Lawyer Monthly Magazine - February 2020 Edition

PARALEGALS The Importance of Utilizing Paralegals What is the role of a paralegal? Paralegals, depending on experience and tasks needed, are often hired to deal with the customer service side of the practice, often being a spokesperson for the attorney. They gather all information, facts and proofs, engage in client conversations, communicate with courts and other legal firms and often provide office administration tasks. Paralegals are often highly skilled individuals with specific knowledge sets to support and assist lawyers with their practice at all stages, from intake to resolution, however, they are limited in scope over what they can and cannot do on their own and in a law practice. Often, they are given the task to assess a case at intake and collect information to help decide whether it’s a case that would require legal advice and attorney representation. Why would clients hire a paralegal over a lawyer? Most often, those that hire me, do so for notary/signing agent services, process serving, document typing, research, referrals, document preparation and getting them the right forms and other support services that do not require legal advice and cost much less to administer. As an independent provider, I cannot give legal advice or represent the general public, so in such cases, they would not hire me over a lawyer. However, I can gather information and point someone in the right direction by giving them referrals, suggestions for resolutions or help them get their case facts in order better so they can hire an attorney, if needed. People will often seek my assistance first because their initial motivation is that they think they will save on money and think we are cheaper in fees. That is not always the case. I get a lot of calls for legal aid services, Paralegals play an important part in the legal field, but their knowledge and experience can often be undermined. Speaking to Christa Centolella, she addresses how law firms can utilize paralegals and the services they offer. but I don’t provide free or pro bono services. They would not hire me instead of an attorney because I am providing support services, not direct legal services. There is a big difference between the two. I am often hired by attorneys to provide administrative or certain tasks that assist them with their client’s case, not mine. I don’t have a legal practice; I have a legal support and financial practice. Often, people possess a great amount of business and legal knowledge and decide to represent themselves (if rules allow). On those cases, they usually need a little extra manpower on tasks such as research, making sure they have the right forms and notary information, or assistance with organizing information. The only other time I think someone would hire me over an attorney would be for notary services, as you don’t have to be an attorney to be a notary public. What aid can paralegals offer? Having paralegals can be key to the success of every attorney’s firm whether it is a solo practice, a partner practice or a large firm. They can assist you greatly in your daily practice needs and tasks depending on your business model and area of law. Sometimes paralegal fees may be higher than traditional legal support staff, but often that comes with experience and vast knowledge of certain subjects and areas of law. You are paying for higher knowledge and skills sets. It’s the same for why someone would hire an attorney. Paralegals to attorneys are like physician assistants to doctors. What are common misconceptions people have regarding paralegals? I get requests I can’t fulfil and the responses I get are that they think Expert Insight By Christa Centolella, CJC Judgment and Paralegal Services 38 WWW.LAWYER-MONTHLY.COM | FEB 2020 AS AN INDEPENDENT PROVIDER, I CANNOT GIVE LEGAL ADVICE OR REPRESENT THE GENERAL PUBLIC, SO IN SUCH CASES, THEY WOULD NOT HIRE ME OVER A LAWYER.