The Lawyer's Secret Weapon - Paralegals

Efficient management of caseloads and staff is required for lawyers to fully utilize the potential of their practice. Paralegals can play a significant role to ensure this goal. The Department of Labor is projecting that paralegals will be among the fastest-growing professions in the economy by the year 2008.

Below are some of the benefits that attorneys and clients can experience from the employ of a good paralegal:

Benefits to Attorneys

Most legal firms are not streamlined in order to make optimum use of staff. Many lawyers are doing the same work that paralegals do. By allotting work to a paralegal, your own time can be utilized by handling those tasks that require your expertise. Instead of handling every last detail of each case (can you say micro-manage?), set up time each week/day to meet with your paralegal, so that they can bring you up to speed on each case they?re handling for you. The payoff? Increased income from the ability to handle more cases, and more time off, as your presence at the office isn?t required to get everything done.

Benefits to Your Clients

According to a study conducted by American Bar Association, 70% of people choose not to seek help from lawyers for their legal needs. Why? The high cost of legal services and the headaches of dealing with lawyers.

Why not use this information to your advantage by offering every client the services of your excellent paralegal staff?

Clients who retain you are seeking to rely on you and your staff. Clients are aware that your availability to them is costly. So delegate. When dealing with a paralegal, clients see up close how the appropriate time and attention has been given to their case. This helps clients feel confident about your firm?s legal services, and also helps to form a strong relationship between the client and your firm. Moreover, the paralegal?s close interaction with the client can help you understand all aspects of the case better. Without such personal attention, clients may feel overlooked and apprehensive about seeking your help with additional matters.

Benefits to the Paralegal

Paralegals, as evidenced by their choice of profession, enjoy challenging jobs. With increased interaction with you, a paralegal will be able to perform varied tasks, and decrease your workload substantially. According to a recent study by National Association of Legal Assistants, the tasks of assisting clients, drafting correspondence and pleadings, research, case management and document analysis are the aspects of the legal profession preferred by paralegals. Again, delegation makes sense, so that your expertise can be utilized for revenue production.

By taking advantage of the suggested benefits listed above, you can not only streamline your office, but you will also find that you have the time (and energy) required to look for new avenues of growth.

Jack McDonough is a Colorado CPA, speaker, coach, author, and consultant to professionals in the legal and accounting industries who desire to make more money while working less hours. Jack is President of Wealthy Professionals LLC. WealthyProfessionals.com