What is a paralegal?

I have been searching for a good lawyer who primarily deals with family court and adoptions. I did research and finally came across a lawyer who seemed to fit exactly what I was looking for. I set up a consultation but was surprised to learn I was actually meeting with a paralegal and not the actual lawyer.

If I decided to go with this firm, would I be dealing mostly with the paralegal and not the lawyer? What is the purpose of a paralegal? Are they able to do the same things as a lawyer? I’m a little put off by this. My last lawyer (although he ended up being pretty terrible) was the only person I ever dealt with from start to finish. I had my consultation with him and never had to meet with a paralegal. My main concern is, how can I get a good feel for the lawyer and decide whether I want them to represent me if I won’t even be meeting with them directly?