Paralegal is a term used in most jurisdictions to describe a non-lawyer who assists lawyers in their legal work — a legal professional. By definition, a paralegal is an attorney’s assistant, not admitted to the practice of law but trained to perform certain legal tasks. Typical tasks performed by a paralegal:
* Conduct interviews w/clients to gather background info;
* Correspond w/clients, counsel, & others on factual matters;
* Inform client periodically of case/matter status;
* Draft pleadings & documents;
* Organize & maintain forms & client files;
* Index or summarize documents or transcripts;
* Assemble/analyze records from courts or agencies relevant to a case;
* Prepare clients for court hearings;
* Assist in administering law library;
* Review legal periodicals & material relevant to a specialty area of law;
* Maintain current binders of court rules;
* Maintain Court calendars;
* Research law, including procedural, administrative, or case law;
* Keep track of & report any pending legislation that may affect clients.
Christine Springer is the founder of Desert Edge Legal Services, LLC, a non-attorney legal services company located in Phoenix, Arizona. Desert Edge Legal Services provides legal services to individuals, businesses and attorneys. They primarily focus on forensic loan audit services to attorneys and homeowners, as well as contract paralegal services to attorneys. Christine is very well-versed and experienced in paralegal duties as described above, and now brings this knowledge to homeowners and the legal community alike. Relying on her legal background, she is able to scrutinize and find problems in mortgage documents, going beyond the typical violations of the Truth In Lending and Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act.
Ms. Springer holds an AAS in Paralegal Studies (1998) from Sanford-Brown College, a B.S. in Management (2004) from National-Louis University, and a MA in International Affairs (2006) from Washington University in St. Louis. Ms. Springer is currently enrolled in Concord Law School’s Juris Doctor Program and anticipates graduating in 2014.
Ms. Springer has nearly fifteen years of legal experience as a paralegal with Lashly & Baer, P.C., in St. Louis, Missouri, and Fennemore Craig, P.C., in Phoenix, Arizona. She has experience in civil and commercial litigation, workers’ compensation, administrative law, corporate law and most recently, forensic loan auditing and foreclosure defense.
