Qualities of Successful Paralegals
Qualities of Successful Paralegals: Do You Have What It
Takes?
So great, you've gotten the required paralegal education, maybe even landed a great job as a legal
assistant...but do you know the qualities of a successful paralegals? What's REALLY going to set you apart
from the crowd and get you noticed (and promoted)?
Qualities of successful paralegals include:
Paralegal Quality #1: You have thick skin
Paralegal Quality #2: You're a "people" person
Paralegal Quality #3: You're self-directed
Paralegal Quality #4: You're resourceful
Paralegal Quality #5: You're analytical
If you're considering a paralegal career, think about whether you exhibit some, if not all, of these
qualities. If not, are they things you'd like to get better at? With a little practice, for
example, do you think you'd feel comfortable showing initiative or persevering in the face of
difficulties? If so, then keep reading! You CAN develop these qualities in yourself with a little
time and attention.
If you're already working as a paralegal, take some time to think about whether you're demonstrating these
qualities in your current position. If not, actively think about what you can do differently in order to move
your legal assistant career to the next level.
Paralegal Quality #1: You have thick skin
As a paralegal, you may find yourself working under extreme deadlines, multitasking, and being asked to perform
all sorts of tasks. Inevitably, tempers may become short when team members are working at such a demanding pace,
and it's likely at some point you will be on the receiving line of criticism. You'll handle it much better if you
develop thick skin. Now, we're not talking about blowing off feedback or criticisms that are justified - we all
make mistakes at some point in our careers, and it's important to learn from past mistakes. However, if you take
tend to take criticism personally, this may not be the right career fit for you!
Paralegal Quality #2: You're a "people" person
One of the great things about being a legal assistant is the variety of people you get to interact with each
day. Top paralegals are good at communicating with others. Often, paralegals have a high degree of interaction with
clients. In this role, you've got to deliver a high level of service and professionalism. And remember, often
you're dealing with clients in really difficult, stressful situations, so the ability to "read" people and
communicate tactfully is key to your success. At other times, you may be interviewing witnesses - the ability to
strike up a rapport and "read" the situation may enable you to get better, more thorough information.
Paralegal Quality #3: You're self-directed
By now you've probably figured out that many paralegals work in very high-paced settings. Attorneys have a lot
on their plate, and once they're comfortable that they can depend on you...they will!
The most successful paralegals are self-directed. They're able to take some direction and run with it. Now, this
doesn't mean that your supervising attorney doesn't know what you're doing and doesn't review your work! But it
does mean that you've got to be comfortable taking initiative and working independently.
Paralegal Quality #4: You're resourceful
The best paralegals are resourceful. stand out paralegals don't give up. For example, let's say you're tasked
with finding an expert witness in an obscure speciality. Obvious avenues (associations, the yellow pages, your
database of past expert witnesses) come up blank. paralegals that really keep pressing until they find
what they're looking for. In our example, you might call numerous universities and network with
others until you've got your expert. This is the kind of perseverance that gets you noticed!
And when you do find that hard-to-locate witness? Be sure to add them to your database
of resources! You never know when you (or someone else) might need them again in the future.
Paralegal Quality #5: You're analytical
stand out paralegals are analytical and curious. As a legal assistant, you'll be asked to review and
distill significant amounts of information for attorneys. You've got to be able to ask the right questions, find
the right information, and draw conclusions from your research.
Successful paralegals are inquisitive and good at pinpointing the "so what?" in reams of information. Does
this sound like you? Great! If not, don't despair. You can improve your analytical abilities over
time.
It's never too late!
In a nutshell, the best paralegals demonstrate these qualities on the job along with a number
of job-specific skills (things like organization, communication, and computer skills).
The good news is that most of these qualities are things that you can practice and get better at.
Remember: it's never too late to stand out and get noticed!
Return to TOP of Qualities of Successful Paralegals page
What is a paralegal? Learn more!
Get the paralegal training and education you need to
excel
Want to REALLY get ahead? Get certified!
| 
