A paralegal is employed by a law firm, corporation or governmental agency, and performs delegated legal work for which a lawyer is responsible. Transactional law is composed of nonlitigation specialties, including bankruptcy, business organizations, contracts, estate planning and probate, and real estate.

Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy paralegals work with a variety of forms. There are almost 50 official bankruptcy forms, plus another 10 procedural forms, not including forms created and used internally by an individual law practice. Bankruptcy paralegals also attend hearings and meetings, and conduct research.

Business Organizations

Business organization paralegals work with corporations, sole proprietorships, general and limited partnerships, and limited-liability companies. They also work on directors' and stockholders' meetings, amending articles of incorporation and by-laws, and dissolutions.

Contracts

Contract paralegals draft various types of contracts, brief cases and analyze statutes. Contract types include leases, employment agreements, purchase agreements and any other agreement between two or more parties in which there is a promise to do something in return for a benefit (consideration).

Estate Planning and Probate

Estate planning and probate paralegals draft wills and trusts, and work with probate administration, gift taxes, fiduciary income tax returns, transfer of securities and closing documents.

Real Estate

Real estate paralegals draft purchase and sales agreements, and work with titles, mortgages, closings, insurance, foreclosures, leases and tax matters.

Source:

American Bar Association Standing Committee on Paralegals

United States Bankruptcy Courts

Resource:

National Association of Legal Assistants, Inc.

National Federation of Paralegal Associations, Inc.