A paralegal, also known as a legal assistant, performs most everything an attorney does just short of actual litigation.
Paralegals take information from clients when they first visit an attorney's office.
They take thorough notes of why the client is at the office, which is passed on to the attorney for further analysis. They also draft legal documents such as legal correspondence, documents that need to be filed with the court system and interoffice memoranda. These tasks are crucial in the functioning of the legal office. Without these important duties being done in a timely manner, attorneys would have a tougher time getting their job done. Paralegals also keep a calendar and chart important deadlines that must be met.