Who's Who In Law Offices?
Hiring and using a lawyer can be a simple process -- sometimes you can just walk into your local law firm, see a lawyer and then let them sort out your legal needs. But, if you have more complicated needs or decide to deal with a large law firm, then things may seem a little more complex.
In many cases, especially if you decide to work with a larger law firm, you may well be working with a variety of different people at different times during your case. So, how do you know who is in your team here and what do they do? Let's take a look at some of the legal professionals who can work on cases.
Partners -- partners are the most senior lawyers in any law firm. They may be the people who actually 'own' the firm as they helped set it up or they may have simply worked their way up to partnership level. In general terms a partner will charge you more for their time than a junior lawyer but may well be more experienced. Associates -- associates are more junior lawyers who will be gaining experience and working their way up (hopefully!) to partnership level in most cases. Working with an associate does not mean you'll be short-changed from an experience perspective. Most experienced associates will have been practicing law for a good few years and more inexperienced associates will be usually be mentored by a senior associate or partner. Paralegals -- paralegals are specialists with some legal training but they are not qualified lawyers. A paralegal can complete various legal tasks but not all and they will often be employed to work with a lawyer to provide support and back-up on certain cases. Law clerks -- law clerks are often law students looking to gain some work experience or young people looking to see if the legal world will suit them. A law clerk will help your lawyer/paralegal with research and will offer them a range of other support services. Specialists -- in some cases it may be necessary for your lawyer to bring in an outside specialist such as an investigator or a legal specialist. Some law firms will contract this kind of work out to other firms and some will retain their own qualified personnel for these purposes.
If you choose to work with a small law firm or an individual practitioner on a straightforward matter then you may well find that you only deal with one person during your case. If, however, you have a more complicated case or choose to deal with a larger firm then you may well be given a team to work on your behalf.
Many law firms will make sure that you are given access to a sole point of contact if you are dealing with a team to make things easier. So, for example, your lawyer may manage a team of paralegals, clerks and investigators but you will not need to talk to any of them as all your contact will go through your lawyer. This can make the whole process easier for you so it's worth looking out for. - 23211
In many cases, especially if you decide to work with a larger law firm, you may well be working with a variety of different people at different times during your case. So, how do you know who is in your team here and what do they do? Let's take a look at some of the legal professionals who can work on cases.
Partners -- partners are the most senior lawyers in any law firm. They may be the people who actually 'own' the firm as they helped set it up or they may have simply worked their way up to partnership level. In general terms a partner will charge you more for their time than a junior lawyer but may well be more experienced. Associates -- associates are more junior lawyers who will be gaining experience and working their way up (hopefully!) to partnership level in most cases. Working with an associate does not mean you'll be short-changed from an experience perspective. Most experienced associates will have been practicing law for a good few years and more inexperienced associates will be usually be mentored by a senior associate or partner. Paralegals -- paralegals are specialists with some legal training but they are not qualified lawyers. A paralegal can complete various legal tasks but not all and they will often be employed to work with a lawyer to provide support and back-up on certain cases. Law clerks -- law clerks are often law students looking to gain some work experience or young people looking to see if the legal world will suit them. A law clerk will help your lawyer/paralegal with research and will offer them a range of other support services. Specialists -- in some cases it may be necessary for your lawyer to bring in an outside specialist such as an investigator or a legal specialist. Some law firms will contract this kind of work out to other firms and some will retain their own qualified personnel for these purposes.
If you choose to work with a small law firm or an individual practitioner on a straightforward matter then you may well find that you only deal with one person during your case. If, however, you have a more complicated case or choose to deal with a larger firm then you may well be given a team to work on your behalf.
Many law firms will make sure that you are given access to a sole point of contact if you are dealing with a team to make things easier. So, for example, your lawyer may manage a team of paralegals, clerks and investigators but you will not need to talk to any of them as all your contact will go through your lawyer. This can make the whole process easier for you so it's worth looking out for. - 23211
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