Are you right for the job?
Thinking of becoming a paralegal? Check out this list of skills and learn how to develop them.
Respect for the Rules
The law doesn’t leave room for improvisation. Paralegals can't just trust their gut instinct when working on a case for a lawyer. They must base their work on what the law and the courts have said about similar cases.You have what you need to succeed if:
- You always arrive on time for appointments and classes.
- You respect the rules when you are playing a game and don’t cheat.
- You are disciplined when it’s time to study and you don’t waste time.
To develop these skills, you can:
- Register for an activity that requires you to be disciplined and follow certain rules, such as a sports team.
- Always read and understand the directions your teachers give you before starting your work.
- Find a recipe for your favourite food and follow the directions for making it.
Attention to Detail
Paralegals must keep all the legal documents for a case up to date… and they must do it well. Can you imagine the embarrassment a lawyer might feel if the paralegal hadn’t done his job, and the judge informed the lawyer during a hearing that the law he is relying on is out of date?You have what you need to succeed if:
- You pay attention to details and are good at tasks that require precision, like playing Jenga or Tetris.
- People don’t hesitate to ask you to do work for them because they know that you will do a good job.
- When you watch a movie, you notice things others do not.
To develop these skills, you can:
- Play memory games and do jigsaw puzzles.
- Always proofread and revise your assignments and exams before handing them in.
- Be the person who does the final read of group project presentations to make sure there are no mistakes.
Analytical Skills
Paralegal are not a paper-pushers. They must read and understand court decisions and decide what law is important to a client’s case. They must be able to understand complex legal concepts and be able to see the difference between various laws when deciding which one applies to the situation they are working on.You have what you need to succeed if:
- You often guess the ending to a suspense movie or crime novel.
- You find it easy to understand new material at school.
- You are curious and like to work on complex problems, such as Sudoku.
To develop these skills, you can:
- Read interesting books and tell your friends about them in your own words.
- Watch informative TV shows and documentaries on a variety of subjects, such as politics, technology or sciences.
- Play games that require logic and strategy, such as chess, checkers or Risk.
Written Communication
Writing takes up a huge part of a paralegal’s day. Legal documents must always be written in a clear and precise manner. To produce high quality written work, a paralegal must be able to write in both French and English.You have what you need to succeed if:
- You enjoy preparing letters.
- You are able to spot typos and enjoy proofreading others people's work.
- You receive good marks in your French, English or literature classes.
To develop these skills, you can:
- Write articles for your school newspaper.
- Proofread and revise group work or your friend’s homework.
- Read books in English and French.
