Melanie Henriques on the path to becoming a Partner

While it is a reality that paralegals can become Partners at law firms in Ontario, few firms have taken that step. Melanie Henriques, a paralegal at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP however, was recently made a Partner and insists that paralegals can help firms represent clients who would not be represented otherwise.

In speaking with WordRake, Henriques details her path to Partnership and the importance of paralegals in pushing the practice forward.

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Melanie Henriques Partner, and Paralegal

“Paralegals are a valuable asset to law firms and society. They offer a cost-efficient option to individuals with smaller value matters who require legal representation,” says Henriques.

Henriques goes on to explain that paralegals have insights into some aspects of legal work that lawyers might not have. “I have obtained excellent outcomes for my clients by handling many matters that a lawyer would not have handled or would have had to charge more for than the matter was worth. In my own practice, many defendants hire a lawyer to represent them, and, given the cost for that representation compared to the value of the case, they will typically resolve the matter quickly, which is a huge advantage to my clients,” Henriques states.

By allowing paralegals to have a bigger voice and a seat at the table, Henriques believes law firms could fundamentally change. “Law firms, especially bigger firms, are missing out on an excellent opportunity to offer cost savings to their clients and maintain good business relationships with them.”