14 Myths of Being a Paralegal and the Truth Behind Them

When you have a strong interest in the law but don’t want to go to law school, becoming a paralegal is a career path to consider. Paralegals provide valuable services in the legal field without having to spend years earning a juris doctor (JD). They also don’t have to worry about passing the bar exam required to work as a practicing attorney or lawyer.

Despite these advantages, some myths and misconceptions about working as a paralegal persist. What should you expect from this kind of career? Is being a paralegal stressful? Clearing up some of the more common myths about paralegals can help you learn more about this career path.

Myth #1: Paralegals Know Every Area of Law

Studying to become a paralegal might involve learning about different areas of law, such as criminal law and immigration law. However, you’ll usually only get basic information on several areas rather than in-depth information and training. If you choose a specialty as a paralegal, you’ll be able to study your area of interest in more depth. For example, you could focus on intellectual property, corporate law, or family law.

Myth #2: Paralegals Have Little Responsibility

Paralegals have an important role to play in the legal system. Although they don’t represent people in court as lawyers do, lawyers rely on assistance from paralegals in order to prepare for cases. Paralegals are expected to handle several tasks as part of their job, including conducting legal research, drafting legal documents, gathering evidence, scheduling interviews with witnesses, and obtaining affidavits. Rather than having little responsibility, paralegals have a lot of it.

Myth #3: Paralegals Are Secretaries

A common misconception about paralegals is that they’re basically legal secretaries. In some cases, paralegals do handle administrative or clerical tasks, but most law firms have secretaries to take care of these tasks. Paralegals’ responsibilities extend far beyond the administrative. For example, secretaries might answer incoming calls at a law firm, while paralegals spend their time calling witnesses and other individuals involved in a case. Paralegals also have more complex tasks, such as interviewing experts and setting up case files.

Myth #4: The Job Is Not Stressful

Since paralegals don’t have the same level of responsibility as attorneys, you might think this career isn’t stressful. But working as a paralegal can involve a lot of stress, especially if you’re handling a complicated case or juggling multiple cases simultaneously. You might also face pressure to complete several tasks in a limited timeframe. The amount of stress you might have as a paralegal can vary, depending on where you work and what kinds of cases you have. For example, working at a smaller law firm with fewer of clients might not be as stressful as working at a large law firm with many high-profile or complex cases.

Myth #5: Being a Paralegal Is Hard

On the flip side, working as a paralegal isn’t always stressful and hectic. It really depends on the area you choose to specialize in. Being a paralegal in family law or criminal law might be more challenging than working on copyright or corporate law cases. Is being a paralegal hard in terms of knowing laws and statutes? Your education as a paralegal helps you become more familiar with the legal system, but you won’t be expected to memorize everything. To provide some perspective, even the most seasoned lawyers haven’t memorized every law and statute. Instead, you’ll spend your time doing legal research to gather the information needed for each case.

Myth #6: Your Work Schedule Is 9 to 5

This might seem ideal, but it’s not always the case. Paralegals in some areas of law might have a typical “9 to 5” schedule. However, paralegals in other areas of law may be expected to be available at any time if an urgent matter arises. For example, paralegals working on criminal cases might need to work evenings or weekends occasionally while helping attorneys prepare for trials. If you plan to work as a paralegal, you can look into expectations for different areas of law to get a feel for the kind of schedule you might have. Some areas, such as administrative or business law, might be more likely to have a regular schedule than criminal law or other areas.

Myth #7: You Do Not Need a Positive Attitude

Having a positive attitude is actually a vital quality to have as a paralegal. Even if you’re working behind the scenes rather than in the courtroom, how you approach your work and interact with others can affect your job performance. A positive attitude can help keep things running more smoothly, even if you work in a stressful environment. This kind of attitude can also make it easier for you to focus on your responsibilities and tasks, especially if you’re working on a challenging case.

