Why are careful filing procedures so essential to the practice of law? How might filing procedures in large and small firms differ?

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Answer 1

Every law firm, regardless of its size or structure, has some kind of established filing procedures. Efficient procedures are vital because the paperwork generated is substantial, and important documents must be safeguarded yet be readily retrievable when needed. If a client file is misplaced or lost, the client may suffer costly harm. Additionally, documents must be filed in such a way as to protect client confidentiality. The duty of confidentiality extensively affects legal work and procedures. This is particularly true of filing procedures. All information received from or about clients, including files and documents, is considered confidential. A breach of confidentiality by a paralegal or other employee can cause the law firm to incur extensive liability.
In small firms, filing procedures may be rather informal, and paralegals may need to assume the responsibility for organizing and developing an efficient and secure filing system. Larger firms normally have specific procedures concerning the creation, maintenance, use, and storage of office files. In larger firms, a supervisor generally trains paralegals in office procedures, including filing. Although the trend today, particularly in larger firms, is toward computerized filing systems, many firms create "hard copies" to ensure that files are not lost if computer systems crash.