Definition: Legal assistants, also known as paralegals, are a distinguishable group of persons who assist attorneys in the delivery of legal services. Through formal education, training and experience, legal assistants have knowledge and expertise regarding the legal system and substantive and procedural law which qualify them to do work of a legal nature under the supervision of an attorney. (www.NALA.org) Before starting the paralegal program, I did not have a clear understanding of what a paralegal actually does. I always been interested in being a paralegal, but never clearly understood the full responsibilities. After being in this program, I have some understanding to the many responsibilities than I initially knew. The primary function of a paralegal is to assist attorneys in preparing for hearing, trials, meetings, and real estate closings. In addition, paralegals can also do other office tasks, such as office management as trainer of new hired paralegal, book keeping, and free lancing. NALA have available for paralegals the options of CLE (Continuing Legal Education). This program is live educational, online self-study programs, and publications which is overseen by the association’s Continuing Education Counsel. The council works with Headquarters staff, professional writers, and others in planning and developing educational programs. The three areas I have chosen for CLE are Real Estate, Social Security Representation, and State and Federal Administration Law. The three areas mentions are my areas of interest, becoming a member of NALA, will allow me the opportunity to participate in CLE to give me the necessary knowledge to better and myself and know the law behind it. For a paralegal to participate in this... ... middle of paper ... ...court, be honest, use current cases (shepardize), and always be honest with the court. Paralegals are not to sign the attorney’s name under any circumstances and are not to misrepresent their selves at any time. When in doubt of the research project, ask questions to further help completing the task, and never be afraid to others for help. Works Cited www.NALA.org/code .aspx code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility National Association of Legal Assistants first adopted by NALA in May of 1975. www.supremecourt.oh.gov. UPL Board of the Unauthorized Practice of Law. www.NALA.org. Quick Guide to NALA CLE Courses and Subjects The Paralegal Professional, A reference to the source of legal information chapter 12, pages 434, 446, and 454. The Paralegal Professional, A reference to the source of legal information chapter 1 and lettures from class powerpoints.
Peter Paralegal is employed by Honest Law Firm and has been instructed by his supervising attorney to prepare and conduct initial interviews with two potential clients to see if a conflict of interest is present. Big Box and Value Mart are competitors and are requesting representation by Honest Law Firm on matters that are unrelated to one another. Peter Paralegal was also asked to perform tasks related to the cases such as; prepare questions and conduct initial interviews, explain legal fees arrangements, establish the attorney-client relations, draft initial pleadings and responses, interview witnesses, draft and sign initial case evaluation letters.
Freedman, Monroe H., and Abbe Smith. Understanding Lawyers' Ethics. New Providence, NJ: LexisNexis, 2010. Print.
Vicki Voisin, CLAS, P. N. (1998, December 14). Issues Related to Licensure and Governmental Regulations of Paralegals. Issues Related to Licensure. Retrieved April 17, 2011, from www.nala.org/licissues.htm
To properly protect the evidence a paralegal will need to put documents together properly and securely. Put important documents, photographs and other evidence in plastic. This protects the evidence yet can still be viewed through the plastic. A paralegal should put all the case file and evidence in a clearly marked box and make backups and copies of all evidence gathered.
The practice of law involves giving legal advice to clients, drafting legal documents, and representing clients in legal negotiations and court proceedings. It is applied to professional services of a licensed lawyer. UPL’s statutes prohibit individuals from legally practicing law without a proper legal license. Paralegals may violate UPL by performing 3 specific tasks that are not delegated to paralegals, these include; responsibility for establishing an attorney-client relationship, establishing the amount of fee to be charged for a legal service, and responsibility for a legal opinion rendered to a client.
Paralegals are professionals who assist or support lawyers with their work (Westwood College). Supporting qualified lawyers includes a variety of tasks. When an attorney’s case goes to court, paralegals prepare motions and pleadings, in addition to organizing and cataloguing relevant trial documents (Westwood College). Paralegals also locate and interview witnesses; conduct investigations; conduct legal research; and summarize depositions, interrogatories and testimony (The National Association of Legal Assistants). In addition, the Business and Professions Code Section 6450(a) states that “Tasks performed by a paralegal include, but are not limited to, case planning, development, and management; legal research; interviewing clients; fact gathering and retrieving information; drafting and analyzing legal documents; collecting, compiling, and utilizing technical information to make an independent decision and recommendation to the supervising attorney; and representing clients before a state or federal administrative agency if that representation is permitted by statute, court rule, or administrative rule or regulation” (Business and Professions Code Section 6450(a)).
