Maybe you’ve been considering extra legal help, but aren’t quite sure whether to hire a paralegal or try something new. Maybe you already have a great paralegal and know what their day looks like, and are wondering what an ILA would do differently.
What would it look like to work with an ILA? Why would an international attorney want to work with a US-based firm, what does their typical workday look like, and how do ILAs view their side of the partnership?
So our team sat down with several ILAs to get their thoughts on their work, what drives them, and the various ways they collaborate with US-based lawyers.
If you’ve been considering an ILA, but aren’t entirely sure how this service is unique from a traditional paralegal, read on. While there are definite overlaps, there are differences, too, and how ILAs approach the law, tasks, and your clients’ legal goals factor in.
Alright, so how does an ILA start their day? For one, they work when their US-based attorney works. For many ILAs, this is a full-time job, meaning their workday may start at 6 pm in their time zone. They understand this time shift and have made these adjustments to be available for lawyers as needed. This allows the attorney to assign work, communicate with ILAs, and get tasks handed back during their normal office hours.
ILAs log on to a secure, virtual environment where they can receive tasks, documents, and assignments from their attorney. All ILA-attorney communication is handled through real-time channels (monitored by DocketWorks), allowing the ILA to ask questions, get feedback, and send updates on case work as the day progresses.
You may have sent your ILA tasks the afternoon before, or you might send them over once you’re in the office. Your ILA logs on once you start your work day, staying in touch, updating you, and checking in as tasks are handled. It’s simple, seamless, and secure.
Your ILA can also work with the legal and professional software already familiar to you, such as Google Workspace, MyCase, Clio, and others. All of this to ease communication, protect client data, and ensure your workday moves as smoothly and effectively as possible, every day.
So, what does an ILA do? What types of tasks do they handle? Well, anything you can hand to them, apart from advising clients or representing them in court or in negotiations.
Legal Drafting
About 51% of ILA tasks center around legal drafting. This includes drafting…
Operations / Case Support
Operations and case support take up 22% of ILA’s work. This includes monitoring deadlines and coordinating with you to keep cases moving along at a healthy, expedient rate for clients. Scheduling, meetings, and court dates are all coordinated, and reminders are sent well in advance.
Other Key Tasks
Reviewing existing documents, legal research, e-filing, billings, and communicating with clients whenever requested or appropriate make up the rest of an ILA’s work, alongside meetings with you and with DocketWorks. These meetings allow you to discuss cases and allow the ILA to receive instructions, give updates, and clarify what needs to be done.
All of this comes together to take an immense weight off your shoulders. You can now hone in on representation, strategizing, and meeting with clients one-on-one to discuss their cases. All of the smaller (yet still important) tasks are handled in the background and sent to you as they are completed.
You wind up saving 10 to 40 hours per week, clients get more of your undivided attention, and your mind and schedule are clear to do your best work.
How does this all work together technologically? As mentioned, your ILA can use any platform you’re already on and familiar with to review case files and know your schedule at a glance, including Clio or LegalPanther. Our virtual terminal, RustDesk, protects everything your ILA views, works on, and sends back to you securely.
Digital coordination is seamless. You and your ILA will use the same platforms, can message one another back and forth, and provide updates or seek clarification as needed. Security is incredibly important to you, and it’s incredibly important to us, as well.
It’s important to your ILA, as well. These are accredited attorneys, after all, and ILAs understand the importance of attorney-client privilege and have been trained on American HIPAA laws and compliance before they’re partnered with you.
Many attorneys ask us why an ILA would want to work for a US-based lawyer. They’re lawyers, wouldn’t they rather be practicing law? Many still do, though in slightly reduced capacities. These are men and women who love the law, find it compelling and meaningful, and want to learn as much as they can. Hence, a partnership with a US-based firm.
US law is unique, and familiarity with American law is a major boon for many international attorneys. Some are simply interested in how US law works, while others find this experience helpful in their own local careers. There’s a certain prestige in working with American firms, and an ILA’s experience with you can make an already impressive legal career stand out even more.
Plus, ILAs are simply interested in helping people. They’ve had (and still have) clients of their own, and they know what’s at stake. There’s a certain basic joy and excitement to be had in helping American clients through personal injury cases, through a divorce, or through a bankruptcy. This connection with people in need drives ILAs to work at their best, keep learning, and support you in representation at every step.
As you can see, there are already a few key differences between an ILA and a US-based paralegal. And while many of the legal tasks handled are similar, there’s a distinct advantage in allowing a fellow attorney to handle case work, client updates, and file organization.
In essence, they think like you. They’re not strategizing for clients, but they understand exactly, ahead of time, how cases unfold. They’re organized, structured, and zeroed in on excellence from day one. And while their pay is very competitive by local standards, they’re affordable to a US-based wallet.
And because everything is handled securely, risk is mitigated. We know how important cybersecurity and client privacy are, and we put data risk mitigation at the forefront of everything we do here. Your information, client information, and your ILA’s information all stay protected, together, and visible only to you and to them.
So an ILA isn’t just a new hire; they’re a collaborative partner who understands the law, works with you in real time, and takes every task as seriously as you do. You’ll save hours of time per week, and your ILA gains insights into US law, helps your clients’ cases along, and gives you the bandwidth to focus, negotiate, strategize, and win.
So that’s what an ILA’s day looks like. Log on, collaborate, accomplish, focus, repeat. All while helping support your firm, your clients, and your ability to represent at your best. If you already have an excellent paralegal? An ILA can help support them, as well.
What we offer is unique, and we’re glad to be able to support law firms like yours and our ILAs in their love of law, advocacy, and diligence. Wondering what an ILA can do for you? Book a call, let us know what your work week looks like, and we’ll answer any questions you have.
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