The Role of Paralegals in Legal Practice: Training for Professionalism and Satisfaction - Essay Sample

Introduction

A paralegal is an individual who engages in important procedural and legal tasks authorized/assigned by law (Davis v. Saul, 2019). In the absence of a paralegal, attorney performs the required duties. The paralegals have legal skills and knowledge that are gained through education and experience. Training of the paralegals is essential in ensuring professional competence and client satisfaction. The activities performed by an individual working in a paralegal firm vary depending on the operation days and the nature of cases. During the teaching session, it is essential to describe the duties/responsibilities of the paralegal to newly hired individuals to promote professionalism and effective performance. This essay describes the critical activities to be understood by the paralegals during their daily practices to serve their clients a law firm.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

The duties of the criminal defense law firm are to provide legal services to their clients by ensuring that appropriate procedures are followed in the trails processes. The firm also represents the interests of the clients in the court of law when the accused person is not physically available in the room. Lastly, the law firm ensures that the paralegals deliver desired and quality services to appropriate clients to promote justice in the courts. Understanding the duties of the law firm makes the paralegals familiarize with their responsibilities in the organization and ensure professionalism. Understanding the duties of a prosecutor is fundamental because he/she is the one who directs how the trails will be conducted against the clients of the paralegals.

The responsibilities of the prosecutor relate to the discovery rule because he/she determines the dismissal of unmeritorious claims made by the defendant of the case. Also, through the application of the discovery rule, the prosecutor gives the defendant notice that state why the claim is dismissed or denied in the court of law. The Brady doctrine creates fairness in the legal procedures because it enables the accused people to defend themselves against the charges made in the court and familiarize with the evidence provided by the prosecutor against them in the court of law (Miller v. Colvin, 2016).

On the other hand, the law firm defends the clients by providing evidence that proves the innocence of the defendant. The Brady evidence allows the prosecutor to cast any doubt on the guilt of the defendant in the trial process (Davis v. Saul, 2019). The appropriate rationale behind the discovery rule is that the complaint must contain a short and plain statement that describes the entitlement of defendant to be treated innocent until proven guilty by the court of law.

The core responsibility of the paralegals in the legal firm is to represent the interest of their clients and ensure that justice is done during the trial process. To fulfil this primary duty, the paralegals are usually involved in legal research activities and presentation to ensure adequate preparations for trials and hearings. Also, the paralegals are required to interview their clients to obtain important information that will be used in the defense against the charges made by prosecutors. The paralegals are responsible for drafting and documenting all legal activities to ensure the effective defense of their clients during their trails in the court of law (Miller v. Colvin, 2016). Written communication is critical in the drafting of the legal documents. Lastly, the paralegals are required to take part in the administration of the legal office practices like filing of evidence, receiving telephone calls, organizing legal reference files, and maintaining the all legal devices.

Conclusion

To conclude, the paralegals should gain appropriate knowledge and skills to enable them to serve the clients based on the Discovery rule and Brady doctrine. Paralegals should also be educated on how to manage all activities in the legal office. Ethical considerations form the key components that determine the operations of the paralegal. The written communication is appropriate in teaching the paralegals on their duties in the law firm.

References

Davis v. Saul, Civil Case No. 3: 18-cv-00367-MR (W.D.N.C. Sept. 5, 2019). Retrieved from: https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=2441299951745196715&q=Jones+v.+Colvin, +2015+W.L.+4773542+(2015).&hl=en&as_sdt=2006

Miller v. Colvin, No. 3: 15-cv-00443-MOC (W.D.N.C. July 11, 2016). Retrieved from: https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=15298732822554514812&q=Jones+v.+Colvin,+2015+W.L.+4773542+(2015).&hl=en&as_sdt=2006