Onboarding plan

Paralegal Onboarding Plan (30-60-90 Days)

A practical, printable plan to take a new paralegal from first day to full productivity.

Updated By the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team
Paralegal onboarding at a glance

Week one covers orientation, safety and shadowing. Days 1–30 build vocabulary and supervised practice on core procedures; days 31–60 move to independent work with competency sign-offs; days 61–90 focus on full productivity, cross-training and a credential plan.

Before day one

  • Confirm start date, schedule, pay and supervisor in writing
  • Verify required credentials: Certified Paralegal (NALA CP), NFPA PCCE and PACE (as applicable)
  • Prepare equipment and access: westlaw or Lexis; case management software such as Clio; e-discovery platforms such as Relativity; microsoft Word and Adobe Acrobat
  • Assign a buddy or preceptor
  • Enroll the new hire in Paralegal training so foundations are covered before or during week one

Week one: orient and protect

  • Workplace tour, emergency procedures and incident reporting
  • Protect client confidentiality and privileged information
  • Avoid giving legal advice: refer questions to attorneys
  • Use secure systems for sensitive files
  • Double-check deadlines to protect clients
  • Shadow an experienced paralegal through a full shift
  • Training modules 1–3: role foundations, a day on the job and essential vocabulary (15 terms)

Days 1–30: learn

Goal: perform core tasks safely under supervision.

  • Supervised practice: calendar a court deadline
  • Supervised practice: run a conflict check
  • Supervised practice: prepare a document production
  • Training modules 4–7: duties, step-by-step tasks, tools and safety
  • 30-day check-in: confidence, questions and early wins

Days 31–60: contribute

Goal: handle a regular workload independently.

  • Conduct legal and factual research: independently
  • Draft pleadings, motions, correspondence and contracts for attorney review: independently
  • Organize and manage case files and discovery documents: independently
  • Track deadlines and maintain the case calendar: independently
  • Competency sign-offs completed (see checklist below)
  • Training final knowledge check and certificate of completion
  • 60-day check-in

Days 61–90: own

Goal: full productivity and a growth plan.

  • Meet productivity and quality targets for the role
  • Begin cross-training on a secondary task
  • Agree on a credential goal (for example, Certified Paralegal (NALA CP))
  • Discuss the career path: Legal Assistant or Junior Paralegal → Paralegal → Senior Paralegal or Specialist
  • 90-day review

Competency checklist

Skill or taskTrainedObservedSigned off
Calendar a Court Deadline
Run a Conflict Check
Prepare a Document Production
Legal research
Legal writing and drafting
Discovery management
Docketing and calendaring

How to measure onboarding success

  • Time to independent work
  • Error or rework rate
  • Internal customer satisfaction
  • 90-day retention

How Paralegal training maps to this plan

  1. Introduction to the Paralegal Role
  2. A Day on the Job
  3. Essential Paralegal Vocabulary
  4. Core Duties and Responsibilities
  5. Common Tasks, Step by Step
  6. Tools, Equipment and Technology
  7. Safety, Compliance and Professional Standards
  8. Skills Employers Look For
  9. Launching Your Paralegal Career
  10. Final Knowledge Check
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