Position Overview
A personal injury legal assistant works with lawyers in a support role. He or she is responsible for ensuring that a personal injury lawyer receives all the support and assistance that they can get while preparing a trial. The work is complex, which means that not everyone can handle its intricacies.
Education
Typically, a degree in law is sufficient to work as a personal injury legal assistant. Some employers may even hire you if you have a high school diploma, but a degree will ensure that you get a good job.
Skills and Abilities
- Analytical and organized.
- Knowledge of gathering information
- Organization
- Communication and interpersonal skills
- Knowledge of medical procedures.
Personal Injury Legal Assistant Duties and Responsibilities
• Greet clients and inquire into their reasons for paying visits.
• Perform initial interviews in order to determine the nature of the business.
• Create notes regarding personal injury and wrongful death cases.
• Provide personal injury lawyers with information on new cases and clients.
• Assist lawyers by taking notes while they interview new and existing clients.
• Interview witnesses in order to obtain case information.
• Collect evidence for each personal injury claim or case.
• Prepare case briefs and summarize dispositions.
• Conduct investigations into assigned cases by performing both documentary and statistical research.
• Type and file basic legal documents and correspondence.
• Transcribe dictation tapes, ensuring accuracy.
• Sort incoming mail, and ensure it is distributed properly.
• Prepare and update lawyers’ litigation calendars.
• Derive information from past cases in order to assist with present or future ones.
• Enter the right information into databases, and keep it updated.
• Assist clients in filling out the first information forms.
• Explain litigation procedures to clients and respond to their inquiries.
• Collect documentation regarding all sustained damages, such as medical records, and loss of income bills.
• Create and maintain effective relationships with medical companies and professionals in order to obtain information.
• Organize and maintain case files.
• Collect and collate evidence for each case, and assist in trial preparation tasks.