Battle Born Injury Lawyers | May 5, 2023 | Personal Injury
When you hire a Reno personal injury lawyer, you expect the attorney to handle your case personally. You are paying for a lawyer’s expertise and legal knowledge. However, successful personal injury law firms in Reno have entire legal teams that assist lawyers with cases.
A legal team includes the lawyer handling the case. It also includes a case manager and a paralegal. The case manager and paralegal have important roles in obtaining a successful outcome in your case.
Law firms utilize their staff in different ways. Therefore, the duties of personal injury case managers and paralegals might differ slightly depending on the law firm. However, they support the lawyer and the client throughout the case.
What Do Personal Injury Case Managers and Paralegals Do in a Personal Injury Law Firm?
The duties and tasks of a case manager and paralegal can overlap. In addition to assisting the lawyer, paralegals and case managers:
Communicate
Personal injury lawyers are often in meetings, depositions, settlement negotiations, and trials. Paralegals and case managers serve as contact points for all communications about the case.
They update clients about the progress of their cases, answer questions, and address concerns. They also communicate with other parties, including insurance adjusters, claims representatives, expert witnesses, medical providers, and eyewitnesses. A paralegal or case manager can provide you with immediate information about your case and schedule time with your lawyer if you request it or if it is necessary for the case.
Document Management
A personal injury case can have thousands of documents that must be organized and managed. Case managers and paralegals request copies of medical records, accident reports, depositions, expert opinions, and other documentary evidence in a personal injury case. Then, they sort and archive the documents for quick access throughout the case.
Organizing and managing documents is a crucial step in a personal injury case. It allows the lawyer to analyze evidence efficiently and effectively. Without document management, pieces of key evidence could be overlooked or lost.
Managing Schedules
Case managers and paralegals manage schedules and appointments. They schedule conferences, telephone calls, depositions, mediations, hearings, and other events throughout the personal injury case. In many cases, they keep the timeline of a personal injury case moving so that the case does not stall.
Paralegals Have Additional Duties Be cause of Their Education and Experience
A paralegal is not a lawyer. However, they attend school for training to work closely with lawyers. A paralegal might hold a certificate or associate degree. Many paralegals also have a four-year bachelor’s degree.
Paralegals assist attorneys with the following:
- Legal research
- Correspondence
- Writing pleadings and briefs
- Preparing witnesses for trial
- Documenting economic and non-economic damages
- Preparing and organizing trial exhibits
- Reviewing medical records
- Prepare demand letters and settlements
- Assist clients with pain and suffering journals
- Organize and summarize depositions and witness statements
- Monitor filing deadlines and statutes of limitations
- Communicate with expert witnesses
Legal documents are always reviewed and approved by the lawyer handling the case. However, having a paralegal do some of the “leg work” can save time. It allows the personal injury lawyer to focus on case strategy and legal arguments.
Should I Worry if the Lawyer I Hired Has Personal Injury Case Managers and Paralegals?
If you do not meet with an attorney during your initial consultation with a firm, it could be a red flag that you need to continue searching for a personal injury attorney to handle your case. Only an attorney is qualified to evaluate your claim and provide legal advice. If you only communicate with a case manager or paralegal, you hired the wrong Reno personal injury law firm.
However, a law firm that utilizes case managers and paralegals correctly can provide a higher level of client care. Instead of having one person working on your case, you have multiple people familiar with your case who can respond to your concerns and questions quickly. Clients often become close with their case managers and paralegals as they depend on them for support and guidance during their cases.
If you are concerned, ask the lawyer about the firm’s procedure for communicating with the attorney. Can you talk to your lawyer when you have concerns or questions? Will your lawyer maintain control over your case even though other members of the legal team are responsible for specific tasks?
The best personal injury lawyers supervise every aspect of your case with the assistance of trained and skilled legal staff members.
Contact the Reno Personal Injury Attorneys at Battle Born Injury Lawyers Today
If you or a loved one were injured in an accident in Reno and you need legal assistance, contact our personal injury attorneys at Battle Born Injury Lawyers and schedule a free consultation with our legal team.
Battle Born Injury Lawyers – Reno Office
675 W Moana Ln #206
Reno, NV 89509, USA
(775) 535-7768
Battle Born Injury Lawyers
400 S 4th St Suite 290,
Las Vegas, NV 89101
(702) 357-4868
Battle Born Injury Lawyers – Las Vegas Office
10789 W Twain Ave #100
Las Vegas, NV 89135
(702) 570-9000
Battle Born Injury Lawyers – Henderson Office
8540 S Eastern Ave #200
Henderson, NV 89123
(702) 500-0287
