How to Hire a Paralegal

Hiring a paralegal for your law firm is a key step in growing and expanding your business. But if you’re not sure how to hire a good paralegal, finding someone who will help you take your firm to the next level can be a difficult process. What makes a good paralegal great? And how do you attract the best talent?

Keep reading to learn what to look for in a paralegal, what the average paralegal salary is, the best interview questions to ask, and more.

Why Hire a Paralegal?

A paralegal plays an essential role in the legal industry. While lawyers are no strangers to heavy workloads, they can’t do everything themselves. Paralegals are the ones working behind the scenes, assisting lawyers in their work by handling administrative and other responsibilities. Many times, these tasks will cover non-billable work, freeing up the lawyer’s time to focus on running their practice.

Not only can paralegals increase the efficiency of your firm, but they are also an invaluable asset when conducting research. Some paralegals even have specialized or in-depth knowledge on a specific field, and if you’re not taking advantage of their insights, you could be missing out on a great (not to mention cost-effective) source of information.

The Different Types of Paralegals

When deciding if you should hire a paralegal, it helps to understand what your options are. The role varies from office to office, but in general, there are some standard categories that most paralegals fall into. They are:

General paralegals. As the name suggests, these paralegals take on many generalized roles throughout a firm. They can be useful for smaller practices who need one or two people to cover a wide variety of tasks.
Practice area paralegals. These paralegals focus their time and knowledge in just one aspect of law, such as contracts or appeals. They know all the ins and outs of their chosen area and can be great assets on cases.
Specialist paralegals. Different than practice-area paralegals, these paralegals are usually certified and have extensive experience in specific fields, like criminal law or estate law. They can also provide assistance to judges and lawyers instead of only attorneys.
Entry-level paralegals. Paralegals without much (or any) experience. They usually assist senior paralegals in larger firms.
Senior paralegals. These paralegals have several years of experience and will oversee the more inexperienced members of their team while also assisting attorneys.
Freelance paralegals. A great option for smaller firms who don’t need or can’t afford a full-time paralegal on staff but who still want to lighten their workload. Some freelance paralegals also offer virtual services.

What Does a Paralegal Do?

If you’re thinking of hiring a paralegal, you might be wondering what they’re actually allowed to do for your firm. According to the American Bar Association, paralegals “can be delegated any task normally performed by a lawyer, as long as the lawyer supervises the work, except those performed by law.” Generally, a paralegal’s duties include:

Conducting legal research
Drafting documents
Organizing and maintaining files
Communicating with clients
Preparing for court proceedings

In addition, they often play a role in case development, gathering and analyzing data, as well as managing trial logistics.

It’s also important to understand what a paralegal can’t do. As the ABA said above, they must avoid any unauthorized practice of law; for example, representing clients in court, taking depositions, or signing pleadings. They are also not allowed to give legal advice to a client or set fees.

Highest Education Level

Paralegals offer the following education background

Bachelor's Degree (40.2%)

Doctorate Degree (19.3%)

Associate's Degree (15.9%)

Master's Degree (12.1%)

Vocational Degree or Certification (6.8%)

High School or GED (4.6%)

Some College (0.9%)

Some High School (0.1%)

Qualifications / Skills

The following top skills are often required or desired to land a paralegal position

Corporate Law, Personal Injury Law, Immigration Law, Business Law, Calendaring, Litigation Support, Probate, Trial Preparation, E-Filing, LexisNexis, Document Production, Legal Assisting, Court Filings, eDiscovery, Securities

Average Work Experience

Here's a breakdown of the years of experience offered by paralegals

Less than 1 year (40.5%)

1-2 years (20.3%)

None (18.0%)

2-4 years (9.6%)

4-6 years (7.9%)

6-8 years (2.4%)

8-10 years (1.1%)

Paralegal Qualifications

Paralegals are not licensed on a national level, so there are very few legal qualifications needed to hire one. Most paralegals will have a bachelor’s degree, though some may have an associate or master’s. For senior or specialized paralegals, certifications like Certified Paralegal (CP), Certified Legal Assistant (CLA), or Advanced Paralegal Certification (APC) are highly beneficial and often preferred by employers. Prior to becoming a paralegal, a person may gain relevant experience and skills in the legal field as a Legal Secretary, Legal Assistant, or Law Clerk.

