What do legal assistants do?
The legal assistant concept or paralegal began to develop in the late 1960's when law firms and individual practitioners sought ways to improve the efficient and cost effective delivery of legal services. Other factors entered into the development of the legal assistant field including the growing volume of work due to increased public awareness of legal remedies.
The terms legal assistant and paralegal are used interchangeably, much like the terms attorney and lawyer. The practice of law is regulated by each of the 50 states. In all states, legal assistants/paralegals are prohibited from practicing law without a license.
A legal assistant/paralegal cannot give legal advice, represent a client in court, set a fee, or accept a case, which functions are generally considered the practice of law. Working under the supervision of an attorney, the legal assistant's work product is merged with and becomes part of the attorney work product. In communications with clients and the public, the legal assistant’s non-lawyer status must be clear. A legal assistant may perform any function delegated by an attorney, including but not limited to the following:
Conduct client interviews and maintain general contact with the client, so long as the client is aware of the status and function of the legal assistant, and the legal assistant works under the supervision of the attorney.
Locate and interview witnesses.
Conduct investigations and statistical and documentary research.
Conduct legal research.
Draft legal documents, correspondence and pleadings.
Summarize depositions, interrogatories and testimony.
Attend executions of wills, real estate closings, depositions, court or administrative hearings and trials with the attorney.
Author and sign correspondence provided the legal assistant status is clearly indicated and the correspondence does not contain independent legal opinions or legal advice.
Professionally, a paralegal's time for substantive legal work (as opposed to clerical or administrative work) is billed to clients much the same way as an attorney's time, but at a lower hourly rate.
Monday, December 24, 2007
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Online Paralegal Course: Who is Paralegal?
Welcome to Online Paralegal Course blog. In this blog I will discuss about online paralegal course. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for paralegals and legal assistants is projected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through 2014. So this means this carrier has a good prospect. Many people want to be a paralegal because of the demand and also it’s a stepping stone before he/she become a lawyer.
Before I go further, let me explain the definition of ‘Paralegal’. In general a paralegal is not a qualified lawyer. He/She is a non-lawyer who performs routine tasks requiring some knowledge of the law and procedure. The paralegal also normally employ by law office or work freelance.
A Paralegal also called “legal assistant”, with special training but has not earned a law degree. A Paralegal is work under supervision of a lawyer. Your attorney may employ a paralegal or legal assistant to perform basic legal tasks and/or facilitate conversation between you and your attorney.
A Paralegal who work in the legal profession, typically responsible for researching, analyzing and managing the daily tasks for cases.
Legal assistants and paralegals are individuals who assist lawyers in the delivery of legal services. Legal assistants and paralegals cannot give legal advice to consumers of legal services. Legal advice may only be relied upon if given by an attorney. All states require attorneys to be licensed and most have statutes imposing penalties for the unauthorized practice of law. The following definition was adopted by the NALA membership in 1986.
A Paralegal also 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.
In recognition of the similarity of the definitions and the need for one clear definition, in July 2001, the NALA membership approved a resolution to adopt the definition of the American Bar Association as well. The ABA definition reads as follows:
A legal assistant or paralegal is a person qualified by education, training or work experience who is employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental agency or other entity who performs specifically delegated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible. (Adopted by the ABA in 1997).
Before I go further, let me explain the definition of ‘Paralegal’. In general a paralegal is not a qualified lawyer. He/She is a non-lawyer who performs routine tasks requiring some knowledge of the law and procedure. The paralegal also normally employ by law office or work freelance.
A Paralegal also called “legal assistant”, with special training but has not earned a law degree. A Paralegal is work under supervision of a lawyer. Your attorney may employ a paralegal or legal assistant to perform basic legal tasks and/or facilitate conversation between you and your attorney.
A Paralegal who work in the legal profession, typically responsible for researching, analyzing and managing the daily tasks for cases.
Legal assistants and paralegals are individuals who assist lawyers in the delivery of legal services. Legal assistants and paralegals cannot give legal advice to consumers of legal services. Legal advice may only be relied upon if given by an attorney. All states require attorneys to be licensed and most have statutes imposing penalties for the unauthorized practice of law. The following definition was adopted by the NALA membership in 1986.
A Paralegal also 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.
In recognition of the similarity of the definitions and the need for one clear definition, in July 2001, the NALA membership approved a resolution to adopt the definition of the American Bar Association as well. The ABA definition reads as follows:
A legal assistant or paralegal is a person qualified by education, training or work experience who is employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental agency or other entity who performs specifically delegated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible. (Adopted by the ABA in 1997).
Sunday, March 11, 2007
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