What Does a Paralegal Do?

If you’re beginning to research law, it can help to define the different roles, starting with paralegals or legal assistants. While attorneys often serve as the public face of the legal profession, paralegals and legal assistants may provide¹ much of the behind-the-scenes support that keeps cases moving. At its core, this role typically centers¹ on assisting attorneys through substantive legal work like conducting legal research, drafting legal documents, and preparing cases under attorney supervision.

Paralegals can be found² in law firms, government agencies, community legal service programs, and corporate legal departments. In each of these environments, they support¹ the legal team and play a vital role in ensuring the legal system operates efficiently. Their contributions touch nearly every aspect of the legal process, from case preparation to client communication, which can make them an indispensable part of the broader legal profession.

Core Responsibilities of a Paralegal

Paralegals assist¹ attorneys in a wide range of legal matters. While they are not licensed to practice law or represent clients independently, they perform substantive legal work under the supervision of an attorney.

This work may include:¹

• Drafting legal documents: Paralegals prepare contracts, pleadings, motions, wills, deeds, discovery requests, and other legal documents. Drafting requires careful attention to legal terminology and formatting standards.
• Conducting legal research: By reviewing statutes, case law, and regulations, paralegals identify relevant laws that apply to a client’s situation. They also summarize their findings for attorneys to use in building arguments.
• Interviewing clients and witnesses: Paralegals often serve as a point of contact, gathering background information, conducting interviews, and ensuring clients understand the steps of the legal process.
• Gathering case files: Organizing evidence, managing exhibits, and maintaining legal documents and records are common responsibilities that keep cases organized for hearings or trials.
• Supporting legal proceedings: In some environments, paralegals may draft trial notebooks, coordinate with opposing counsel, and assist attorneys during administrative hearings or court proceedings.

Because paralegals and legal assistants work under attorney supervision, their contributions are essential to ensuring legal cases move efficiently through the system.

Areas of Legal Practice

Paralegal roles often vary depending on the type of law practiced. While some professionals remain generalists, others specialize³ in a particular area:

• Family and Juvenile Law: Family law paralegals may draft paperwork for divorce proceedings, child custody arrangements, or adoption filings. They might work closely with clients during emotionally sensitive times and must balance professionalism with empathy.
• Criminal Law: In criminal law, paralegals may assist with trial preparation, review discovery materials, organize evidence, and prepare exhibits. They may also help track witness lists and manage communications between attorneys and clients.
• Corporate Law: Corporate law paralegals may draft contracts, maintain corporate records, and assist with intellectual property filings. In larger organizations, they may also be involved in compliance matters or mergers and acquisitions.
• Immigration Law: Immigration paralegals may frequently prepare visa applications, residency petitions, and citizenship paperwork. Because these cases involve complex and evolving regulations, conducting research and tracking deadlines are essential.
• Intellectual Property: Paralegals in this field may help prepare patent or trademark applications, track filings, and maintain databases of intellectual property assets.
• Other practice areas: Paralegals may also contribute in real estate, environmental law, personal injury, and administrative law, adapting their skills to meet the unique needs of each legal specialty.

This diversity of practice areas means that paralegals may support a wide range of legal matters, often working alongside other legal professionals such as attorneys, legal secretaries, and legal support staff.

How Paralegals Support Law Firms

Paralegals may be an essential⁴ part of law firms, helping attorneys manage heavy caseloads and deliver services more efficiently. They take on a wide range of substantive legal tasks like legal research, drafting contracts, preparing pleadings, organizing case files, and interviewing clients all under attorney supervision. By handling these responsibilities, paralegals free up attorneys to focus on higher-level legal strategy and courtroom work, allowing firms to operate more smoothly and effectively. Their contributions also enhance client service by ensuring that cases move forward in a timely and well-organized manner.

According to the American Bar Association, from a business standpoint, paralegals provide⁴ advantages for law firms. Because their billing rates are lower than attorneys’, paralegal work makes legal services more affordable while still generating revenue for the firm. This efficiency not only benefits clients but also strengthens the firm’s bottom line by maximizing the use of resources. Paralegals may help firms manage workload distribution in ways that support efficiency and client service.

In a 2022 study by the ABA,⁴ it was concluded that by delegating appropriate tasks to a paralegal, a lawyer can raise their billing rate by 10% while still reducing overall client costs. In one example, an attorney was billed 12 hours and the paralegal 32 hours, resulting in a total cost of $7,960; saving the client $1,640 (17%) compared to the attorney handling all work alone. This approach allows the firm to increase profitability and lawyer billing rates while maintaining client savings.

