Benefits of Hiring a Paralegal
Do you need to find a paralegal? Paralegals are legal professionals that are licensed and governed by the Law Society of Ontario. Paralegals have become more known over the past few years and rightly so! Paralegals share many similarities with lawyers and their distinctions only add to their credentials. Below are a few noted benefits of choosing to hire a paralegal instead of a lawyer.
Affordable Services
Hiring a paralegal is a more affordable and cost-effective choice compared to hiring a lawyer. Paralegals tend to be cheaper than lawyers because of the scope of legal services they provide. Lawyers are authorized to practice all types of law whereas a paralegal is authorized to practice specific types of law.
Legal fees can quickly accumulate and soon become unmanageable. By hiring a paralegal, you can rest assured that your case will be taken care of at a reasonable price.
Specialized Knowledge
As paralegals have a specific scope of practice, they end up having specialized knowledge in the field of law they provide services in. As a client, this puts you at a great advantage because you can trust that your paralegal will understand the details and legalities of your matter.
This greatly increases your chances of a case ending in your favour. A paralegal with specialized knowledge will also likely be able to provide insight into your case and the anticipated outcome based on precedence.
Accessibility
Due to high demand, lawyers can be difficult to meet with or hire within a short period of time. Over the years, the need for legal help has increased and luckily so has the number of paralegals. Ontario currently has over 9,000 paralegal licensees. With more paralegals becoming licensed daily, accessibility to them also increases. You may need assistance with a matter that is time sensitive and incredibly specific but unable to reach or afford a lawyer.
By choosing a paralegal, you will have access to a legal professional that will be able to take care your matter quickly. Since paralegals are also more affordable than lawyers, clients with smaller financial budgets will still have access to optimal legal support.
Highly Qualified
Like lawyers, paralegals in Ontario must be licensed by the Law Society of Ontario (“LSO”). The LSO is the governing body that regulates both lawyers and paralegals. This means that paralegals must abide by the rules and regulations set out by the LSO. Any profession that is regulated provides clients with reassurance that they are receiving assistance from qualified individuals that are held to certain professional standards.
To become licensed, a paralegal has to complete an accredited program, at least 120 placement hours and also pass the paralegal licensing exam. As the process to become licensed is challenging, you can trust that your paralegal has successfully met the requirements to receive and maintain their license.
There are certain times where a lawyer will be required (i.e. your legal matter is out of a paralegal’s scope of practice) but the option of hiring a paralegal has become incredibly appealing. The law can be daunting so it is always best to consult a legal professional about your matter.
Paralegals are affordable, accessible, highly qualified and have specialized knowledge on legal matters. If you are unsure whether you need a paralegal or not, speak with one today to find out because the benefits surely outweigh the costs!
