Paralegals and Legal Assistants

Assist lawyers by investigating facts, preparing legal documents, or researching legal precedent. Conduct research to support a legal proceeding, to formulate a defense, or to initiate legal action.

Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Conventional

Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Investigative

Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Enterprising

Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Social

Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Artistic

Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Realistic

Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed

Prepare affidavits or other documents, such as legal correspondence, and organize and maintain documents in paper or electronic filing system.

Prepare legal documents, including briefs, pleadings, appeals, wills, contracts, and real estate closing statements.

Prepare for trial by performing tasks such as organizing exhibits.

Investigate facts and law of cases and search pertinent sources, such as public records and internet sources, to determine causes of action and to prepare cases.

Meet with clients and other professionals to discuss details of case.

Gather and analyze research data, such as statutes, decisions, and legal articles, codes, and documents.

Direct and coordinate law office activity, including delivery of subpoenas.

Call upon witnesses to testify at hearing.

Arbitrate disputes between parties and assist in the real estate closing process, such as by reviewing title searches.

Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat

Document management system software

Microsoft Office SharePoint Server MOSS

Summation Blaze

Google Docs

Legal document software

Microsoft Word

The Sackett Group MacPac for Legal

American LegalNet USCourtForms

LawManager

LexisNexis

Thomson CompuMark SAEGIS

Database software

Microsoft Access

Relational database software

TrialWorks

a la mode WinTOTAL

Litigation support software

Uniscribe

Wilson's Computer Applications RealEasy Appraisals

Digital contract software

Microsoft Publisher

ProForce Paralegal Pro-Pack

Sure Will Writer

Dropbox

Google Drive

Microsoft SharePoint

IBM Notes

Microsoft Outlook

Intuit QuickBooks

Tax software

Software Technology PracticeMaster

Thomson West ProLaw

Image scanners

Optical character recognition equipment

Laser facsimile machines

Paralegals & Legal Assistants

Supervisory Paralegal

How did you get to graduate from UC Irvine?

Willa Henshaw

Supervisory Paralegal

Milestones

Education

Career

Career Roadmap

My work combines:

My work combines:

Law

Government

Learning / Being Challenged

Advice for Getting Started

Recommended Education

Hurdles

The Noise I Shed

From Peers:

Interviewed By

Anonymous Student

Willa Henshaw

Supervisory Paralegal

Milestones

Education

Career

Career Roadmap

My work combines:

My work combines:

Law

Government

Learning / Being Challenged

Advice for Getting Started

Recommended Education

My career is related to what I studied. I'd recommend the path I took:

Hurdles

The Noise I Shed

From Peers:

Interviewed By

Anonymous Student

Related Leaders