Among the paralegal's Client file management can be a challenging administrative task given the volume of current and former clients. Paralegals in the employ of small law offices may manually alphabetize client's files. For larger or busier law firms, paralegals may need to use client file management software because digital records are easier and cheaper to manage.
Paralegals that use software for client file management are responsible for backing up all files. Client file management systems may also involve different organizational codes that sort clients' files and contact information by type of case, date, or name. Paralegals either collectively devise their own organizational system, based on their preference, or use the convention the head lawyer prefers.
Clients' files are important asset to law offices because they are written records on progress of a case. They account for a client's case history and other important information. Client file management is crucial to maintaining an efficient legal practice. Many law offices like to use both physical and digital files in concert because digital databases can easily be lost. Physical files are reliable.
Client file management may be arranged in a large filing cabinet for the entire law firm or individual filing cabinets for each lawyer. Active client files may be placed and then later transferred to the inactive or completed file. This may seem like a menial task but the information in client's files are of a sensitive and important nature. Accounting for clients' files is of the utmost importance in client file management.
NEXT: Understanding Expenses