How Changes in Law Affect Paralegal Work
By As paralegals, we do not get to choose whether we are OK with change or not. We have to adapt, roll with the punches, and somehow keep things moving, regardless of what is going on around us.
2020 changed many things in our legal world, but we learned from that time. For example, we learned that it is entirely possible to work remotely without being chained to our desks and offices. We realized technology could be used to make things more efficient. Just a few years prior to 2020, Zoom meetings were not a thing, but now, not only are they possible, but they are sometimes preferred.
At the beginning of 2025, many counties made the transition to eFile, allowing court documents, as well as other services offered by the clerk’s office, to be submitted online. While for me, this transition seemed like a logical step forward, I see this as a substantial change in law, signifying the end of an era. I see it as opening the door to a future full of fast-paced technological advances, including Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) that will inevitably change the practice of law even more. As paralegals, we have a unique place in this transition as we balance keeping up with technology while also being able to function when technology does not work. Because paralegals may help smooth the transition to the age of information, our role is even more important in the future. The changes coming will not be easy, but if anyone is equipped to handle it, it will be paralegals.
When I first started as a paralegal, I did not have any experience and had no idea what to expect. My boss said I got a “baptism by fire,” because I had to learn everything on my own in a rapidly changing environment with a lot of unknowns. Not long before I started working as a paralegal, there had been some changes in the legislature that, unbeknownst to me, had caused a substantial shift for attorneys and paralegals. I soon found myself digging into how medical insurance billing worked and learning how to deal with third-party administrator companies and how to argue with a medical billing office intelligently to maximize our client’s recovery. At times, I almost felt like I was learning in reverse. I was unraveling complicated situations until they were simplified and digestible for me. I made a lot of phone calls, and I asked a lot of questions. I soon got over the fear of asking questions and making mistakes, and as a result, I learned so much. As things continue to change, it is about knowing how to bob and weave, owning mistakes, and taking another, more informed, step forward.
I believe most paralegals become comfortable with change due to the nature of this job. For example, one day I may be going back and forth with the paralegal for the opposing counsel on how to open some e-discovery, downloading software to open the documents. The next day, I find myself rummaging around the supply closet, trying to find an adapter so I can download photos from the digital camera from the early 2000s or trying to remember how to burn a CD. We have to keep up with technology while simultaneously dealing with clients who do not have email. I think this dichotomy illustrates just how special paralegals are and their importance in the transition into the age of information.
A couple of months ago, I took a webinar about AI in personal injury cases, and it really opened my eyes to see what may be coming and what is already here and being used. This is not science fiction anymore; it is our reality, and it is coming whether we like it or not. Why not try to work with it instead of fearing or resisting it?
Just as some of the changes following 2020, such as the ability to work remotely, were good, there will be good things that come from the changes AI can bring, as long as it is used for more productivity and working smarter (as opposed to using it to do your job for you). No matter how effective and convenient AI becomes, it should never replace human connection. It is going to be hard to tell the difference between a document drafted by a human versus AI, and because of this, it is going to become important to define and improve on the things that set us apart from AI.
Our communication and social skills, work/home life balance skills, and interpersonal relationship skills are aspects of our human existence, which we have to hold on to and continually improve (as it will be tested). I believe what will truly preserve our role in this profession will not be how we measure up to AI, but our interpersonal skills, our creativity, and our ability to adapt to change. What is more important than how change affects this profession is how it is handled or perceived. Change is constant, but is there growth through change? In other words, are we changing for the better?
If we want to keep up with changes, especially in technology and AI, continually learning and being adaptive and resilient are necessary for survival. There is an ancient Japanese philosophy called Kaizen, which literally means “change good.” Kaizen can mean improving on small things in your life and creating a foundation that you build on over time. Through Kaizen, structure, routine, and consistency are established, which will help carry through times of distress, uncertainty and even failure.
An example of making good change is slowly developing a morning routine that helps you prepare mind, body, and soul for the day. You may start by waking up a little earlier in the morning consistently for a month, slowly adding in a short exercise routine over time, and eventually adding in meditating and journaling. These small but meaningful changes begin to change you, and this morning routine not only prepares you for the day but fortifies you to be able to handle whatever the day may bring.
As a paralegal, it is important to have a structure and routine to handle change. Sometimes, the more you push yourself out of your comfort zone, continually changing for the better, the more resilient you become.
Melissa Burhenne has been a Paralegal at Murrelle, Hughes & Majstoravich, P.A. in Morehead City, North Carolina, since 2015. She works with all personal injury cases, including automobile bodily injury, premise liability, and medical malpractice, as well as other civil litigation cases. She strives to be the best at her job in communications with the client, investigation, and problem solving. She became a North Carolina State Bar Certified Paralegal in 2024 and considers that one of her greatest achievements in her career. She takes a lot of pride in what she is able to do with the cases post settlement, negotiating with health insurance companies and medical providers in order to maximize the client’s recovery.
Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband, daughter, and family, taking care of their animals, art, music, working out, traveling, and most things equestrian, including judging horse shows. She is currently a member of the session at Grace Presbyterian Church, Carteret Community College Paralegal Advisory Board as well as a board member of Crystal Coast Habitat for Humanity. She has a bachelor’s degree in Hispanic Studies and did exchange student programs in Córdoba, Argentina and Quito, Ecuador between 2007 and 2008, and speaks and writes in Spanish.
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