Becoming a paralegal is an exciting career move. If you’re new to the industry or you just want to hone your case management skills, there are a few things that can help you stay organized. Your organizational system must be something everyone you work with understands. Here are a few great suggestions to improve your case management process, impress your bosses, and excel at your job. These tops can even land you your next paralegal job opportunity.
Create a System
There are countless ways to create a case management system, but what’s most important is that you and the attorneys you work with understand the process. Color coding files, exhibits, and other aspects of the work can help you ensure that nothing falls through the cracks. When starting your first paralegal job, ask seasoned coworkers what they do and why.
Develop a Checklist
The next step is to create a checklist to help you prioritize the cases you’re working on at any given time. Not every case will need your attention daily, but by creating an index and adding that information to your calendar, you can avoid mistakes and missing information in the future. You can do this online or in a physical planner. Make sure it’s sharable for others.
Make Process Improvements
Not everything needs to be carved in stone. It’s okay to improve the process over time if you find a new, more efficient way to handle a task. As you do this, be sure to communicate the changes to those affected and let them know why this part of the process has been improved.
Improve Communication Between Team Members
Many people will touch case files, so you need to ensure that others understand and use whatever system you use. If you use a color-coded system but others who are interacting with the files do not, things can become miss-filled, which can be a problem. Work with your team at all times.
Are you looking for a job as a paralegal? NRI Legal Staffing in DC can help, so call to see what we’re working on today.