Due to the nature of their work, important skills for a paralegal include excellent research and writing abilities, strong attention to detail, proficiency in legal terminology, a thorough understanding of legal procedures, and the capability to multitask and meet deadlines. They should also be proficient in using legal research software and other related technologies.

The average paralegal salary will change based on your location and their expertise, so be sure to do your research. iHire’s Salary Research tool is a great way to see paralegal salaries in your state.

Paralegal Job Description Example

Because of the variety of paralegal work, when you write a paralegal job ad, you need to be clear about the type of paralegal you’re looking for and their responsibilities. Once you have that down, don’t forget to include all the basics of what makes a great job ad, like a simple job title, information about your company culture, and any notable benefits and perks. Use this paralegal job ad example to get started:

General Paralegal

[Your practice] is seeking a highly motivated and dedicated paralegal to join our growing firm and contribute to our mission of providing the best possible legal services to our clients.

You will work closely with our attorneys throughout each case. The ideal candidate will have experience with preparing a case for trial, drafting legal documents, and managing course paperwork. Excellent research and writing skills, strong attention to detail, proficiency in legal terminology, and the ability to multitask and meet deadlines are a must.

Responsibilities:

Assist with the preparation, filing, and service of pleadings
Create reports and documents for lawyers based on case specifications and requests

Coordinate with court officials, opposing counsel, and other parties as necessary
Help lawyers prepare legal arguments, motions, and other case filings
Ensure all legal documents and correspondence are filed correctly and are easily accessible
Conduct legal research to assist attorneys in case preparation
Proofread and edit legal documents to ensure accuracy and compliance with applicable legal formats and styles
Schedule, coordinate, and confirm court dates, appointments, and meetings
Communicate with clients to gather necessary information, provide updates, and answer general queries
Summarize depositions, testimonies, and interrogatories

Qualifications

Associate’s or bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies, law, or a related field
5 years of experience as a paralegal or in a related legal role
Experience in criminal law a plus
Familiarity with legal research, drafting legal documents, and case management
Proficiency in using legal software and databases (e.g., Westlaw, LexisNexis)
Excellent written and verbal communication abilities
Strong analytical and research skills
Detail-oriented and highly organized
Ability to multitask and manage multiple projects and deadlines

Paralegal Job Interview Questions

When interviewing paralegal candidates, it’s essential to ask questions that assess their technical skills, experience, and understanding of the legal field, as well as their interpersonal and organizational abilities. A mixture of behavioral and situational interview questions will work best to determine how the candidate will deal with the various challenges of the job. Here are some paralegal job interview questions you might consider:

Can you describe your experience with drafting legal documents? Which types of documents are you most familiar with?
Tell us about a particularly challenging research task you’ve handled. What approach did you take, and what were the results?
Describe a time when you had to manage multiple cases or tasks simultaneously. How did you prioritize and ensure that nothing was overlooked?
How do you handle tight deadlines or last-minute requests from attorneys?
How do you handle situations where an attorney or client is unsatisfied with your work?
Describe a time when you had to communicate complex legal information to someone without a legal background. How did you ensure they understood it?
Tell me about a time when you identified an error or oversight in a document or case file. How did you address it?
Describe your system for tracking and managing case files, deadlines, and appointments.
How do you ensure that documents are accurately filed and easily retrievable?
How do you handle feedback or corrections from attorneys?
What areas of law are you most interested in, and why?
Imagine an attorney needs a document drafted urgently, but you already have a list of tasks to complete for another case. How would you handle this situation?
How would you respond if you were asked to work on a case that posed ethical concerns for you?