Stress, Expectations, And Reality
Many bright, ambitious young people get into paralegal work due to an interest in justice, the law, and a better understanding of how our country’s social systems work. Others see a good opportunity for income, growth, and stability.
But it’s not a simple job. The pressures of a law firm, even a small one, can be immense. Add to that client concerns, tight deadlines, and mounting piles of complex tasks, and the pressure can become tough to manage, even for the sharpest paralegals.
So how can you support them, keep them, and ensure they have the tools they need to succeed? Below, we’ve compiled 10 ways to help support your paralegal, ensuring they can truly love their job and get the help they need, when they need it.
1. Allow For Needed Daytime Exits
Everybody needs to step out for a doctor’s or dentist’s appointment sometimes. Family emergencies also happen, or your paralegal may simply need an extra half hour to sit outdoors and recalibrate on a busy day. Respecting those needs (so long as they’re genuine and reasonable) can go a long way in building trust, rapport, and loyalty, all of which you’ll need to retain an excellent paralegal.
Use an ILA as the backup that lets your paralegal step out for an appointment, an emergency at their child’s school, or even a coffee run of their own. Work won’t miss a beat, and office spirit automatically improves.
2. Listen To Their Stress Points
Does your paralegal sound stressed? Does their voice break, do they look exhausted, or are they beginning to wear down under pressure? While not every office hire handles stress the same way, it’s important to stay attuned to these issues and know when your paralegal needs some support.
No one can handle high levels of stress indefinitely, and an ILA can be exactly the help you both need. Take 10-40 hours of work off of your paralegal’s plate, while still relying on them for in-office tasks such as client intake, communications, and core tasks that they handle well.
3. Provide The Right Digital Tools
A modern law firm seamlessly blends the human and the digital. PracticePanther, Westlaw, and other platforms are now ubiquitous and save considerable time. Make sure your paralegal has access to them and knows how to best use them. The same is true of AI tools and software.
And when you partner with DocketWorks, we’ll provide you and your existing support with your choice of legal research platform, and ensure data is kept secure with RustDesk.
Need help training your paralegal on AI? Our founder, Richard Jacobs, has written extensively on the topic, and we can provide you with the resources you need to help your support come out ahead of the AI curve.
4. Collaborate Instead Of Dominate
Let your paralegal know it’s ok to say “I need help”. If your paralegal fears you or fears termination for not knowing something, they’ll be stressed, tense, and less likely to perform well. They’ll also be far more likely to seek employment elsewhere. Give your paralegals the space to ask questions.
This is also where an ILA can be especially helpful. They’re already trained, accredited attorneys, and can give your paralegal the answers and guidance they may need throughout the day. This allows your paralegal to feel supported while freeing you up to focus on litigation and representation.
5. Understand Their Strengths and Limits
Some paralegals are great at document drafting but struggle with billing or spreadsheets. Others can crunch numbers like there’s no tomorrow, but balk at document summaries.
While some limitations can be overcome by the right training, others may require you to delegate task categories elsewhere. In need of a paralegal who can handle the extra work? Let us partner you with an ILA who excels at these specific tasks and can fill in the gaps where your existing help struggles.
6. Train Them On Handling Stressed Clients
Some of the toughest aspects of a paralegal’s day involve dealing with stressed, angry, or frustrated clients. They’re on the receiving end of some truly intense, subjective emotions from people facing divorce, injuries, lawsuits, and even the death of a loved one.
Provide your paralegal with the verbal, emotional, and practical tools to handle these situations. DocketWorks offers training to help paralegals know how to best respond, when to ask for help, and the best feedback for calm, optimal outcomes.
7. Respect Their After-Work Time
Your paralegal may be willing to work until 9 pm, but they shouldn’t have to, and certainly not every evening. While some more intense cases might call for crunch time, your paralegal should expect to head home at a reasonable hour most days.
Finding it difficult to let them go at five, or playing catch-up yourself? Allow an ILA to fill in the gaps, allowing both of you to head home at a reasonable hour and enjoy your evenings to truly relax and decompress.
8. Small Things Say A Lot
Has your paralegal ever run out to get you a coffee, some donuts, or a sandwich from your favorite shop? Errands are common, and even expected in many firms, but when’s the last time your paralegal got a small “thank you” in return?
Even a small gesture, such as free donuts on Monday morning or fancier brands of coffee creamer by the carafe, can make a world of difference. These tiny changes make the work week more bearable and give breaks that allow your paralegal to get back to work feeling not only refreshed but appreciated.
9. “The Comfy Chair”
Does your paralegal have a comfortable place to sit? How’s the lighting where they’re positioned? While seating, furniture, and comfort may not be on the front burner of your concerns, they would mean a lot to your in-office support. Consider upgrading furniture that’s uncomfortable, rigid, or doesn’t support an eight-hour workday. Stress-relieving foot mats can be a huge help, as well.
10. Encourage Their Growth
Studies indicate that as many as one in four paralegals aspire to become attorneys themselves. While you may dread the thought of losing excellent support, it’s important to encourage your paralegal to aim for a career in law if that is what they seek.
Let your paralegal know they can come to you with questions about the legal world, law school, or what it’s actually like to represent clients. When they pass the bar exam, we can support your firm with a new or a second ILA, leaving you free to say goodbye on a far brighter note.
Good help can be incredibly hard to find. And harder to keep. Need help ensuring your paralegal has the support and resources they need? Or looking to onboard a second paralegal, but struggle with the cost? Allow DocketWorks to help.
Just book a discovery call today, and we’ll pair you with a bright, trained ILA, ready to free both of you to work at your best, succeed, and truly enjoy the work you do.
Grace Singh is a writer and editor for DocketWorks. She enjoys bridging services and client needs in ways that are meaningful, memorable, and human-focused, even as technology continues to change. When she’s not at her home office, she enjoys nature walks, reading, and brewing coffee.