What is an essential skill for a paralegal when creating citations?

Detail orientation is an essential skill for a paralegal when creating citations because accuracy is paramount in legal documentation. Citations are used to reference legal authorities, cases, statutes, or secondary sources, and any errors can lead to misinterpretation or the undermining of legal arguments. A paralegal must pay close attention to the specific formats and styles dictated by legal citation rules, such as The Bluebook or local court rules. This attention to detail ensures that all citations are formatted correctly, providing the necessary information for others to verify sources. In legal work, where precision is crucial, being detail-oriented helps maintain the professionalism and credibility of legal documents.