Litigation is often a “last resort” approach to resolving a conflict and can be an invaluable tool for a paralegal program. The capacity to litigate strengthens paralegals’ work in two ways:
1) Paralegals can use litigation to resolve a case in instances where taking a party to court may be the best – or only – means of pursuing justice.
2) Litigation actually strengthens the other tools used by paralegals (e.g. mediation, advocacy, etc.). Citizens, government officials, corporations, and other institutions take paralegals seriously when they know paralegals can choose to use formal court litigation if necessary.
This tool offers guidance on when to use litigation, paralegals’ role in the litigation process, and offers a case study of a paralegal program employing litigation effectively to seek justice.