Definition
Paralegals and administrative staff are essential to keeping legal departments running efficiently. Paralegals often assist with legal research, case management, and document drafting, while admins handle scheduling and document organization. The metric Paralegals and Admin as a Percentage of Legal Staff (PAPLS) offers insight into whether a legal department has the right amount of support to keep things running smoothly, ensuring attorneys can focus on more complex legal matters.
Why PAPLS Matters
This metric helps assess how well the support structure in your department is set up. If the ratio is off, attorneys may be bogged down by tasks that could easily be handled by support staff. On the other hand, a well-balanced ratio means paralegals and admins are effectively contributing, allowing attorneys to spend more time on higher-value work.
A Balanced Approach
Striking the right balance with PAPLS can boost productivity, cut down on costs, and improve overall efficiency. If the ratio is too low, attorneys might end up overwhelmed with administrative work. If too high, support staff might end up underutilized. Finding the right balance is critical for maintaining a well-functioning legal department.
If you’re interested in learning more about this metric, along with other KPIs, check out The Legal Operations KPIs book available on Amazon in English / Spanish. or as an eBook on Google Play in (English / Spanish). It covers essential metrics and KPIs with practical insights to help you get the most out of your legal department.
Beyond the book, LegalOpsKPIs.com offers exclusive resources such as expert interviews, a chart catalog, Excel templates, readiness assessment tool, and the opportunity to connect with a global community of professionals committed through Forum chapters to advancing Legal Operations through data-driven insights.
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