Two Faces of Paralegal Licensing
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.
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.
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