In the legal profession, the delegation of tasks to paralegals and secretaries is commonplace, allowing attorneys to focus on more complex legal issues. However, it is critical for attorneys to monitor and oversee the work done by paralegals, as they share full responsibility for any errors in legal documents that bear their name. A recent article on Above the Law highlights this pressing issue.
The piece, authored by Jordan Rothman, recounts his personal experience: faced with errors in an opposing legal document, Rothman’s adversary blamed the mistakes on a paralegal. Despite the lawyer’s request to amend the papers, the plea was declined, resulting in the lawyer attempting to rectify mistakes within reply briefs—a strategy that rarely succeeds and may further expose initial oversights. This circumstance underscores the necessity for lawyers to thoroughly review their paralegals’ work.
Regardless of the high-volume nature of certain legal practices, which can drive the employment of paralegals, attorneys must ensure meticulous oversight. The responsibility ultimately lies at the attorney’s desk, not the paralegal’s. This type of thorough supervision ensures that legal documents are error-free, maintaining the integrity of legal proceedings and client representations.
For more insights, read Rothman’s full narrative and analysis in the original Above the Law article.