What Does a Legal Coordinator Do?
What is a legal coordinator? A legal coordinator is a professional who serves an important role in the legal environment of a law firm or in-house corporate legal department. They sit somewhere between paralegals and attorneys and have more responsibilities than paralegals, only with less authority than an attorney. They do not typically give legal advice and instead provide administrative and legal support to attorneys and other legal staff. These responsibilities include preparing pleadings and other legal documents; filing motions in court; preparing discovery requests and responses; assisting with trial preparation; and conducting post-trial activities , all of which require them to maintain strict confidentiality and exercise critical thinking.
Legal coordinators work for law firms and corporations in a variety of industries; however, they are most commonly employed by environmental and human services law firms. In addition to private firms, legal coordinators may be found working directly for major corporations and non-profit organizations, as well as in federal, state and local government legal departments.
Responsibilities of a Legal Coordinator
A legal coordinator wears many hats, and their key duties reflect the many "i"s they must dot and "t"s they must cross. The following are key responsibilities that almost all legal coordinators have in their roles:
Legal research
Compliance and coordination
Organizational skills
Written correspondence
Coordination between departments
Budget management
Contract management
Records retention
File management
Report preparation and distribution
Ensure an efficient office through correspondence, phone calls, and e-mails
This list is by no means exhaustive, but it sheds light on the legal coordinator’s real job. It is a fantastic role, if for no other reason than it provides so much visibility into company operations, management, administrative functions, and the law.
Skills Required for a Legal Coordinator
For those with strong organizational and communication skills, the demands of managing a legal team can be a great fit. A legal coordinator must stay on top of numerous moving elements and juggle competing priorities. Having a keen sense of attention to detail is an absolute must, as is the ability to work independently while also being a team player. As such, a legal coordinator should have the proficiency to manage lots of information and keep it secure while making it available to the rest of the legal team when needed. Since the legal profession is so deadline-driven, legal coordinators must have strong project management abilities and superior organizational skills. The pace of work often alternates between being either hectic or very quiet. Therefore, a successful legal coordinator will know to plan ahead and prepare for these shifts in the workflow.
Education and Career Path
Although some legal coordinators start out as paralegals, others have associate or even bachelor’s degrees that include concentration on paralegal studies. Familiarization with such post-secondary degree programs recommends candidates to potential employers, as does staff-level experience in a law office or other legal setting. To a lesser extent, relevant volunteer work can also prove beneficial.
Attorney Paralegal Certificate Programs at participating Maryland community colleges include such coursework as civil procedure, contracts, bankruptcy, business formation, torts and preparing for trial. In addition, these programs typically include a five-course paralegal core and five paralegal elective courses. Accepted students in these programs must have at least 60 college hours that include introductory courses in the following subjects: English composition, business communication, ethics, computers, legal research and writing, and introductory paralegal studies . Some four-year institutions award bachelor’s degrees with concentrations in paralegal studies. Optional certification through the National Association of Legal Assistants includes maintaining eligibility through continuing education and professional development.
Most legal professionals hold associate of art degrees or certificates in paralegal studies. Staff level employees in law firms who aspire to work as legal coordinators may find it necessary to apply to a law school or community college for paralegal training. Upon completion of necessary coursework, prospective legal coordinators may sit for the certification exam administered for certification through the NALS Association for Legal Professionals or the National Federation of Paralegal Associations. Completion of a bachelor’s level program may decrease opportunities for advancement. Mid-level paralegals with supervisory experience tend to advance most rapidly into legal coordinator positions.
Challenges in Legal Coordination
In addition to the core responsibilities, legal coordinators often face a variety of challenges in their roles. One common challenge is the need to handle tight deadlines, such as when preparing documents in advance of an upcoming trial or other significant court date. To address this issue, most legal coordinators rely on the use of progress tracking systems and advise their team members to maintain up-to-date calendars in order to keep everyone on track.
Another issue that some legal coordinators may face is dealing with "legalese." In many cases, clients or even other administrative staff may have difficulty understanding legal terms or jargon, and it’s important for legal coordinators to be able to translate legal language into easily accessible terms for those who need to know the information. Coordinators can do so both verbally and in written communications, and must also have a strong command of legal language themselves, since they often need to prepare documents and correspondence for attorneys.
Maintaining a high level of accuracy is also paramount for legal coordinators, who are generally tasked with proofreading and formatting critical documents. They should also be prepared to handle a large volume of paperwork as needed, including invoices, conferring with management and clients about billable hours, and reviewing invoices for accuracy via a billing system.
As with other positions within the field of law, legal coordinators must also be prepared to face a variety of legal issues and coordinate complex matters that may include complex and sensitive information. They are often called upon to solve problems and make decisions in connection with highly complex and sometimes high-stakes matters, regularly inform their firm about factors that may have a significant impact upon their clients, monitor and update banfrolaws and work with clients to make sure they understand their bills.
While legal coordinator positions can be highly demanding, they can also be very rewarding for individuals with a law degree, as well as for those typically considered "legal support staff." It is expected that the demand for legal coordinators will continue to be on the rise in the coming years.
How Technology is Reshaping Legal Coordination
Technology plays an increasingly vital role in the day-to-day tasks of a legal coordinator, facilitating efficiency and enhancing the overall organization of legal departments. One of the most significant advancements in recent years is the emergence of digital document management systems, which allow coordinators to easily manage, store, and retrieve legal documents. This not only streamlines the filing and retrieval process, but also ensures that important documents are backed up and easily accessible in the case of physical damage to the office.
Legal software packages have also transformed how legal coordinators manage their workloads. These software solutions typically offer features such as time tracking, billing, and task management, which helps coordinators maintain an organized view of the entire department’s activities. Such centralized systems allow coordinators to easily monitor outstanding legal matters, deadlines, and case load even as they shift frequently .
Moreover, remote collaboration tools have changed how legal coordinators communicate with legal teams, clients, and other internal or external stakeholders. These tools make it easy to share information, discuss matters, and resolve issues without needing to meet in person. Not only does this flexibility help with caseload mobility, but it also translates to quicker response times and problem resolution.
Overall, technology has had a substantial impact on the efficiency and effectiveness of legal coordination. As more innovations are introduced to simplify and improve upon the traditional methods of legal practice, the role of legal coordinators will doubtlessly continue to evolve. By keeping abreast of the latest software and tools available, a legal coordinator can leverage these resources to maximize the performance of the legal department they are tasked to administer.