Paralegals are the Backbone of your case.

Think your attorney is managing every detail of your case? Think again. Behind almost every successful case is a paralegal keeping the wheels turning, deadlines met, clients informed, and chaos under control.

Once you retain an attorney, the paralegals go straight to work on your file. They learn about you, your history, they put everything they can together as soon as possible. When you have a case, most likely 8 out of 10 times, you are having conversations with the paralegal and not the attorney.

A good paralegal will keep you informed and communicate regularly about your case. They will often be the ones that you complain to and it’s probably not the only time they will hear complaints. “Why is this case taking so long?!” “This is ridiculous, Google said…..” “I can just do this on my own and have this be easier”. Good luck with that.

Paralegals take the brunt of the disappointment and dissatisfaction of clients, with the attorneys getting involved if it becomes too much to deal with. Other than the daily communication with clients, paralegals are constantly checking incoming filings for deadlines, calendaring them for the appropriate lawyers/assistants, making sure those deadlines aren’t missed, scheduling hearings, depositions, phone calls, mediations, expert reports, coordinating who the experts will be, making sure the lawyer is knowledgeable on the facts of the case, notifying them if there are issues, planning around other people’s vacations, and that’s not even touching the surface.

As much as it takes to keep a case going, most paralegals have a caseload of more than one person should have. But by organization and a strong caffeine addiction and lack of sleep, the case pushes on each day toward trial.

Now, there is a “dead zone” period of cases where it stands still for a little amount of time due to the natural process of the courts and dealing with opposing counsels. This doesn’t mean that the paralegals rest. If one is dead, there are 15 that have fires needing putting out or close to ignition. While attorneys are in court, meeting clients, taking depositions, or occasionally managing to take a vacation, paralegals are often the ones keeping everything moving behind the scenes. “It’s fine, I’m fine, Everything is FINE”. And it usually is, thanks to the hard work of the paralegal.

Not many people, even attorneys, know how much cases affect paralegals. We see the ins and outs of all our cases. We dream about them, often called nightmares… We overthink about them. We talk about them with our significant others and families. Often using most as a reference on what NOT to do. Cases consume us. It’s hard to detach and separate between work and home. At home, we check emails. We answer calls and text messages at dinners. We email ourselves to-do’s or take care of little tasks that we suddenly think about while watching a movie with our families, or sitting at the beach. Do we clock this as overtime? Of course not. The amount of time that should be counted towards our pay might actually make our salaries just as high as the attorneys… (I’m on to something here).

Now, IF your case makes it to the little known event of trial, this is where the paralegal takes the cake. Years of preparation and knowledge about the case finally becomes useful. There’s so much to do in so little time. Most law firms don’t know if/when they go to trial until a few days before, a week or so if they are lucky. That’s a conversation for a different day. Paralegals at this point either hire outside help, or they prepare themselves. Either case, they are up late hours of the night, often through the night, gathering and preparing binders, cross referencing deposition designations (UGH) and making sure the lawyers have what they need to present all of the evidence to 12 people who know nothing about what paralegals have spent years working on.

And when trial finally arrives, the workload doesn’t get lighter—it multiplies. This is where many firms bring in experienced trial consultants and trial technology professionals to help carry the load. From managing exhibits and presentations to handling deposition clips, courtroom technology, and the countless moving parts that come with trial, having dedicated support allows attorneys and paralegals to focus on what they do best: advocating for their clients. Because while a great paralegal can do almost everything, they shouldn’t have to do everything.

Paralegals are the unforeseen heroes of your story in the courtroom. The next time your case seems to be moving smoothly, a hearing magically appears on the calendar, or your attorney walks into court fully prepared, there's a good chance a paralegal made it happen.

We may not stand at counsel table. We may not argue motions or examine witnesses. But every day, behind every successful case, paralegals are building the bridge between preparation and success.

If you're a client, appreciate your paralegal.

If you're an attorney, invest in your paralegal.

And if you're a paralegal reading this—I see you. Keep going.