From: Career Talk with UCSD Extension Director of Legal Education, Julia Dunlap, Esq.

“Paralegals now get a lot more respect from attorneys because they have to have faith that the paralegals they hire can do similar work to the attorney and do it well,” said Dunlap, past president of American Association for Paralegal Education. “The attorney is ultimately responsible for anyone who works for them. So, writing a motion or doing legal analysis may be done by a paralegal, but it has to be up to attorney standards because it’s the attorney’s reputation on the line.”  

Dunlap said that in addition to handling some things that were previously solely reserved for lawyers, paralegals also need to be digital detectives. They must be experts in finding things that are hidden electronically, or often reviving documents and financial records that have been deleted. 

The changes have put a lot more responsibility on the role of the paralegal, but as a result it’s also a viable and financially stable career for professionals with an interest in the law, but not perhaps an interest in law school.