Myth #8: Paralegals Are Lawyers

This might be one of the biggest myths about paralegals. Knowing the truth behind it is important so that you won’t get into serious trouble. Paralegals are not allowed to give any legal advice to clients, even if they have a good understanding of relevant laws and know all of the details about a case. Only attorneys can provide clients with legal advice. The same goes for giving this kind of advice to family and friends. As a paralegal, you can encounter legal and ethical problems if you provide your loved ones or acquaintances with legal advice. If anyone asks for it, let them know that you’re not an attorney and you’re not legally allowed to give advice.

Myth #9: You Do Not Need a Work Routine

A paralegal’s workday can change drastically from one day to the next, but this isn’t always the case. Some paralegals work in hectic environments where they handle multiple tasks at once. Others work in calmer environments with a more predictable workload. No matter what kind of work environment you have as a paralegal, it’s important to establish some kind of work routine. Doing so can help you tackle your responsibilities and tasks for the day. For example, you might start your day by calling witnesses and experts to schedule interviews, or you might set aside a block of time for drafting legal documents. Your expected routine might have to change if something comes up, so be flexible and prepared to adjust accordingly.

Myth #10: You Do Not Need to Organize

Being organized is another essential part of working as a paralegal. From gathering evidence for cases to interviewing witnesses and preparing legal documents, you’ll need to keep everything organized. Otherwise, you run the risk of misplacing important information, making errors, or mixing up details about the cases you’re working on. This can cause serious problems for legal clients and the attorneys you work for. Have systems in place that allow you to keep documents, deadlines, and other important information as organized as possible. When you take the time to do this, you’ll find it easier to juggle your responsibilities, even on busier days.

Myth #11: Paralegals Work in Court

If you dream of accompanying lawyers to court during trials, remember that not all paralegals work in the courtroom. Even those who do go to court don’t necessarily spend a lot of time there. Paralegals mainly spend time handling other tasks behind the scenes, such as organizing evidence, updating case files, drafting paperwork, and talking to witnesses. Your chance of being able to go to court as a paralegal can vary based on the area of law you work in. For example, being in criminal law or civil litigation might give you a better chance of spending time in court. Working as a corporate law paralegal or a copyright law paralegal typically comes with a much lower chance of being in a courtroom.

Myth #12: Paralegals Only Work for Law Firms

You might assume that you’ll work at a law firm when you become a paralegal. Although many paralegals do work at law firms, some work for businesses, government agencies, or other organizations. Corporate law paralegals work in a company’s legal department rather than at a law firm. Some paralegals work for state, local, or federal government agencies. Other places that employ paralegals include real estate firms, healthcare organizations and companies, and businesses that hire immigrants with work visas.

Myth #13: Paralegals Don’t Need a Paralegal Diploma or Degree

Some employers hire paralegals who don’t have any kind of relevant law degree or diploma. However, most employers prefer hiring paralegals with a degree in paralegal studies or a diploma in a related area, such as legal office assistant. These employers are usually looking for paralegals with an associate degree in paralegal studies or a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice or a related area. Completing a paralegal studies degree program or earning a diploma provides you with training and education to help you thrive in this kind of career.

Myth #14: Paralegals Are All Future Attorneys

While some paralegals might aim to become a lawyer at some point, not all have this goal. If you don’t want to attend law school, take the bar exam, and complete other requirements to become an attorney, you don’t have to. Working as a paralegal can provide you with a fulfilling career in the legal field. As a paralegal, you’ll get to put your knowledge and skills to good use in order to help clients and attorneys. Since paralegal degree and diploma programs are much shorter than law school degree programs, you won’t have to wait as long to start your career.

Start Your Journey Into the Legal World Today

Thinking of becoming a paralegal? At Bryant & Stratton, we offer academic programs to help you achieve your career goals. Our Legal Office Assistant Diploma program includes courses in law office management, legal research, and more. Our Paralegal Studies Associate Degree program includes courses in criminal law, civil litigation, torts and remedies, contract law, and more. Both programs are available fully online and in-person at select campuses in New York, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Virginia. Request more information today!