Litigation Paralegal
Invaluable to a Trial Attorney
The prosecution rests! The defense rests! Those words define voluminous hours of work performed by trial attorneys and their trial team, with an integral part of that team being the litigation paralegal. Each moment of time spent researching, investigating and analyzing culminates at this moment. What has transpired over those months prior to trial? The specific role of the litigation paralegal will differ from law firm to law firm, but some general tasks are similar.
Investigation
What is being investigated? The evidence! The prosecution uses the evidence to supports its charges. The defense investigates the evidence to set up its defense. A litigation paralegal may:
- Locate and interview witnesses and take their statements
- Organize documents and set up a fact chronology
- Conduct client interviews
Watch and listen to the following video on Paralegal Litigation: The Importance of Evidence, produced by Suzanne Bechard, a practicing attorney and AIPS instructor: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OOdIkAgyjo
Pleadings
Pleadings are the formal written statements presented by both prosecution and defense in a lawsuit. A litigation paralegal may:
- Assist in drafting the summons, complaint and supporting affidavits in a lawsuit
- Collaborate with the client to examine the allegations and to prepare a response
- Create and maintain pleading indexes and file pleadings with the court
- Calendar court hearing dates and pleading deadlines
Discovery
Discovery is a fact-finding process that takes place after a lawsuit has been filed and before trial begins, which enables the parties in the case to prepare for settlement or trial. There are different methods of discovery; however, a litigation paralegal may:
- Draft interrogatories or written requests to the other party for specific information
- Create and maintain discovery indexes
- Calendar discovery deadlines
- Research, organize, analyze and review documents, including e-discovery
Pre-Trial and Trial
Game time! The courtroom is a flurry of activity during this phase. A litigation paralegal may:
- Organize and document exhibits
- Manage document files
- Serve as liaison between clients, witnesses, court personnel and trial team
- Evaluate prospective jurors
Paralegal Outlook
Good news! Employment of paralegals and legal assistants is expected to grow by 18 percent from 2010 to 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Paralegal Training
The job outlook is good, but can you complete in the job market? What you need to be highly competitive:
- Paralegal Certificate
- National Certification
- Specialization
The AIPS Advantage!
The online paralegal courses AIPS offers will…
- Train you
- Prepare you for the NALA CLA Exam
- Provide CLE specialization opportunities