| If you run into a legal dispute, and everyone does, | | | | associate on numerous occasions. He or she will |
| you may need to hire a law firm to represent | | | | often call with questions related to factual issues |
| you. If so, it helps to know who is who in regard | | | | and will address many of your questions as they |
| to positions in the law firm.Positions in a Law | | | | arise.Next comes the valuable paralegal. The |
| FirmIt may come as a surprise to learn that law | | | | paralegal is not a licensed attorney, but is often |
| firms tend to be very rigid in their structure. From | | | | very knowledgeable on legal issues and strategies. |
| the very beginning, the law firm has maintained a | | | | The paralegal role in a firm is to do most of the |
| layered structure that just seemed to work. As | | | | detail work. This can include hunting down |
| the years have passed, there has been little or no | | | | witnesses, setting depositions, compiling filings and |
| change to this structure. If you retain a law firm | | | | so on. He or she will often share work with the |
| to represent you in any legal matter, it helps to | | | | associate attorney.Finally, the law clerk is a person |
| understand the positions and who you will be | | | | in the firm that will probably work on your case a |
| speaking with.At the top of the organization chart | | | | lot without you even knowing it. A law clerk is |
| is the lead attorney on your case. This is where | | | | almost always a law school student. To pick up |
| the buck stops when it comes to strategy, final | | | | practical experience, the law clerk takes a part |
| decisions and problems. The lead attorney is often | | | | time position with the firm. The job duties vary |
| a partner in the firm, but not always. He or she is | | | | from firm to firm, but often are focused on doing |
| the attorney you will probably meet with when | | | | legal research on various legal issues. Much of the |
| you first come into the firm. The attorney is | | | | legal regulation of a situation is determined by |
| responsible for practically everything on your | | | | case law opinions issues by appellate or supreme |
| case, but has a team that does much of the leg | | | | courts of the states and federal jurisdictions. A |
| work on day to day matters.Below the lead | | | | law clerk spends a lot of time in a library reading |
| attorney, one tends to find an associate lawyer. | | | | these as they relate to your matter and reporting |
| The associate is typically a less experienced | | | | the results back to the associate and lead |
| attorney who is earning his or her stripes and | | | | attorney.One of the keys to understanding how |
| trying to work their way up to a partner position. | | | | to deal with a law firm is to know who is who. |
| When it comes to communicating with the firm | | | | Now you do.Gerard Simington is with - an online |
| on your case, you will inevitably talk with the | | | | attorney directory. |