Most people think of the role of a paralegal as an assistant to an attorney. The American Association for Paralegal Education (AAfPE) defines a paralegal as someone who "performs substantive and procedural legal work as authorized by law, which work, in the absence of the paralegal, would be performed by an attorney. Paralegals have knowledge of the law gained through education, or education and work experience, which qualifies them to perform legal work. Paralegals adhere to recognized ethical standards and rules of professional responsibility." But what activities can one really expect to do each day as a paralegal?
The truth is, paralegals perform a large array of tasks, and no day is completely alike. However, there are some core functions paralegals commonly perform. Here are some of the common duties paralegals are responsible for on a day-to-day basis.