hetp: www.theatiantic.com/tuinea'archa/201302/he-the-job-markat-kordwachcol-grads-cnumbled-andhow-t-couldcomebacbtolfe/272052/ EMPLOYERS INTERESTED IN PARALEGAL hetp:www.paralegalmanagment.crg'mage/torieaidocumentulnwinginPraleMangepd hetp://www.americanbur.org/contert/damabalmigratedlugalericaparalegalidownloadu'ahitin gwort.authchwckdam.pdf p/waw.americanbur.org/groupa/paralegalatuscurnlormation_or Jamyun ow puuluga can jmprove_you pracicu.htma6 WASHINGTON, DC TEN REASONS WHY HIRE hap. Mwwwamwicanba.org/oerou/danbaladrinktivelparakgalls prlga op 10 reors to hire.authcheckdam.pd CREDITS (leens used) Rocoarch, Javior Cabecas from The Noun Project, Papor, Tom Schon from The Noun Project, Noorork, kconoci from The Noun Project, Tag. Stephen Thomas from The Noun Projea; Price Tag, Arelier keberg from The Noun Project http://www.paralegalstudiesdegroeonline.gwu.edu LEGAL SERVICES VERNME FEDERAL EXECUTIVE BRANCH (OES Designation) (OES Designation) CONTRACTS INSURANCE MEDICAL MALPRACTICE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY HEALTHCARE COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT OF COMPANIES AND ENTERPRISES CORPORATE LAW WORKERS' COMP BANKING & INVESTMENTS EMPLOYMENT / LABOR LAW REAL ESTATE LITIGATION FAMILY LAW ENTERTAINMENT LAW PERSONAL INJURY REDUCE COSTS INCREASE PROFITS IMPROVE CLIENT SATISFACTION