The Legal Industry needs litigation paralegals!
Paralegals play an all-important role in the legal process, especially in a litigation case. From the complaint through to the trial, a litigation paralegal has a crucial job in each and every phase of the case.
Trust us, it’s nothing like the TV shows you watch on Netflix.
We are here to tell you the truth behind Litigation Paralegals.
Get ready to be blown away!
Litigation Paralegal Responsibilities
What does a Litigation Paralegal do at a law firm? Well, here are some of the daily tasks a paralegal does:
- Draft pleadings
- Filing pleadings with the court
- Interview clients and witnesses
- Legal research
- Investigative research
- Analyze data and prepare summary charts
- Summarize deposition transcripts
- Keep track of case deadlines
- Work with electronically stored information (ESI)
- Locate key documents
- Document organization
- Communicate with court personnel, opposing counsel, and others
- Manage outside vendors
- Prepare trial exhibit lists and trial notebooks
- Prepare deposition exhibit lists and deposition notebooks
- Prepare for depositions, mediations, and arbitrations
- Track exhibits and other evidence during trial
Many firms outsource litigation support so they can focus more on their legal practice.
Become A Litigation Paralegal
With legal process outsourcing taking over the legal industry, there are less in-house teams and more virtual paralegal now.
But the pathway to becoming a litigation paralegal is the same.
There are three different ways one can start their paralegal career.
| College Degree Path | Option1: A full four-year Degree in Paralegal Studies Option2: The Bachelor’s Degree in another major, then a Paralegal Certificate program after the College Degree Option3: An Associate Degree in Paralegal Studies Option4: An Associate Degree plus a Paralegal Certificate |
| Certificate-Only Path | Ideal for those eager to kickstart their careers. For instance, A legal assistant who has experience working in the legal field and wants to get promoted to a paralegal position. |
| Hands-on Experience Path | Start at an administrative position and learn the ropes through direct involvement. Slower route but practical experience gained is invaluable. |
Skills A Litigation Paralegals Must Have!
Attention to detail: Even a minor mistake can result in major legal implications.
Legal research skills: Mandatory for finding and analyzing laws, regulations, and court decisions relevant to the case.
Organizational skills: Being able to keep things in order makes it more accessible especially when you work with a litigation intake attorney who isn’t very organized.
Technical skills: Familiarity with case management software and CRM systems helps streamline workflow when dealing with complex cases.
eDiscovery Skills: the process of identifying, collecting, and producing electronically stored information (ESI) in legal proceedings.
Writing skills: From drafting correspondence to creating legal documents, clear and accurate communication is compulsory.
Communication skills: required to communicate with opposing counsel, court staff, judges and more.
Ability to work well under pressure (Time management skills): When there is a limited amount of time and no flexibility with the deadline this is when this skill comes at handy.
Problem-Solving Skills: the more challenges you solve for attorneys, the more valuable you are to them.
Average Salary of A Litigation Paralegal
Various factors play a role in determining a paralegal’s income such as location, size and reputation of the firm, and years of experience.
Well, according to Glassdoor, a litigation paralegal’s average pay ranges from $63,000 – $95,000 per year as of 2025. This number includes paralegals at ALL levels of experience, education, and size of firm.
However, keep in mind that a paralegal’s salary will differ most if they work in big cities compared to smaller cities.
Thus, this range cannot be considered an accurate estimation. Just remember that no matter your start pay, with experience and specialization, your income will rise too.
Discover The Different Litigation Practice Areas
Different cases come with their own unique demands and rewards, be it family law or corporate law. However, it is best to keep in mind that the specific practice area a paralegal ends up choosing influences their daily tasks and overall job satisfaction.
Here are some of the litigation practice areas a paralegal could settle on:
- Family Law
- Criminal Law
- Health Care
- Insurance Defense
- Civil Rights
- Bankruptcy
- Construction
- Environmental
- Personal Injury
- Medical Malpractice
Why Hire A Litigation Paralegal
- Save Time
With paralegals taking over legal administrative work and legal research tasks, lawyers have more time to focus on bringing revenue to the firm.
Increased Productivity leads to improvement in law firm cash flow.
- Increased Efficiency
At a law firm, no one person can be an expert and have sufficient time to complete all the necessary legal tasks on time.
However, having a team of experts that distribute the tasks evenly can get the tasks done faster. For instance, a lawyer can focus on billable work while a paralegal focuses on support tasks.
- Expand the Team in a Cost-friendly Way
Rather than recruiting a new lawyer, adding a paralegal to the team is much more budget friendly.
- Pass on Cost Savings to Accommodate Clients
Hiring a paralegal is budget friendly which also passes on to the clients fees. By assigning paralegals with administrative and research tasks, you can reduce cost of service.
