Paralegals who check an AI agent's legal support work keep this log for two weeks. Each line covers one task: a deadline the agent calculated, a document it tagged for disclosure, a clause it extracted, or a letter it drafted. The paralegal records their check and decision, the supervising lawyer records an independent decision, and three red lines are tracked.
What does a paralegal check that a lawyer would otherwise check?
The agent in a typical legal team does four kinds of work. It extracts and summarises clauses from contracts at depth 1. It tags documents in a disclosure set for relevance and privilege, and calculates deadlines from rules and court orders, at depth 2 for a person to confirm. It drafts routine letters, such as chasers and acknowledgements, held for approval. It runs conflict searches and reports the matches.
Before agents, the paralegal did that work and the lawyer checked it. Now the agent does it, the paralegal checks it, and the lawyer checks a sample. That only works if the paralegal's check is reliable, which is what the practicum tests. The setup for the fortnight is in how to run a two-week practicum for paralegals.
Which red lines apply?
- A deadline missed or miscalculated. A limitation period, a court deadline or a contractual notice date.
- A privileged document released. Tagged "not privileged" by the agent and accepted without checking.
- A letter sent without required approval. Anything going to a client or the other side that the firm's rules require a lawyer to approve.
How do paralegals fill it in?
- Record the source the agent relied on for every deadline: the court order, the rule, the contract clause. A date in a court order on the case file is sealed; a date in the other side's letter is external.
- For disclosure tags, record whether the paralegal opened the document or relied on the agent's summary.
- For clause extracts, record whether the extract matched the signed version of the contract, not a draft.
- Record the lawyer's decision before the paralegal sees it.
The practicum log template
| Field | Entry |
|---|---|
| Line and date | |
| Matter reference | |
| Task type | Deadline, disclosure tag, clause extract, letter, conflict check |
| Agent's output and verdict | |
| Source relied on and provenance | |
| Document opened by paralegal? | Yes / no |
| Paralegal's decision | Confirm, correct, escalate |
| Paralegal's reason | |
| Supervising lawyer's decision | |
| Match | Yes / no / defensible |
| Red line | None / caught / missed |
| Note |
Header fields: paralegal; supervising lawyer with a current certificate; practice area; dates; bar of at least 95 correct in every 100 tasks and no missed red line.
A worked example
Take a sample commercial litigation team. Values are illustrative.
| Line | Task | Agent's output | Paralegal | Lawyer | Match | Red line |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 88 | Deadline | Defence due 28 days after service, from the court's standard rule | Correct: the court order on file extends it by 14 days; new date recorded | Same | Yes | Caught |
| 89 | Disclosure tag | Email from client to in-house counsel tagged "relevant, not privileged" | Confirm tag; did not open | Re-tag privileged: email seeks legal advice | No | Missed |
| 90 | Clause extract | Termination clause: 30 days' notice | Correct: signed version says 60 days; agent read the draft | Same | Yes | None |
| 91 | Letter | Chaser to the other side about late documents | Approve and send | Hold; firm rule requires lawyer approval for letters to the other side | No | Missed |
Line 89 fails the bar, and the "document opened" column explains why: the paralegal relied on the summary. Line 90 shows the skill the practicum builds: the agent's extract was faithful to the wrong document, and only checking provenance caught it.
How do paralegal logs compare with neighbours?
Support teams use the same draft-and-check rhythm at higher volume and lower stakes per item; compare the practicum log for customer support agents. Caseworkers share the "decision lands on a person" quality, though with different rules; see the log for caseworkers. The Operator route at Pryme Intelligence Academy uses the same bar, and its module tests are set in the learner's own industry and role; the wider context is in AI literacy and certification for people who work with agents.
Questions people ask
Should paralegals open every document during the practicum?
For privilege and deadlines, yes. For bulk relevance tagging, a sample is reasonable, but log which were opened so the lawyer can see the pattern.
Who answers if a missed deadline slips through after the practicum?
The firm and the supervising lawyer remain responsible for the matter. The paralegal answers for their own check. See are paralegals accountable for an AI agent's mistakes.
Can a paralegal approve letters after passing?
Only if the firm's own rules allow it for that type of letter. Whether a certificate should be required is covered in do paralegals need a certificate to approve AI agent actions.