Quick Answer Alternative fee arrangements (AFAs) are reshaping paralegal careers by shifting focus from billable hours to value-based outcomes. While these changes reduce traditional time tracking, they create opportunities for paralegals to demonstrate specialized expertise, improve efficiency, and potentially increase …
posted in Articles
Quick Answer While lawyer jokes are popular among legal professionals, most aren’t appropriate for professional settings. These 100 jokes are best saved for personal enjoyment rather than the office break room, where maintaining professionalism is essential for paralegals and legal …
posted in Articles
Quick Answer Paralegals regularly manage five key attorney oversights: missed deadlines and court appearances, overly dramatic legal writing requiring revision, poor hiring decisions that create workflow issues, accounting and billing errors that frustrate clients, and managing attorneys experiencing career burnout. …
posted in News & Events
Quick Answer Paralegals can start independent businesses offering document review, litigation support, e-discovery, and contract management services—but cannot practice law or provide legal advice. Success requires choosing a specialized niche, understanding your state’s unauthorized practice regulations, forming an LLC for …
posted in Articles
Quick Answer Continuing legal education (CLE) requirements for paralegals vary by certification and state. NALA CP requires 50 hours every 5 years, NFPA RP requires 12 hours every 2 years, and NALS PP requires 75 hours every 5 years. Texas …
posted in Articles
Quick Answer New paralegals commonly make 10 key mistakes: giving legal advice, misfiling documents, mishandling potential clients, missing deadlines, violating confidentiality, failing to disclose conflicts of interest, not tracking time closely, not knowing court rules, making calendaring errors, and being …
posted in Articles
Quick Answer No, AI and legal software are not replacing paralegals. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 39,300 annual job openings for paralegals through 2034, with 367,220 professionals currently employed nationwide earning a median salary of $61,010. While technology automates …
posted in Articles
Quick Answer The reality of the paralegal career differs dramatically from TV portrayals. Real civil cases in district courts take 12-18 months or longer on average (not days), approximately 95% of cases settle without trial, legal work focuses on detailed …
posted in Articles
Quick Answer Famous paralegals making a significant impact include Chere Estrin (The Estrin Report founder), Vicki Voisin (The Paralegal Voice podcast host and former NALA board member), Negar Ashtari (immigration advocate), Linda Teater (pro bono champion), and Krista Bullard (Army …
posted in News & Events