Congratulations on choosing a paralegal career. You’ve made a smart choice. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lists paralegals as an occupation that will experience faster than average growth in the decade of 2006 to 2016.

But before you get too involved in your paralegal training, you might want to consider what type of paralegal you want to become. Although paralegals can, and often do, specialize in a particular area of the law, there are basically two types of paralegals—litigation and corporate.

Here’s what you can expect if you choose to become litigation paralegal:

Litigation Paralegals

Litigation paralegals focus on the hundred and one details that go into preparing a case for trial. This can include:

• Indexing documents for trial
• Interviewing witnesses
• Drafting many types of court papers
• Researching case law
• Organizing trial documents and briefs

…and many other duties.

From pre-trial to post-trial, they are an important part of the defense and of the prosecution teams.

Investigation

In the pre-trial, or investigation, phase of a court case, litigation paralegals take on many challenges. They commonly search out, and interview, key witnesses. They gather and organize all of the material pertaining to the trial. From witness statements, they recreate the facts of the case and present them to the lawyers. They research relevant case law.

Pleadings

Litigation paralegals on the plaintiff side may assist in drafting summonses, affidavits, and complaints. Litigation paralegals on the defense side investigate the allegations and help the defendant formulate a response.

Discovery

Litigation paralegals usually spend much time on the discovery phase of a trial. They help the attorney draft interrogatories and requests for discovery items. On the defense side, they help investigate the charges and help the defendant to formulate responses to the discovery motions.

The Trial Phase

Litigation paralegals are invaluable assets during a trial. They organize documents and exhibits, prepare subpoenas, prepare witnesses for trial, and arrange for transportation of the witnesses. They are generally in charge of the trial notebook. They help to select the jury and then carefully observe the jury during the trial, reporting to the attorney any behaviors that may have an impact on the trial. They hand the attorney the specific exhibits and documents that are needed during a trial. They request and review trial transcripts. They make relevant notes during a trial that may prove to be important to the attorney.

Qualities of Litigation Paralegals

Because of their varied, and serious, job responsibilities, litigation paralegals should be:

• Organized
• Detail-oriented
• Milti-taskers
• Concise communicators
• Calm under pressure
• Efficient
• Excellent writers

Becoming a Litigation Paralegal

Like most other paralegals, litigation paralegals usually have formal training. They either have one or more of the following degree in paralegal studies:

• Certificate
• Associate’s
• Bachelor’s
• Master’s

Most paralegals enter the field with an associate’s degree, but having a bachelor’s or a master’s degree can bring you more advancement opportunities.

Like attorneys, many paralegals specialize in certain areas of law. If you know what area you would like to specialize in, be sure to select extra courses in that area while you’re in college.