One paralegal task that is often overlooked and underestimated is our duty to instruct. I think one of the reasons why we never talk about the big part paralegals play when it comes to legal education is because it can easily be misunderstood as giving legal advice. 
 
Obviously, any paralegal who gives legal advice is committing the horrible crime of Unauthorized Practice of Law (UPL). That is not what I am talking about. I am talking about the tasks we fulfill every day when it comes to educating and instructing.

Every paralegal knows exactlywhat I am talking about. These tasks could be as simple as how to get the coffee pot to turn on, to how to access certain files, all the way to understanding the complex legal theory that clearly applies to the case you are working on.
 
Any good paralegal is going to make sure their attorney’s law firm can still function when said paralegal is not in the office. That paralegal is also going to educate their clients on certain things such as processes and procedures when it comes to their client’s case, or expected courtroom decorum, etc. These tasks require the paralegal to play the role of educator.
 
Some paralegals take pride in the fact that their attorney’s law firms would crumble quickly into oblivion if they were not there to oversee the firm’s day-to-day operations. However, this type of setup is not in anyone’s best interest. Sure, some of you may feel more secure in your jobs knowing you are the only one who knows how to do certain things, but how secure is your job really if you are not working for a well-functioning firm that relies on teamwork to get great outcomes for their clients.
 
Whether people want to believe it or not, attorneys do have personalities. And get this… they differ from attorney to attorney. (Forgive my overuse of sarcasm, I also have a crazy personality.) Some of your attorneys have the type of personality that is going to demand to know everything that is going on at all times. Some of them are going to be frustrated when you try to teach them things that they feel may be below their pay grade. Your job as a paralegal is to educate your attorneys in a way that is concise, clear and respectful of their time. As well as, compatible with their personality.
 
Your role as educator when it comes to clients is very similar; however, there are a few very important differences. First of all, do not use legal jargon. This is a huge pet peeve of mine. When I see paralegals talk to their clients using a bunch of words that only other professionals in the legal field use, it drives me mad. 
 
If you truly understand the law, you know that it is not a field, it is a language. Our clients hire us to interpret that language then rely on our expertise to help them make the best decisions with respect to their legal issues. So at all times, unless otherwise warranted, try to use layman terms when educating your clients.
 
The other huge difference is a paralegal must be mindful of the difference between legal education and legal advice. We will touch on this in detail in a subsequent blog as this is very important.
 
The paralegal field is so new, unique and diverse that it is often difficult to find an accurate job description for the paralegal. Our Paralegal Skills segment tries to bring to light all the skills required of a paralegal. Contact us if you have an idea of a paralegal skill that you would like to see showcased on the Paralegal Power Blog