4 Valuable Skills for Personal Injury Paralegals

Paralegals play many indispensable roles during personal injury cases, and these require a certain skillset. If you are well trained and educated, you can make an enormous impact on how successful the case will be. Because of this, firms are always on the lookout for talented paralegals who can assist the attorneys at every stage of the process.

What are the most important skills to have? This is a difficult question, as paralegals must be very flexible, but the following are definitely essential.

1. Client management – A paralegal comes into contact with the client on an almost daily basis. The firm may ask you to interview and screen prospective clients, or keep track of ongoing cases. You must be well-organized, compassionate, and professional at all times.

2. Medical familiarity – Because the client’s injuries are central to the case, you must be prepared to handle medical aspects as well. Knowledge of medical terminology is crucial, and you must know how to research various injury types and prescription medications. This is also a paperwork-heavy field; you will be in charge of obtaining medical records, preparing chronologies and itemizations, and so on.

3. Trial expertise – When a fair settlement is not possible, the case will inevitably proceed to litigation. Paralegals who are well versed in trial preparation and support will shine here, as you will provide much-needed support to the attorneys. Your responsibilities will likely include writing opening and closing statements, witness preparation, and acting as a liaison.

4. Investigation – Research is the cornerstone of every successful personal injury case. Many times, a paralegal will have to conduct preliminary investigations; interviewing witnesses, taking photos of the scene, and other duties fall under this.

Helping victims seek justice for their injuries is one of the most satisfying duties that a paralegal can have. In addition to our general paralegal course, we also provide a personal injury course for those who wish to specialize in this area. The right training and credentials will be a huge bonus to your career.

Do you want to learn more about the educational opportunities we offer? Contact us today, and we would be happy to answer your questions.