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A: The National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) defines a paralegal as:
A person, qualified through education, training, or work experience to perform substantive legal work that requires knowledge of legal concepts and is customarily, but not exclusively performed by a lawyer. This person may be retained or employed by a lawyer, law office, governmental agency or other entity or may be authorized by administrative, statutory, or court authority to perform this work. Substantive shall mean work requiring recognition, evaluation, organization, analysis, and communication of relevant facts and legal concepts.
A wordy definition, to be sure. That being said, it is an accurate one.
A common description of a paralegal is a person who simply assists and attorney. The reason this is not entirely accurate is because it does not separate procedural from substantive tasks. A secretary assists an attorney, too, but they are not a paralegal.
Paralegals are more like junior associates without a law degree. They have a good grasp of the legal system and can analyze legal concepts. Moreover, just like an associate, paralegals are basically free-floating persons that work on a per-project basis.
One of the extra benefits of hiring a freelance paralegal is that you do not have to continue paying for the in-between project time. They are there when you need them, and out of the way when you don’t.
However, due to this per-project reality, defining a paralegal is really up to the attorney he or she is working for. Generally, paralegals do not do clerical tasks (administrative support), but other than that, their role is defined by the needs of the project at hand.
A: Freelance paralegals are defined the same as a traditional paralegal. They are merely contracted out on an as-needed basis, rather than being employed at an in-house law firm or other entity.
Contract paralegals still perform the same tasks as traditional paralegals. They can draft pleadings, do preliminary and continuing research, complete transcription projects, and even organize files in many circumstances.
This relationship is becoming increasingly beneficial in our current economic state. Click here to see some of the reasons why.
A: Top 10 Reasons to Hire a Freelance Paralegal
1. Economic Advantage. You determine how much the paralegal’s time is worth to your client, and then recover that paralegal fee directly.
2. Pure Profit. No social security taxes to pay. No employee income taxes to pay. No unemployment taxes. No workers compensation to pay. No sick-time pay. No vacation pay. You charge for their services, subtract their hourly fee, and the rest is pure profit.
3. No Workspace Problems. You don’t have to have separate office space, or worry about making another employee share theirs.
4. Increase Billable Hours. Reassigning tasks to a paralegal when needed leaves more time open for you.
5. Better Concentration. Having an off-site paralegal means less interruptions and more concentration.
6. No Supplies or Equipment Needed. Freelance paralegals come with their own office.
7. No commitments. Increase profits while working around your budget. Hire on an as-needed basis. Available on either short-term or long-term basis.
8. No unplanned absences. This is one employee who doesn’t “call-in” sick.
9. Increased Productivity. Until you free up time to do more, you won’t realize how much more you can do. Time is money, so increase yours!
10. Time is money. Increase yours!
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