Legal Definitions - paralegalize

paralegalize

To meticulously review a legal document for accuracy, consistency, and proper formatting, ensuring all factual details, legal citations, and structural elements are correct and complete before the document is finalized or submitted.

Here are some examples of how "paralegalize" might be used:

• Example 1 (Litigation Context): A busy trial attorney finishes drafting a critical appellate brief, a lengthy document arguing a case before a higher court. Before filing it, she asks her paralegal to "paralegalize" the brief. This involves the paralegal carefully checking every case citation against the official legal reporters, verifying statutory references, ensuring all exhibit numbers match the court record, and meticulously proofreading for any grammatical errors or formatting inconsistencies.

  Explanation: This process is crucial to catch any errors that could undermine the brief's credibility or lead to procedural issues with the court. By "paralegalizing" the document, the paralegal ensures it is polished, legally sound, and compliant with all court rules before submission.

• Example 2 (Corporate/Transactional Context): A law firm is preparing a complex acquisition agreement for a corporate client, involving the purchase of one company by another. Before sending the final draft to the clients for signature, a paralegal is tasked with "paralegalizing" the agreement. This means they will meticulously review all party names, addresses, financial figures, effective dates, and cross-references within the document and its numerous schedules, ensuring absolute consistency and accuracy across all components.

  Explanation: This thorough review prevents potential ambiguities, factual errors, or inconsistencies that could lead to future disputes or invalidate specific clauses within the multi-million dollar transaction. The paralegal's detailed check ensures the document accurately reflects the parties' intentions and is legally robust.