The role of the paralegal in the legal industry has evolved over the years. Traditionally the paralegal was viewed as a glorified secretary, with no official licensing body to govern standards of the profession. Routine tasks that required basic knowledge of legal systems and procedures were performed by the paralegal under supervision of an attorney. Matters such as simple probating of estates, bankruptcies, preparing and answering interrogatories, and uncomplicated procedural motions are the day-to-day tasks that are performed by the paralegal.
The advent of the information age has had profound effects on the legal world and the functions of the paralegal. In an earlier age, it was possible to be a paralegal with minimal computer or technology skills. This is no longer the case as computerized word processing, spreadsheets, and vast databases of information have all taken their place in the law office. Todays paralegal must know all the above-mentioned legal skills as well as capable and adept at using computer systems for a variety of functions.
In an article by Milton Hooper, it is pointed out that the evolving landscape of the legal technology world places even greater demands on the paralegal. Whereas in an earlier era understanding how to use an office suite was the extent of computer literacy required, today the computer skills demanded by the legal world involve being able to make courtroom presentations and graphics for utilization at trial. Creating presentations for use at trial involves everything from creating the actual visual effects that the firm is seeking as well as setting up the hardware in the appropriate place in order to support the wider team effort. The legal universe mimics the rest of the universe and as a result of television and Internet productions; the modern jury expects to see elaborate visual displays in order to simplify the message from the attorney. Thus, the technical capabilities in and of themselves are not enough and a degree of artistry is required to create a good presentation. Being competent with software suites such as CorelDraw or Adobe provide a valuable advantage to both the paralegal and the firm that employs him.
Another function of the paraprofessional is in litigation support. This role comes from the fact that in order for it to be done well the practitioner must have knowledge of courtroom procedure and the rules employed in the particular jurisdiction. The technology is only useful in the hands of someone who understands how to use it. The border between the paralegal and the technology specialist is quickly disappearing and the most capable and most employable people will be individuals who have good knowledge of the local legal system as well as deep technical knowledge and a flair for the visual arts.
The legal industry views the paralegal as an integral part of the team performing the legal tasks. The adept paralegal frees up the attorney’s time to work on complex issues that are beyond the education levels of the paralegal. Furthermore the technologically capable paralegal is vital to the delivery of modern legal services because everything today is performed electronically. An artistic paralegal will allow the lawyer to explain his case in the most direct and simple manner to a wide audience. The modern paralegal must wear many hats and be sensitive to the evolving legal and technological world. In the future, it is likely that there will be ever more demands placed on the practitioner, and the more skills that are acquired over the course of a career, the better the individual will perform. With the growth of E-Discovery procedures and search tools, the computer literate paralegal will be more vital than ever.
Bibliography
Milton Hooper. “The Evolving Paralegal Role.” Paralegal Today. Accessed August 8,
2013. http://paralegaltoday.com/issue_archive/features/feature1_mj07.htm
