Paralegal

Paralegal is a professional who is qualified by education, training or work experience to perform substantive legal work that requires knowledge of legal concepts and is customarily, but not exclusively, performed by a lawyer. This person may be retained or employed by a lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental agency, or other entity or may be authorized by administrative, statutory, or court authority to perform this work. Substantive shall mean work requiring recognition, evaluation, organization, analysis, and communication of relevant facts and legal concepts.

History[edit | edit source]

The paralegal profession has evolved over time. In the early 1960s, law firms began to hire non-lawyers to assist attorneys in their work. These individuals were initially referred to as "legal assistants". The American Bar Association (ABA) defined a legal assistant or paralegal 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.

Roles and Responsibilities[edit | edit source]

Paralegals perform many tasks under the supervision of an attorney. These tasks include but are not limited to conducting legal research, drafting documents, maintaining files, and communicating with clients. Paralegals often have direct interaction with clients and third-party vendors. In many jurisdictions, paralegals can conduct their own business and are called Law Clerks, Scriveners, Legal Assistants, Legal Secretaries, and other titles.

Education and Training[edit | edit source]

Many paralegals have a two-year associate degree, four-year bachelor's degree, and/or paralegal certificate. There are many paths a person can take to become a paralegal. Paralegal programs are offered by many universities, colleges, and community colleges and many offer paralegal studies programs in the United States.

Professional Associations[edit | edit source]

There are several professional associations for paralegals, including the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA), the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA), and the American Alliance of Paralegals (AAP).