Paralegals are the backbone of any legal organization, quietly providing the organizational and administrative skills needed to move legal matters toward a conclusion. But how can you screen for these necessary skills at the outset? What should prospective paralegals focus on to set themselves up for success? Below, paralegal Shane Shuma explains five of the key skills and qualities a paralegal needs for success in the legal field.
Multitasking Skills
Litigation can be quick and unpredictable—and a paralegal needs to be able to easily pivot and focus on new tasks while still maintaining their accuracy. Paralegals should be organized and able to keep up with multiple competing priorities at any given time.
Attention to Detail
Paralegals are often the last people to review letters, court filings, and other legal documents, so it’s critical for them to be able to catch minor spelling, grammar, and formatting mistakes. Paralegals must be able to quickly spot and notate calendar filing deadlines, court dates, and any follow-up tasks. Finally, paralegals must keep all files organized in a way that allows attorneys and others to quickly find what they need.
Ability to Look Ahead
“Even the best paralegals can’t read minds,” Shuma jokes, “but they can come close if they have a strong ability to anticipate and plan for issues that may arise.” By becoming familiar with the facts of a case and the stage of the process for each case, a paralegal can see what’s coming down the road and work to prepare for it.
Strong Writing Skills
For paralegals, who often spend a lot of time editing and proofreading documents, solid spelling, grammar, formatting, and punctuation skills are a must. Many attorneys depend on their paralegal staff to catch any errors or unclear sentences and revise or rewrite them for clarity. A great paralegal will adapt to their supervising attorney’s “voice” and eventually be able to draft briefs and correspondence that sounds as though the attorney wrote it themselves.
Professionalism
The legal field requires a great deal of professionalism from judges, bailiffs, court reporters, attorneys, paralegals, and everyone else involved in the process. This means dressing for the job, showing up on time, working hard while on the clock, and staying aware of any changes or technological advances in the legal profession. Paralegals must be unfailingly honest and are required to maintain the confidentiality of the information provided to them in the course and scope of their duties.
Communication and People Skills
Paralegals with good communication skills will be able to clarify instructions and avoid miscommunication when dealing with complex topics. Paralegals can also communicate with clients and members of the public in a straightforward, friendly, and helpful way.
“The broad term ‘people skills’ is an important component of any paralegal’s job,” Shuma explains. “Attorneys aren’t always the easiest people to work with, and a good paralegal can push back without seeming uncooperative or insubordinate.” Paralegals may also need to talk to crime victims, police officers, witnesses, court staff, translators and interpreters, and a variety of other people, and having the skills to put these people at ease—even when going through a difficult time—can make a paralegal a valuable part of any office’s legal team.
Grace Under Pressure
The legal world can be a stressful one. Often, the day a client visits a lawyer for the first time can be one of the hardest days of their life—whether they’re seeking justice for a medical malpractice or personal injury claim, pursuing civil damages for a crime that harmed themselves or a loved one, or ending their marriage. It’s important to remain calm under pressure, even when dealing with clients who are distraught, attorneys or judges who are curt and snappish, or members of the public who won’t take no for an answer.
“Staying calm will also help you maintain the level of organization you need,” Shuma explains. “In the legal field, deadlines are critical, and there’s little room for error.” The ability to navigate this pressure without becoming distracted or losing focus can be the difference between a paralegal who is merely competent and one who regularly exceeds expectations.
About Shane Shuma:
Shane Shuma has worked as a paralegal at Scott & Associates in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, since November 2022. He is also a Customer Service Team Lead for Chick-fil-A in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Mr. Shuma spent valuable time in North Texas interning for McKinney’s Performing Arts Center and graduated from Dickinson College in 2022 with his B.A. in Law & Policy. Mr. Shuma brings a talent for public speaking and a love of learning to his work.
