Ask any attorney, and they will say that paralegals are the powerhouse of the law firm. A paralegal’s job can be complex, taxing, and often includes juggling more than a few tasks at once. With such a difficult position, finding someone who is both up to the job and a good fit for your team can be challenging. Luckily, Wegman Partners knows a thing or two about finding exceptional paralegals and the process of matching them to their perfect law-firm. During Wegman Partners more than fifteen years of business, Colby Wegman and his team have helped hundreds of firms find their ideal paralegal candidate by creating by pre-screening candidates and accepting only the most promising paralegals. Wegman Partners’ lawsuit paralegals are known internationally for their expertise and proficiency within the workplace. Below, Wegman Partners will discuss the traits they most look for in a paralegal candidate.
Writing/ Editing Skills
While law often emphasizes the importance of speech in the courtroom, within a law firm, writing is king. Documentation, research summarization, and the other everyday tasks of a paralegal require outstanding writing skills. Their writing cannot only parrot information but must convince the reader of a well-thought argument or concept. For this reason, when identifying a strong paralegal candidate, look for an English background or previous writing experience.
Research Skills
The process of locating information quickly and documenting it without error is essential to any legal team. Researching a subject, especially in the context of law, is a skill set that not all possess. However, research must come easy for a paralegal professional as many research assignments will be given with a time constraint.
Organization and Time Management
As touched on earlier, a paralegal is rarely afforded the time to focus exclusively on one task. They must instead juggle various cases with different task deadlines and prioritize certain aspects of a case above another’s. Keeping track of a large number of work requests is no easy feat; however, it is the first mark of a good paralegal. By asking candidates about any previous experience dealing with a high volume workload, you may better understand their ability to organize and manage their time.
Team Player
There is a reason legal teams are referred to as teams. A paralegal candidate can excel in all fields mentioned previously; however, if a candidate isn’t personable, their attitude may affect the team. Paralegals spend a large amount of time paired with an attorney, and while this dynamic can accomplishes great things, they must be able to communicate and remain on good terms to excel at their jobs.