It is a win-win situation for both client and the law firm.
- Increase Team Flexibility With Outsourced Paralegals
Outsourcing is an opportunity for law firms to hire a global expert at a cheaper rate while maintaining quality standards. Virtual paralegals work remotely which saves firms from the long process of hiring an in-house team.
Moreover, workflow automation frees up the paralegal’s time, allowing the team to focus on more important tasks.
- Experienced Paralegals
Well-trained paralegals utilize advanced tools to streamline and automate their manual tasks. They are able to tackle their tasks more quickly and effectively than a lawyer and at a lower rate.
- Specialized Training
Hold on a second! Paralegals do more than just administrative work.
Depending on their specialization, they can help with legal work such:
- Conducting Legal Research
- Organizing Client Files
- Drafting pleadings and discovery notices
- Interview clients and witnesses
It’s best we don’t underestimate the expertise of a paralegal. Paralegals are invested enough into the firm that they could lead innovation when it comes to business decisions, technology adoption, and other growth opportunities.
Hiring A Litigation Paralegal The Right Way
Understand The Different Types of Paralegals
Versatility and variability are what paralegals give law firms. However, it’s best to understand the different types of paralegals before hiring the one right for you.
- Practice Area Paralegal
- Paralegal specialists
- Generalist Paralegals
- Virtual Paralegals
Explore What Paralegals Can and Cannot Do
Paralegals can do all the tasks typically performed by a lawyer, except work that is proscribed by Law. Under supervision, can the paralegal perform tasks on behalf of lawyers.
However, they are not lawyers.
Paralegals must avoid unauthorized practice of law which means they cannot represent clients, give legal advice, establish an attorney’s relationship with a client or set fees.
It is vital to check your jurisdiction’s rules to make sure that you’re not accidently breaking them.
Determine the Paralegal You Need
There are questions that need to be asked to determine which type of paralegal will benefit your practice the most.
- Do you need a paralegal with specialization in certain areas of law?
- Do you want a freshly trained candidate?
- Do you want an experienced paralegal and aware of many ins and out of your practice area?
Start With A Recruitment Post
Draft a job description. Mention the tasks that you would like your paralegal to be able to do for your firm. Now publish it on job boards and start sharing it.
- Be clear! Details are important, from role to their main responsibilities, explain it all.
- Explain how to apply. Give clear instructions on where to apply or how to. This way you won’t lose the perfect candidate for your law firm.
- Share and post it strategically. Share your job post where people will see it such as legal and paralegal boards and paralegal associations (National Association of Legal Assistants and National Federation of Paralegal Associations).
- Tap into your professional network. Positive references are a great way to find the right candidate.
Shortlist Your Potential Candidates
Now you have a huge list of candidates but you need to choose those that best suit your requirements.
Use these three criterias: experience level, certification and the type of certification.
But before you settle on anything make sure to double-check your state’s rules. Not all states require paralegals to be certified. Furthermore, if the candidate is certified, check from where.
Conduct A Face-to-face Interview With Your Shortlisted Applicants
Now you have a shorter list of highly qualified potential paralegals. Make time to conduct an interview.
Prepare a set of questions to help you discover their experience level, work ethic and style, and goals. See if it aligns with your firm.
Use project management software to help you organize your interview schedule and track them.
Always make sure to ask for previous case studies or samples from candidates. This will help you assess their skills level and quality of work.
Prioritize Client-centeredness As A Requirement
Always keep in mind that a paralegal will be the first point of contact with customers. So, when interviewing your paralegal, consider your candidate’s personality.
Also consider how they will fit into your team, represent your law firm, and interact with your clients.
Parting Thoughts
Litigation paralegals are a necessity in law firms.
This blog has helped us understand the importance of a paralegal, be it a virtual paralegal or an in-house one.
We explored their responsibilities, learned the requirements of aspiring litigation paralegals, and the skills they must have.
Following that we discussed a paralegal’s average salary and why a firm should hire a litigation paralegal.
Lastly, we discussed the recruitment process of a litigation paralegal in detail.
So, if you are a lawyer overworking yourself or a firm overflowing with administrative work, it’s time you hire your very own litigation paralegal.
And if you are looking to hire a virtual paralegal, you can consult Expert Legal Outsourcing to learn more on outsourcing a paralegal.
Rafia Alam Rowshni delivers a unique combination of legal knowledge and content creation talent using SEO Tools and SERP analysis. She has a solid background in public health and legal services and knows the complexities of the legal world. She can translate complex subjects into simple, concise, and entertaining information that audiences can actually use.
