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Paralegal
As litigation becomes more frequent and complicated, attorneys are increasingly delegating tasks to paralegals.
A paralegal is similar to a dental assistant. S/he performs many of the same legal tasks as attorneys, although s/he is not allowed to quote or set fees, give legal advice, present a case or represent a party in court, file a complaint nor sign documents in situations where an attorney's signature is required.
Most paralegals employed by a law firm help the attorneys in preparation for court proceedings and corporate meetings. Their primary function is research: a paralegal is often responsible for verification and investigation of the facts of a case, and ensuring that all necessary information and documentation is in order. This information may include, but is not limited to, identification of appropriate statutes, precedent-setting cases and judicial decisions, legal opinions and articles relevant to the case at hand, and the legality of evidence and/or testimony.
The paralegal often prepares written reports that assist an attorney in determining an appropriate legal strategy for the case. The paralegal also writes up the initial draft of an argument or court motion and obtains necessary affidavits. Ultimately, it is the paralegal that is responsible for organizing and tracking the often sizable amount of documentation generated in the course of a lawsuit or criminal trial.
Paralegals are trained and qualified to draft many legal documents, such as contracts, mortgages, and separation agreements as well as provide assistance in the preparation of tax returns.
Like attorneys, paralegals may specialize in one or two areas of the law, or even sub-specialties within a legal area. As such, they are frequently employed by corporations, non-profit organizations and government agencies for specific legal tasks that do not necessarily require an attorney.