What is typically NOT a task paralegals engage in?

Paralegals play a crucial role in the legal profession, assisting attorneys and helping to manage various legal tasks. Among the options provided, client counseling is typically not a duty that paralegals are authorized to perform. Legal research, drafting documents, and assisting attorneys in trial preparation are all common responsibilities for paralegals as they require skills and knowledge in legal processes and procedures.

Client counseling, on the other hand, generally falls within the domain of licensed attorneys. This is primarily due to ethical considerations and the need for legal advice to be given only by those who are professionally qualified to do so. Paralegals, while they may have extensive training and knowledge, do not have the authority to provide legal advice or counsel clients directly, as this could lead to issues of unauthorized practice of law. Understanding the limits of a paralegal's role reinforces the importance of compliance with legal ethics and professional standards within the legal field.