Everyone knows law firms primarily employ lawyers. However, did you know that legal companies also employ a variety of other professionals besides attorneys?
If you’re looking for a career change and perhaps wondering, “What are some common jobs working with accident attorneys in my area?” here are some of the common jobs available at a law firm you might consider.
TL;DR: Key takeaways:
- Law firms employ diverse roles beyond attorneys, including paralegals, intake specialists, and administrators.
- Job requirements vary from high school diplomas for support roles to law degrees for attorneys.
- Collaboration among staff helps firms effectively serve clients and make a community impact.
Attorney: Legal Research and Representation
Attorneys are licensed legal professionals providing legal advice and representing clients throughout all stages of a lawsuit and, when necessary, in court proceedings. As practicing attorneys, they handle legal matters and legal proceedings. They are responsible for legal research, reviewing documents, preparing pleadings and motions, interviewing witnesses and clients, negotiating settlements, representing clients in court hearings, and writing contracts.
To become an attorney, one typically earns a bachelor’s degree, or undergraduate degree, before they attend law school, complete their legal education, and pass the bar exam after earning a Juris Doctor or J.D. degree from an accredited law school. An attorney might specialize in any of a variety of areas of practice, from business (corporate) law, criminal law, family law, tax law, sports law, immigration law, and intellectual property law to environmental law. In criminal law, attorneys may handle criminal cases that go to trial, where judges weigh evidence, interpret the law, and impose sentences after conviction.
Accident attorneys provide legal services to individuals who have been injured in an accident. They specialize in personal injury law and help victims of accidents understand their rights, file claims, obtain legal assistance, and navigate the process of seeking compensation for damages incurred due to the accident.
Accident attorneys also are responsible to represent clients, advise clients during negotiations with insurance companies, and protect their clients’ interests in court. Skilled and sympathetic accident attorneys will strive to work out personal injury law settlements rather than take cases into court.
Law firms are not made up of only attorneys. Attorneys often start as associates, who are salaried lawyers expected to meet billable-hour targets, and senior associates may mentor junior lawyers and manage client matters. Partners are the owners or shareholders of a law firm, and some firms distinguish equity partners as profit-sharing leaders with significant management responsibilities. Law clerks are often law students who help attorneys with legal research and case preparation. Of Counsel can describe an experienced attorney affiliated with the firm on a part-time basis.
Paralegal: Drafting Legal Documents
As a paralegal at a law firm, you would be part of the legal support staff, often working closely with legal assistants to provide legal support to attorneys. Your duties may include:
- Conducting legal research on precedents and statutes
- Preparing and drafting documents for filing in court, including legal documents
- Organizing client files and evidence
- Drafting pleadings and motions
- Performing investigations into the facts of cases
- Analyzing data related to cases
- Interviewing clients and witnesses on behalf of attorneys
- Attending hearings or mediations with attorneys
- Assisting in trial preparation
You will need strong research, excellent written and oral communication skills, and familiarity with legal terminology and court procedures to succeed as a paralegal.
If you’re a paralegal and wondering “who might be an injury lawyer near me?”, you’d likely be a good candidate if you have some background in personal injury law. Law firms that have a personal injury practice also prefer candidates with coursework related to medical malpractice claims, wrongful death suits, slip-and-fall accidents, dog bites, and other types of personal injuries.
Intake Specialist
As an Intake Specialist for a law firm, you would often be the first point of contact for potential clients and manage the initial contact between them and the firm. Your duties may include gathering information from prospective clients for the attorney to decide whether to accept the case. Additionally, you would be required to maintain detailed records of each case the firm takes, including filing papers and organizing legal documents. You would also ensure that all necessary paperwork is completed correctly and on time.
This role can be one of the entry level positions in a law firm and helps candidates gain experience in the legal field.
Most employers require that Intake Specialists hold at least a high school diploma or equivalent. However, some firms may prefer to hire applicants with an associate’s degree in paralegal studies, legal studies, or a related field. In addition to educational qualifications, employers typically seek individuals with experience in customer service and/or the legal field, though some employers provide on the job training for strong candidates.
Administrator
An administrator at a law firm is responsible for providing administrative support and supporting the day-to-day work of a law office for attorneys and other staff so the office runs smoothly. Typical duties include:
- Answering phones, taking messages and responding to inquiries from clients.
- Scheduling meetings and appointments.
- Creating, sending, organizing, filing, photocopying, and faxing documents, and in some cases supporting document review.
- Maintaining client databases.
- Coordinating travel arrangements for legal team members.
- Drafting correspondence on behalf of the lawyers in the firm.
- Assisting with research projects as needed.
- Processing payments or invoices, though legal billing specialists often manage complex legal invoicing and track accounts receivable.
Support roles in law firms also include legal assistants, billing specialists, and IT staff.
Legal secretaries manage clerical tasks and assist attorneys with paperwork.
Some firms separate file maintenance and retrieval into record clerks roles. In many firms, office managers or human resource managers handle broader operations such as staffing and workflow, especially at larger firms. Accountants may also handle budgeting and client billing tasks. IT support maintains the firm’s secure networks and legal software. Some administrative paths also overlap with human resources tasks and preparing financial reports.
Most employers require applicants for an administrative job at a law firm to have at least a high school diploma. Some positions may also require additional education, such as an associate’s degree or certification in office management or legal administration, and experienced legal secretaries may move into similar roles in some firms.
If You’re Wondering “Could I Work With Accident Attorneys in My Area?”, Consider This
If you live in Lafayette, Louisiana, or Metairie, Louisiana area, and you are looking to work for a law firm, there are several positions available where law firm workers can contribute through both legal work and administrative roles to help the community. Now that you know that you don’t necessarily need to study law to work at a law firm, you can focus on finding the right job for you. In smaller firms and larger firms, paths can range from support roles to attorney-track opportunities for aspiring lawyers or law students. For law school graduates, associate attorneys are often a next step after earning a law degree and becoming licensed to practice law.
At The Law Offices of Blaine Barrilleaux, we believe the legal profession is enriched when passionate people willing to make a positive change in the world get involved in the justice system and the broader legal system.
Firms can include practicing attorneys, legal secretaries, administrators, and other legal support professionals depending on the size and legal practice of the office, and in some jurisdictions a chartered legal executive is a recognized title. That’s why we say “In pain? Call Blaine” because our law firm chooses to focus on helping the community by ensuring those who have been injured get the compensation they deserve.
By doing so, we are helping those who have been most affected and where we can have the biggest impact. National association resources, labor statistics, and similar career data can also help readers compare law careers and entry options.
If you’re in pain, call Blaine.