What’s the Difference Between a Lawyer and a Paralegal?
Lawyers are licensed to practice law. That means they can represent clients in court and provide them with legal advice. Paralegals cannot perform the same duties as an attorney, but they can assist them as they prepare cases. Lawyers also need to earn a bachelor’s degree and a Juris Doctorate (JD) and pass the bar exam in the state where they intend to practice. Paralegals only need to earn an associate degree. Both work in the legal profession but their responsibilities are very different. Take a closer look at the differences between lawyers and paralegals and see which career path might be for you:
What Do Lawyers Do?
As a lawyer, you would be a licensed professional allowed to take on clients and represent them in court. Among the responsibilities you would have are to:
- Establish the attorney-client relationship
- Develop legal strategy
- Set legal fees for services
- Advise clients about their rights, obligations, and merits of their case
- Provide ethical legal opinions based on interpretation of law
- Develop and present court arguments
- Prepare and execute legal documents
- Represent clients in court during trials, hearings, or depositions
- Negotiate settlements
- Supervise legal proceedings
What Do Paralegals Do?
Because paralegal training isn’t as extensive and they are not licensed, they cannot perform any of the functions of a practicing attorney. When you’re a paralegal, you’re not allowed to represent clients or offer legal advice. You can’t accept or reject cases or accept lawyer’s fees from a client. You cannot explain legal documents to clients without the supervision of a licensed lawyer or participate in any activity that could be considered an unauthorized practice of the law.
Your role as a paralegal is to support the legal team and, in that capacity, you have many responsibilities:
- Conduct legal research on relevant statutes, case law, and legal precedents
- Communicate with clients, attorneys, and associated parties
- Draft legal documents such as contracts, pleadings, and affidavits
- Interview witnesses, clients, and investigators
- Manage correspondence and schedule appointments
- Prepare trial materials such as filings, exhibits, and evidence
- File legal documents and track deadlines
- Review and summarize depositions, trial transcripts, and other legal documents
- Collaborate with attorneys on case preparation and strategy
- Comply with laws, regulations, and court rules
It Takes Less Time to Become a Paralegal
It can take seven years to complete the necessary education to become a lawyer. Lawyers must earn a bachelor’s degree, pass the LSAT exam, attend law school, earn a JD degree, and pass the bar exam to practice law. You can become a paralegal by earning an associate degree. Your program can take less than two years to complete.
Paralegal Training Costs Less Than Law School
Fewer years of school means less money out of pocket. The average cost of law school in the U.S. is over $230,000 – and that doesn’t include the cost of your undergraduate education or the fees to take the LSAT and bar exam. A paralegal degree is a fraction of that cost.
Are you interested in a career in law? Paralegals are important contributors to the legal team and profession. At Charter College, we offer an Associate of Applied Science in Paralegal that can prepare you for entry-level employment at a law firm or you can choose other ways to use your paralegal degree. The program can be completed in as few as 15 months and is offered online for flexibility and convenience. Call 888-200-9942 or fill out the form to learn more.