Paralegals have become an essential part of today's legal system, and as the profession becomes one of the leading and fastest growing occupations in the U.S. economy; these individuals perform delegated tasks under the supervision of attorneys. Education has played an important part on this matter; it has facilitated this development by allowing lawyers to use these skills professionals as agents to delegate specific tasks such as legal research, gathering of information and the drafting of specific legal documents under the supervision and final approval of their principals. This has been very significant because now; we can enjoy a speedy process in a cumbersome legal system. From en economic standpoint, it has also been beneficial by decreasing the substantial amount of the legal cost a firm could incur if only lawyers were allowed to perform this kind work.
Hatch, Scott A., Hatch, Lisa Zimmer. Paralegal Career For Dummies. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Pub., 2006. Print.
A Florida Registered Paralegal is a person who is qualified and has gone through training, education and work experience to work under the supervision of a lawyer. He or she is there to help the attorney with drafting documents, legal research, legal investigations, contacting clients, and interviewing clients. The bill says that the requirements of the bill are “the person has to have prescribed education and experience, and have the prescribed certifications”. In order for a person to be eligible to be a Florida Registered Paralegal they have to have met one of the following education and work experience. They have to have a bachelor’s degree in paralegal plus a minimum of one year of paralegal work experience or a person can have an associate degree plus a minimum of two years of paralegal experience. There has been a lot debate over the bill some people think the bill is helping the paralegal while others think it’s just a
...Gale Encyclopedia of Everyday Law. Ed. Shirelle Phelps. Vol. 1. Detroit: Gale, 2003. 265-271. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Gale. Tarrant County College. 2 Mar. 2011 .
The paralegal field is thought to be a high paced glorious career of working alongside an attorney and getting recognition for their work. In reality a paralegal job is nothing like Erin Brockovich (A movie where a paralegal was able to investigate and played an immense part in winning a large case) envisioned from the movie. Becoming a paralegal is appealing because it allows a quick entrance into a professional career field and offers a wide range of daily and career experiences. However, the work-life balance can be poor, the career path often stagnates without continuing education, and the pay is insufficient for the work load. Also, while there are a wide range of paralegal jobs there is also competition and an applicant must possess the ability to step right into the role with little or no training. While expecting much of the work to be comparable to administrative work and document reading.
Although the legal profession is a single discourse community, it is made up of many smaller discourse communities. This is so because while all lawyers share the same broad goals of the legal profession and have a general knowledge and expertise in all areas of the law, most lawyers after graduating from law school and passing the bar exam specialize in a particular area of law. This specialization requires the lawyer to go beyond the broad concepts of law as a whole and to become knowledgeable and proficient in the sometimes minute details of a more specific area of law. Even then, some lawyers will go even further to focus on one aspect or another of that particular area of law. This results in most lawyers being members of many even smal...
My major is Paralegal Studies and I expect to graduate with an Associates of Arts degree in December of this year. Many years ago, as an investigator for both a private company and a county agency, I was introduced to the legal field. Recently, I was awarded the opportunity to attend college, so I decided I wanted to reenter the legal profession as a paralegal. The paralegal profession appeals to me, because I enjoy the processes of developing a case, as well as its legal aspects. A paralegal is involved in a case from the beginning to the end; from the initial client interview to assisting the attorney during the client’s trial or the settlement process. My goal is to become a paralegal for a solo practitioner or a small firm in my local area who represent clients in different areas of the law.
Sheehan, James. The lawyer's lawyer. New York: Center Street, 2013. Print. this book tells me about lawyers about how they differ from other people
In order for attorneys to effectively represent their clients rules govern how and what information is gathered, used, and stored or destroyed. The unit three seminar discusses the rules that regulate these things during and after the representation of a client. There are several systems in place that protect clients and their confidential information from being misused by those who are involved in their cases and legal matters. The duty of confidentiality, attorney/client privilege, and the work product privilege are the topics discussed during this seminar for the purpose of teaching the differences between them all as well as how each works and for what purpose.