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CAREER CORNER
Working as a Paralegal In House [by Ursula Furi-Perry] Corporations have long used in-house counsel to take care of their legal needs. And now other legal staff have been added to the corporate mix.
“More and more corporations employ
A corporation’s paralegals may have little
conducts extensive legal research on existing
in-house paralegals,” said Marge Dover,
supervision; however, they may report to
laws, and answers questions from various
Executive Director of the National Associa-
more than one supervisor, such as the
departments to ensure that new projects are
tion of Legal Assistants (NALA). Insurance
corporation’s in-house counsel, as well as a
in compliance with laws and regulations.
companies, financial institutions, medical
department head. “I work fairly independent-
corporations, and research firms are just
ly, with regular reports to my supervisors,”
The job differs from that of paralegals at
a few areas that increasingly prefer to hire
said Ms. Kunz. In-house paralegals may
law firms. “It’s a different setting, where the
in-house legal staff instead of outsourcing
perform the bulk of the corporation’s legal
corporation is really your client,” Ms. Dover
legal tasks. “Companies are becoming very
work or specialize in one particular field.
explained. “In-house paralegals represent
creative about using the skills paralegals
In fact, in-house legal staff work in numer-
the company as a whole,” Ms. Hawkes said.
have,” Ms. Dover said.
ous areas of the law, their profession still
“They are actually sitting in the [offices] of
expanding. “Contract compliance, litigation,
their clients.” Corporate paralegals may also
Some of those skills include multi-tasking
and intellectual property law are just a few
experience less attorney involvement in their
and being able to handle complex projects,
of the areas that hire in-house paralegals,”
work. “My work is generally not assigned by
explained Vicki Kunz, past President of
said Ms. Dover. “They may work specifically
an attorney. Instead, my caseload is dictated
NALA, now an in-house paralegal in the Risk
for the corporation’s legal department or for
by litigation that comes into the company and
Management Department of MDU Resources,
other branches like human resources.”
falls under our insurance policies,” Ms. Kunz detailed. “Also, most corporate employees,
a publicly traded corporation with more than 60 companies nationwide and in Brazil.
Sample daily tasks may include writing
no matter what department, do a lot more of
“Every day is different,” Ms. Kunz said. “A
reports to corporate clients, correspond-
their own daily work without administrative
regular day is whatever walks through the
ing with other corporations, attorneys, and
assistance.” As such, in-house paralegals
door,” agreed Stephanie Hawkes, Senior
clients, docketing and file maintenance, and
are often apt at both the professional and
Paralegal in Legal Compliance at Nissan
in-house training of employees. “I spend a lot
clerical tasks of their trade.
North America, Inc., and President of the Me-
of time on the phone speaking to our com-
troplex Association of Corporate Paralegals,
panies on problem claims or serious injuries
Those interested in in-house work should be
an organization dedicated to the professional
or accidents, to attorneys for updates or for
quick on their feet, Ms. Kunz recommended.
betterment of corporate paralegals.
information on lawsuits, and to adjusters for
“Accept the fact that it is okay to do it all and
more detailed information on large claims
always be a company team player.” “Corpo-
In-house work is certainly diverse and
and loss information for trend activity,” Ms.
rate paralegals must be able to multi-task;
rewarding. “I love being able to see new
Kunz said. Among Ms. Kunz’ other duties are
they have to see the big picture,” Ms. Hawkes
business concepts and ideas from their
providing monthly litigation and loss reports
stated. “They must have an appreciation of
conception all the way through implementa-
to all management throughout the company,
the company and its products [and services].”
tion,” Ms. Hawkes said. One of the benefits of
providing claims-management training to
Paralegal training, education, and experience
working in house is the dynamic and exciting
employees, and reviewing all deductible
are also important in landing an in-house
nature of the work, Ms. Kunz and Ms. Hawkes
billing invoices for payment and alloca-
job, Ms. Dover said.
both stated. Paralegals in corporate settings
tion. “I track legislation in all 50 states and
often perform numerous different tasks and
present new laws to attorneys and corporate
Legal headhunters are great places to start
communicate with different people every day.
departments,” Ms. Hawkes explained. In ad-
when looking for in-house jobs, as many cor-
dition, Ms. Hawkes takes calls from clients,
porations are now turning to legal staffers
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