Describe some of the ways in which a paralegal's proficiency with typical office software might improve his or her competitiveness in the job market and be of benefit to the paralegal's employer.

Most law firms use a variety of software applications, including computerized billing programs, e-mail, calendaring software, and legal research applications. To be competitive in the job market, paralegals should be skilled at using these programs. For example, paralegals are often responsible for keeping track of the deadlines for filing court documents, along with court filing fees and requirements. Local court rules specify the filing dates and fees for different kinds of cases, but these rules change regularly. Failure to submit documents by the due date can result in a court's dismissing the case or the client's dismissing the firm. Moreover, missed deadlines are a leading cause of malpractice (professional negligence) lawsuits filed by clients against attorneys. Many firms have computerized calendaring software to help ensure that attorneys do not miss important dates and to calculate required fees based on the local court rules. Such software could suit the needs of a small law firm that handles only local cases, but it might not be adequate if the firm handles cases in numerous counties or states. Rather than buying a more comprehensive and expensive calendaring program and incurring the costs of installation and training, the firm could use an online calendaring service. A paralegal who knows about the availability of online calendaring applications could suggest that the firm use these services on a pay-per-use basis, which could save the firm time and funds. The paralegal might gain the respect and appreciation of the firm and might be asked for his or her input regarding future technology decisions.