Two Faces of Paralegal Licensing
Paralegal licensing means getting a license to start a practice in the paralegal profession. In order to get a license you have to meet the required qualification. Once you get the license, then you can start to work for legal firms or in legal departments of government agencies.
There has been lots of debate on the implementation of paralegal licensing. Some opinions group say that licensing in paralegal profession will help to enhance the work and the door will open for those who can’t afford high fees of lawyers since the paralegal provides access to legal services. Another opinion group disagrees on the implementation of paralegal licensing. Because they say that the paralegal job is an assistant job for the lawyers and they are not to replace them. All lawyers are license holders. So, there is no need to get a license for the paralegals who want to work under such lawyers, and the licensing is not important in legal profession.
However, many paralegals are applying for the license; because, they clearly see career development and advancement in this field. Nancy Ronel who is a legal assistant and former Co-Director of Continuing Education of the Massachusetts Paralegal Association, says the paralegal license will become more recognized, and will keep the clients away from those people who are not qualified for the job. A paralegal who has a license can easily gain the confidence of clients. By getting a paralegal license, they have direct benefits such as the increase in fees which will ultimately improve their performance. But on the downside for those paralegals, who have been in this business for a long time but haven’t gotten the license will have to go through testing and education to get a license which is certainly is a big snag for them.
Another squabble of paralegal licensing many professionals say 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.
The paralegal licensing issue is very a delicate matter. Many people have different opinions about it, but the fact is that paralegals are always working under supervision of licensed lawyers. Paralegals may get a license in the future, but for now, they don’t have to get a license.
| |
Similar Posts On Legal-Assistant.biz