In addition, paralegals expand a firm’s capacity to engage⁴ in pro bono work, giving attorneys the support needed to offer legal aid to underserved communities. They also ensure better client communication by serving as an accessible point of contact throughout a case. Ultimately, paralegals play a dual role: They reduce costs and increase capacity while also improving the overall quality and accessibility of legal services provided by law firms.

Paralegal Education and Training Pathways

Most paralegal roles typically need a formal education. Students may pursue an associate degree in paralegal studies or a bachelor’s degree combined with a paralegal certificate.

Coursework in these programs typically covers:⁵

• Legal research and writing
• Drafting legal documents
• Ethics and professional standards
• An introduction to law and the legal system

Rasmussen University offers online⁶ paralegal certificate and associate’s degree options that provide training in these critical areas. Students gain exposure to the legal system and learn from practicing attorneys and paralegals. The programs include a Paralegal Capstone, which simulates law office experience, and courses covering legal technologies such as Lexis+^®, vLex, and Clio. Depending on prior education, students can complete the certificate program⁵ in as few as eight months or the associate’s degree program⁷ in as few as 18 months.

Rasmussen’s programs are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and are designed to provide training in key areas of paralegal studies, helping students build knowledge they may apply in a variety of legal environments. Program completion does not guarantee employment. Roles in the legal field may require additional training, licensure, or experience.

Skills that Support the Legal Profession

Paralegals working in the legal field must blend legal expertise with practical abilities.

Key skills may include:⁸

• Communication skills: Paralegals and legal assistants must be able to clearly document and present their findings, whether through written correspondence, case summaries, or reports, so that attorneys can effectively use the information.
• Detail oriented: Accuracy is critical in the legal field. Paralegals must carefully gather, organize, and file documents and other case-related information, ensuring that nothing is overlooked.
• Interpersonal skills: Because paralegals frequently interact with clients, attorneys, witnesses, and other legal professionals, they need to build trust, maintain professionalism, and work effectively as part of a legal team.
• Organizational skills: Managing multiple cases at once requires strong time management and recordkeeping. Paralegals must track deadlines, maintain files, and stay flexible when priorities shift.
• Research skills: Conducting legal research and gathering facts are central responsibilities. Paralegals study relevant laws, regulations, and case precedents to help attorneys prepare strong arguments and strategies.

Professional organizations, such as the National Association of Legal Assistants^® (NALA^®)⁹ and the National Federation of Paralegal Associations^® (NFPA^®)¹⁰, provide resources, networking, and continuing education opportunities. In some jurisdictions, licensed paralegals may even represent clients in limited legal proceedings, expanding the scope of the paralegal profession.

The Role of Paralegals in the Legal Profession

Paralegals are considered important members of the legal profession because they perform substantive¹ legal work that directly supports attorneys and clients. Their duties reduce the workload of licensed attorneys while expanding access to legal services for individuals and businesses.

Whether drafting a contract in a corporate law office, organizing discovery materials for a criminal case, or assisting clients in a family law dispute, paralegals support the efficient delivery of legal services. They help ensure that the legal process is carried out effectively, making them integral to the functioning of the legal system.

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¹Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Paralegals and Legal Assistants, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/legal/paralegals-and-legal-assistants.htm#tab-2 (visited September 30, 2025).
²Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Paralegals and Legal Assistants: Work Environment, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/legal/paralegals-and-legal-assistants.htm#tab-3 (visited September 30, 2025).
³Law School Admission Council, “Fields of Law,” https://www.lsac.org/discover-law/types-law-programs/fields-law (accessed September 30, 2025).
⁴American Bar Association, Economic Benefits of Paralegal Utilization 2022 (PDF), https://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/administrative/paralegals/economic-benefits-of-paralegal-utilization-2022.pdf (accessed September 30, 2025).
⁵Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Paralegals and Legal Assistants: Job Outlook, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/legal/paralegals-and-legal-assistants.htm#tab-4 (visited September 30, 2025).
⁶Rasmussen University, “Paralegal Degree Overview,” https://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/justice-studies/paralegal/ (accessed September 30, 2025).
⁷Rasmussen University, “Paralegal Certificate,” https://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/justice-studies/paralegal/certificate/ (accessed September 30, 2025).
⁸Rasmussen University, “Paralegal Associate Degree,” https://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/justice-studies/paralegal/associates/ (accessed September 30, 2025).
⁹National Association of Legal Assistants^® (NALA^®), https://nala.org/ (accessed September 30, 2025).
¹⁰National Federation of Paralegal Associations^® (NFPA^®), https://www.paralegals.org/ (accessed September 30, 2025).