The responsibilities of a litigation paralegal differ greatly from one law firm to the next. Some litigation paralegals are given a lot of responsibility, while others are given fewer responsibilities that are more akin to secretarial work. In general, a litigation paralegal assists an attorney in the preparation of a case for trial. She has the ability to organize and prepare documents, as well as prepare for witness depositions and trial logistics. She may also file documents with the courthouse and accompany the practicing attorney to court.
Many steps take place before and during a trial that may necessitate the assistance of a skilled litigation paralegal. A litigation paralegal may prepare the case file and organize documents when a new case is accepted by a law firm. She will, for example, ensure that the files are organized in chronological order, or in whatever order the law firm’s attorneys prefer. She might also work with other law firms to coordinate document production. In many cases, the paralegal will number each document page, redact or hide certain information, make copies, and index the documents before they can be produced.
Many law firms maintain extensive computer databases. It’s possible that the litigation paralegal will be in charge of creating and maintaining those databases. A paralegal can search for documents and make computerized notes using the database. Although the paralegal may receive assistance from case assistants and technology assistants, she may be responsible for the majority of the databases.
A litigation paralegal works closely with witnesses and clients in some law firms. She may schedule depositions, interviews, and meetings with lawyers. She can also create memos from an attorney’s notes about a particular client or witness. She may collect and prepare relevant documents, prepare and organize exhibits, and ensure exhibits are properly handled during a deposition if she is supervised by an attorney.
A litigation paralegal may be tasked with reading, proofreading, and editing memos, motions, and briefs. She may be asked to verify the source or citation if case law is quoted or referred to in a legal writing. When exhibits are attached to a motion, brief, or memo, the paralegal usually organizes them as well. If a motion is filed using a form, the paralegal may fill it out and have it reviewed by an attorney before filing it with the court.
Some law firms require paralegals to be familiar with court rules. As a result, they must be able to communicate with the attorney about deadlines and filing details. Some courts, for example, require motions to be typed in a specific font size, while others demand that the caption be formatted in a specific way.
During the course of the trial, the litigation paralegal is typically in charge of many of the details. She could, for example, be in charge of keeping track of exhibits for each party in the case. She may also be in charge of routine tasks like bringing lunch or coffee to the attorney during the trial.