Entry level legal assistants are given senior legal assistant mentors who train, supervise and quality check their work. This increases attorney confidence in the work product and results in better training and utilization of legal assistants. The best utilization of legal assistants, support staff and attorneys comes when a team approach is used. Tasks are assigned to the team member who can complete the task in the best and most cost-efficient way for the client. The entire team, including the DuPont legal personnel when appropriate, meets formally or informally on a regular basis to review and apportion the workload.
Small groups utilize the team concept most effectively.
The team concept requires a high level of communication that increases the knowledge of everyone on the team. The legal assistant's awareness of events optimizes effectiveness, allowing him or her to work proactively. New or incoming attorneys are educated about legal assistant utilization. The team concept and involvement of legal assistants early into the matter is stressed. The legal assistant manager instructs all new associates in the proper utilization of legal assistants during their orientation.