Legal Assistant

Two Faces of Paralegal Licensing

admin — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 13:00:02 +0000

Paralegal licensing is a process that an aspiring paralegal undergoes to obtain a license, which will give him the right to practice in the paralegal profession. A license is required to be obtained to make sure that a paralegal has met the qualifications of a fully trained and educated paralegal.

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The issue of whether or not to implement paralegal licensing is causing a fiery debate within the paralegal profession. One side of contradicting opinions yields to paralegal licensing since it would enhance the work of a paralegal and will be able to execute and offer access to legal services for those that can’t afford the currently high-digit-costs of a lawyer’s fee. On the other side, there are some who disagree with paralegal licensing. Because according to them, the paralegal profession was launched to assist the attorneys and not to replace them. All attorneys are presumed to be licensed already so there is no need for paralegals to get themselves a license for being the lawyers’ assistants. There is no need for double licensure in the legal profession.

Professional development and advancement of the paralegal profession is the most rational cause why many paralegals are lobbying for licensure. According to Nancy Ronel, legal assistant and former Co-Director of Continuing Education of the Massachusetts Paralegal Association, through licensing the paralegal profession may become more recognized. Paralegal licensing could also help in keeping out of the paralegal profession those individuals who are not qualified for the job. It could also help in limiting the number of people who may claim for themselves as paralegals.

Through paralegal licensing, paralegals could also have more tangible benefits such as the increase in compensation. In this regard, paralegals will perform better and they could do much better in their profession.

Then again, although paralegal licensing promises a better future in the paralegal profession, it has also its own snag. For paralegals that are already in the profession, the idea of being forced and compelled to go through testing, education and other paralegal licensing process seems like a big hassle.

Another squabble of paralegal licensing says that it is superfluous because paralegals are already working under the supervision of licensed attorneys. With this, paralegal licensing could be perceived as going over the line between the paralegal profession and with that of the lawyers.

Oppositions to paralegal licensing don’t mean antagonism to continuing education and testing for paralegals. According to experts, the problem is there isn’t a group who has come up with a good criterion for what should be involved in paralegal licensing.

The debate between the cons and pros of paralegal licensing is a delicate issue. Paralegals could lobby and lobby for licensing but for now, paralegals continue to work under the supervision of attorneys and under the attorneys’ licenses.

Paralegal Job

admin — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 12:58:53 +0000

What is a paralegal? There is no single definition of the term but those in the legal community agree what are the responsibilities a paralegal has.

What to Expect from a Paralegal Job

A paralegal job involves much of the same tasks that a lawyer must perform. However, while lawyers assume the ultimate responsibility of legal work, they may delegate some of their work to paralegals.

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Two Identities of Paralegal Gifts

admin — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 12:58:20 +0000

When somebody would hear the term “paralegal gifts,” the first thing that would cross his mind is the skills and talents or God-given abilities of paralegals. But this could be not one of the meanings of “paralegal gifts,” otherwise the term that have been used is paralegal skills to avoid confusion.

Indeed, it is hard to really determine what paralegal gifts mean. Paralegal gifts could be best understood in two aspects, paralegal gifts as in “paralegal benefits” and paralegal gifts as “paralegal assistance.”

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Paralegal Ethics

admin — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 12:57:33 +0000

A professional organization consisting of legal assistants in the United States as well as in Canada, the National Federation of Paralegal Association (NFPA) adopted the paralegal ethics in May of 1993. Formally called as the Model Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility, it aims to define the principles for values and conduct to which every member should aspire.

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The Prospects of Paralegal Employment

admin — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 12:55:33 +0000

The paralegal profession is one of the fastest growing professions today. It has been estimated that the number of paralegal employment has doubled since 1990.

Paralegal employment is projected to grow much faster than average through 2014. Paralegals held about 224,000 jobs in 2004. Private law firms employ 7 out of 10 paralegals, while the remainder worked for corporate legal departments and various levels of government. The United States Department of Justice is the largest employer for paralegals within the Federal Government, followed by the Social Security Administration and the United States Department of the Treasury. On the other hand, some paralegals establish their own businesses and work as freelance legal assistants, contracting their services to attorneys or corporate legal departments.

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Paralegal Education

admin — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 12:54:41 +0000

While there is no single definition for a paralegal or legal assistant, the spectrum of state statutes, court rules, and case law are singular in deciding that for a paralegal to be considered as such, he or she must undergo formal education, training, and work experience to perform substantive legal work.

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Educational Programs of Paralegal Classes

admin — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 12:54:00 +0000

One of the essential requirements of a person who would want to enter the paralegal profession is education, because paralegals are distinct group of educated and trained persons employed in legal offices and function as able assistants to lawyers.

In relation with the increasing number of people entering the paralegal profession, today there is an estimated 600 paralegal programs of paralegal classes in the United States. A variety of public and private institutions offer paralegal classes, including community colleges, four- year colleges and universities, business colleges and propriety institutions. These different institutions make it possible for persons with various backgrounds to enter the profession.

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Paralegal Certificate Programs

admin — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 12:45:30 +0000

The nationwide demand for paralegals and legal assistants is growing. Currently, the number of paralegals in the legal community is totaling 90,000 and according to the US Department of Labor and Statistics, the paralegal job market is set to double in size.

Most employers who seek the services of a paralegal or legal assistant require applicants to have an associate degree or a certificate in paralegal studies, at the very least, before hiring.

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Paralegal Careers are lawyer’s best allies

admin — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 12:43:11 +0000

The paralegal profession has truly expanded its arms to more openings and opportunities for those seeking work in the legal related field. It seems that our world is surrounded with organizations involving legal works, opening the gates for paralegals.

The following are fields that make use and employ paralegals. These are some of the destinations of paralegal careers:

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Paralegal Career

admin — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 12:42:31 +0000

So you want to pursue a career in the legal profession without having to go to law school. Then, consider a paralegal career.

Sometimes called legal assistants, paralegals are individuals who assist lawyers in the delivery of legal services. According to the American Bar Association, “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.”

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