Legal Studies

A paralegal, sometimes called a legal assistant, works under the supervision of a lawyer. Their duties include drafting motions and subpoenas, document review, and filing papers with courts. In the United States and Canada, paralegals are able to have many different options in their work; they can work independently as freelancers, in private practice, and in corporations. Most legal work in law firms or companies, however, is headed up by in-house attorneys.

Paralegals in small and medium-size law firms usually perform a variety of duties that require a general knowledge of the law. For example, they may research judicial decisions on improper police arrests or help prepare a mortgage contract. Paralegals employed by large law firms, government agencies, and corporations, however, are more likely to specialize in one aspect of the law.