The lawyer or law firm shall have the right to hire in the office one or more assistants, with different levels of legal education in order to ensure a fast, efficient and high-quality customer service. This profession is more commonly known as a paralegal - paralegal in the US and other English-speaking countries and is widespread due to the high demand for legal services. The assistant attorney is not entitled to engage in advocacy, but the advocate secrecy (confidentiality of information, and so on) is obliged to keep as strictly as a lawyer.
There are a number of definitions that constitute the work of paralegals. The common thread is that a legal assistant works under the supervision of an attorney and performs substantive legal work (Flynn,
…show more content…
These courses usually last from a few months to a year. Many colleges offer 2-year Paralegal Studies training course, after which a diploma of Associate Degree is given. As Jamie Collins says, too many “colleges” and “universities” are popping up around the countries that offer no real value for this profession (Collins, 2011). They charge excessive fees to unsuspecting people and turn out graduates who cannot get a job. In large part, this is because paralegal students are not being taught the essentials which are fundamentally necessary in order to do the job. Many lawyers and firms train and educate this profession directly at the workplace. Unlike certain legislative concepts “attorney assistant”, Paralegal status is not fixed in the legal acts. As a result, the range of functional duties of a paralegal, the requirements for his or her candidacy and the conditions of employment depend solely on the employer. The employers - lawyers or law firms tend to prefer candidates with higher education who have completed courses of a Paralegal, or with the certain experience in this area.
Law offices use paralegals to improve their profitability and deliver legal services to the public (Flynn, 2001). Despite the simplicity of paralegal’s function, as it can seem, there is a growing debate over the certification and licensure of legal assistants.
…show more content…
NALA, with a membership composed of more than 18,000 paralegals opposes any mandatory regulation. NALA instead supports voluntary self-regulation through its national professional certification program. The same position occupies the International Paralegal Management Association (IPMA) which opposes any mandatory regulation of paralegals. They think that the mandatory regulation will hinder the growth of paralegals because it will be more difficult to obtain certification. As a result, this will lead to increase of the cost of paralegal services. The certification can be useful for lawyers. An established certification or licensure system will be helpful for lawyers to ascertain paralegals' qualifications and their continuing education (Durgin,
A paralegal new to the field has many options as far as career opportunities. One major decision for a paralegal pursuing a career at a law firm is whether or not to seek employment at a small or large firm. Taking into consideration some of the pros and cons of both small and large firms will give oneself an understanding on which to set their criteria for their final decision.
A Paralegal is defined by the American Bar Association as 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 and who performs specifically delegated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible. Paralegals work under direct supervision of an attorney and follow the same ethical rules of the ABA as a lawyer does. ABA Rule 5.3, states that a lawyer must give such assistants appropriate instruction and supervision concerning the ethical aspects of their employment, particularly regarding the obligation not to disclose information relating to representation of the client, and should be responsible for their work product. Per the State B...
There are many Legal culture groups, so when joining or interviewing for a position insure you understand the following:
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.
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
Freedman, Monroe H., and Abbe Smith. Understanding Lawyers' Ethics. New Providence, NJ: LexisNexis, 2010. Print.
When compared with regular degrees, paralegal programs generally two years or less to complete. Some programs are specially designed for working adults with previous education and can be completed in one to two years’ time. For those with legal training, there are intense certificate programs that can be completed in six to 12 months. Therefore, paralegal degree programs require less money and time commitment, but still deliver a robust and useful education.
The paralegal industry has changed over the last thirty years, and according to Kane, “Is one of the fastest-growing professions on the globe”. There is a predicted growth rate of 28% between 2008 and
The Progressive Era prompted an increasing need to form the American Bar Association which was established August 21, 1878, in Saratoga, New York, by a group of 100 lawyers from 21 states who promoted order throughout the nation’s law schools (Matzko, 1984). After over 100 years of existence, the American Bar Association continues to serve and assist law students and lawyers as one pursues to serve and defend the constitutional rights and liberties of others. The American Bar Association is known for providing continuing education and testing to assist future lawyers in one’s quest to defend.
The paralegal profession developed as legal secretaries assumed additional duties to help attorneys with their workload. The paralegal performs legal tasks under the supervision of an attorney that maximizes attorneys' productivity and cost efficiency in the delivery of legal services. Paralegals work in many different types of law firms, corporations or government agencies in many areas of law (Hollingshead). All duties performed by a paralegal are under the supervision of an attorney who is responsible for the paralegal’s conduct. In fact, the American Bar Association Standing Committee on Paralegals define paralegals or legal assistants [used synonymously] as a person qualified by education, training or work experiences, who is employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, corporation, government agency, or other entity who performs specific delegated legal substantive work for which a lawyer is responsible (ABA). In class, we learne...
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
The duty of confidentiality refers to attorneys and their duty to keep their clients confidential information confidential. Clients must have some guarantee that lawyers will not divulge any of their confidential information so that they are able to seek early legal assistance and the duty of confidentiality allows them to do so. This duty also allows the client to feel secure when consulting with an attorney so that the attorney is able to gather all the necessary information needed to provide effective representation. Confidential information is all information that relates to the representation of a client no matter where the information comes from (Orlik, D. Ethics for the Legal Professional. Pp. 80). Even if the information is known publicly it is considered confidential to the attorney and their agents if it is information that relates to the representation of their client.
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)
I have chosen to use a criminal defense lawyer as my primary legal career for this discussion board. A criminal defense lawyer, is a lawyer who specializes in defending an individual or a company that has been charged with a crime. Criminal defense lawyers have to deal with many different circumstances. For instance, arrests, criminal charges, investigations, sentencing, appeals, and even post-trial issues. However, a lot of criminal defense lawyers will choose to specialize in a certain type of criminal defense. For instance, drug defense, or even DUI defense. Criminal defense lawyers often have to work out substantive issues in connection with their clients supposed crime. Many times criminal defense lawyers will be helping a client even before charges have been filed against them by
Career as a lawyer is very respectful as they serve to maintain the law and order. They are responsible for providing justice to the innocent and punishment to the offenders. Career as Lawyer on one side is challenging and risky but on the other side, it is prestigious and honorable as well.