When most people think of a law firm, they envision it full of lawyers who are skilled and ready to tackle the judicial system. However, your lawyer is only one part of the puzzle.
Each law firm is made up of many different roles such as legal secretaries, records clerks, and paralegals. Paralegal skills are some of the most important, as paralegals spend their time helping attorneys prepare for trials and meetings. Unfortunately, paralegal turnover is an aspect of this career that can severely affect the operations of a law firm.
Read on to learn why the turnover rate for paralegals is so high and why it matters.
So what exactly do paralegals bring to the office that attorneys couldn't handle themselves or with other employees?
Some of the different skills paralegals bring to the table include legal documentation, scheduling, legal research, case management, and administrative support. You'll also see them handle customer service and communication.
In addition, your paralegals should have good attention to detail, can multitask, and bring critical thinking.
Attention to detail is important because you don't want to make any mistakes with your financials or with client information. Multitasking allows them to handle all the different tasks you throw at them. Critical thinking comes into play as they help you manage a court case.
Employee turnover is never a good sign for any business or industry. On a smaller, more local level, it shows that you're doing something wrong or taking liberties with your employees. When it comes to industry-wide turnover, there's usually a much deeper issue that needs to be addressed.
One of the top reasons why paralegals leave their profession is because of a toxic work environment. If something goes wrong, the paralegal is often blamed for the mistake.
A lot of responsibility is put onto their shoulders and they aren't always appreciated. Because it's considered a high-pressure environment, they're almost expected to be able to handle the stress without complaint.
In addition to this, paralegals don't exactly have a lot of options when it comes to career growth within the role. At most, they may specialize in a particular area of the law or advance into a managerial role. Some paralegals take the opportunity to become lawyers themselves.
Your legal operations are affected by paralegal turnover in a few different ways.
First, it increases your overall spending throughout the year. Second, it takes time to train new employees. Finally, the accuracy and efficiency of your work will suffer.
The most obvious problem with high paralegal turnover is the effort it takes to rehire for the position and get the new employee up to speed. There's also the cost to hire a paralegal to fill that position.
Consider the amount of work that goes into finding a potential hire. You have to list the position online, dedicate hours to sift through resumes, and interview individuals one-on-one. This is a big time sink that may continue for weeks depending on what kind of qualifications you desire.
On top of that, training these new paralegals takes up more time. People new to the position will need help knowing their role in the law firm. Even if you hire someone with years of experience, they'll need to adjust to the culture of the office.
Paralegals hold a lot of responsibility at their law firm. They organize and archive documents so the lawyer has easy access to them. They're the ones who draft legal documents and keep track of changes in legal frameworks.
When a paralegal decides to quit or go to a different law firm, the law firm loses that important cog in the machine. Other roles need to step up to fill in that gap, and the attorney's job is made much more difficult.
Hiring a new paralegal doesn't provide immediate help, as they still need to go through the onboarding process. They may also need some time to get into the rhythm of the office if they're new to the position.
High paralegal turnover can affect how well your employees get along with one another. Consider how long it took for you to get on a first-name basis with some of your coworkers. Now, how would you feel about befriending them if you knew they were going to quit in a matter of months?
On top of that, it can be hard to trust a coworker to complete a task if you aren't quite sure about their capabilities or work ethic. Efficiency starts to fall apart when you can't rely on one another.
Lowering the turnover rate at your law firm isn't impossible. Treating your employees well starts at the hiring process and ideally doesn't end until retirement.
Offer a competitive salary and benefits that keep paralegals from leaving for another law firm. Provide ways for your employees to focus on their own professional development. Train them to be leaders in their field rather than someone to dump all blame onto.
If any of your paralegals show discomfort or anxiety regarding their position, talk to them and see what your law firm can do to help. Encourage a healthy work-life balance by providing benefits like childcare assistance, remote work options, and mental health services.
Finally, provide advancement opportunities. It's much better for your law firm if a known and trusted employee switches to a higher-paying position rather than leave for another employer. Even better, they can train their replacement as they transition.
Your law firm can't afford to lose paralegal skills to a competitor or another job market. These are valuable employees who bring a lot to your operations. Take the time to listen to their needs so you can create the best work environment for your employees.
Claim Up provides claims management services for injury law firms. Our service helps your paralegals handle more cases and increase your profit margin. Contact us to learn more about how we can help your law firm work more efficiently.