Paralegals are not the same in every country. In the United States, they are not authorized by the government or other agency to offer legal services in the same way, nor are they officers of the court, nor are they usually subject to government-/court-sanctioned rules of conduct. In Ontario, Canada, paralegals are licensed and regulated the same way that lawyers are. A paralegal license allows for the paralegal to provide permitted legal services to the public and appear before certain lower level courts and administrative tribunals.
In the United States, paralegals originated as assistants to lawyers at a time when only lawyers offered legal services. In those jurisdictions, such as the United States, where the local legal profession/judiciary is involved in paralegal recognition/accreditation, the profession of paralegal still basically refers to those people working under the direct supervision of a lawyer. In other jurisdictions however, such as the United Kingdom, the lack of local legal profession/judiciary oversight means that the definition of paralegal encompasses non-lawyers doing legal work, regardless of who they do it for. Although most jurisdictions recognize paralegals to a greater or lesser extent, there is no international consistency as to definition, job-role, status, terms and conditions of employment, training, regulation or anything else and so each jurisdiction must be looked at individually.
From the Paralegal Society of Ontario: "A paralegal is an individual qualified through education or experience licensed to provide legal services to the general public in areas authorized by the Law Society of Upper Canada
Other traditional differences between a paralegal and a lawyer (e.g. attorney) is that: # paralegal expertise/training tends to be niche, whereas a lawyer has a much broader, longer, more formal and holistic training, and # that the lawyer's primary job is to consider, analyze and strategize, whereas a paralegal's primary responsibility is to carry out the tasks arising from that consideration, analysis and strategy.
Paralegals are found in all areas where United States lawyers work—in criminal trials, in real estate, in government, in estate planning. In the US, paralegals and legal document assistants (LDAs) are often mistaken for one another.
In some areas, such legal document assistants actually advertise themselves as paralegals. However, many states, including Florida, have enacted laws or bar rules which require any person referring to themself as a paralegal to be working under the supervision a licensed attorney. This would disqualify those individuals working as "independent paralegals" from using the title "paralegal".
In the Province of Ontario, a paralegal is an officer of the court (i.e. considered a formal part of the legal system). Paralegals in Ontario are licensed and regulated by the Law Society of Upper Canada, which also regulates and provides licenses for all lawyers in Ontario. The Law Society began issuing the first paralegal licences to grandparent applicants who fulfilled all the necessary licensing requirements (including insurance) in April 2008. Paralegals who provide legal services to the public must carry professional liability insurance in accordance with By-Law 6, Part II, section 12 (1). Licensees must provide written proof of their compliance with this requirement to carry mandatory insurance before they begin providing legal services, as well as on an annual basis. Paralegal services may be provided via a sole proprietorship, partnership or professional corporation. Licensees are strongly encouraged to seek professional advice on the best business structure for their particular situations.A paralegal license allows a paralegal to independently represent clients in provincial offences court, summary conviction criminal court, small claims court and administrative tribunals such as the Financial Services Commission of Ontario or the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board. The role that a paralegal has in the United States is similar to the role of a law clerk or legal assistant in Ontario. Many paralegals in Ontario work in the areas of permitted practice for paralegals and also work alongside lawyers in areas of practice that are only permitted to be practiced by lawyers. It is illegal for paralegals in Ontario to independently practice in an area of law that is permitted only for lawyers. An example of this is family law, or an indictable offence in criminal law.
Continuing professional development (CPD) is the maintenance and enhancement of a lawyer or paralegal's professional knowledge, skills, attitudes and professionalism throughout the individual's career. It is a positive tool that benefits lawyers and paralegals and is an essential component of the commitment they make to the public to practise law or provide legal services competently and ethically.
Some paralegals have only on-the-job experience, while some paralegals have completed a two-year course or bachelor's degree in paralegal studies. Others have completed a bachelor's or even a master's degree in another field, and quite a few of these people have also completed a regular or post-baccalaureate paralegal certificate, or have completed some semesters of law school but have not been admitted to the bar. Many paralegals have completed all of their training before entering the profession, while others have completed their education while working their way up from the mailroom in a law firm. Many paralegals take Continuing Legal Education credits to fulfill the requirements of their firm, state, or association.
Paralegal or Legal Assistant courses of study have long been available in associate's degree or certificate programs at community colleges and private universities. However, similar programs exist at four-year universities and have expanded over the years. More and more prestigious universities offer bachelor's degrees and post-baccalaureate certificates in the subject.
There is generally no requirement in states for legal assistants or paralegals. California, however, is a major exception. Up until Business and professions code 6450 was signed into law by Governor Gray Davis in 2000, there was little, if any regulation of paralegals in the state. Thus, many people would prepare legal documents for the public (even though it is understood that paralegals are not supposed to provide services directly to the public) and call themselves paralegals. In addition to the flurry of lawsuits filed against these individuals, the paralegal profession began to be attacked. This caused the paralegal community to demand that the paralegal profession in California be regulated. Now persons wishing to become paralegals must complete a program approved by the ABA, complete a 24 semester unit paralegal program at an accredited institution or they can be grandfathered in under BPC 6450-56.
The Institute of Legal Executives (ILEX) has been established for almost 50 years, and was launched with the blessing of the Law Society. It regulates 15,000 trainee and 7,000 practising Legal Executive lawyers through an MOJ approved regulator, ILEX Professional Standards. ILEX is open to those with or without law degrees, and allows paralegals to progress through to ultimately become fully qualified lawyers, advocates, partners and judges, subject to achieving the correct level of qualifications, skills, and experience.
The National Association of Licensed Paralegals(NALP) was established in 1987 and is the professional self-regulatory governing body for accredited paralegals. Access into the profession can either be with a law degree or without. Those who are already graduates can take The Post Graduate Diploma in Paralegal Practice (PPC) (similar to the LPC for solicitors). Those that have no previous qualification can do the Diploma in Paralegal Studies. The NALP is an awarding body regulated by OFQUAL and is also a member of the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (based in the US)
There are two major national organizations that offer designations to paralegals who meet voluntary regulation standards: the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) and the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA).
NALA offers its Certified Legal Assistant examination, a comprehensive 2-day examination that awards the paralegal the "CLA" or "Certified Legal Assistant" or "CP" Certified Paralegal" designation. Both the "CLA" and "CP" designations are proprietary trademarks owned by NALA, paralegals who have attained further education and received a paralegal certificate are referred to as "Certificated" unless they have passed the examination and been awarded the "Certified" designation. Additionally, those paralegals who receive the "Certified Paralegal" designation then have the opportunity to earn the "Advanced Certified Paralegal" designation.
The NFPA offers the Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam, which is a four-hour exam on a variety of legal topics; those who pass that exam can call themselves PACE-Registered Paralegals and display the "RP" designation. NFPA’s core purpose is to advance the paralegal profession and is committed to the profession’s Code of Ethics.
Graduation from a certificate or degree program does not, technically, certify a paralegal; in most states, passing an exam administered by a recognized entity is the only benchmark. Many states, such as Florida, have started to legislate licensing requirements for paralegals in an effort to maintain quality and to determine who can call themselves paralegals.
Some states have considered the licensure of paralegals. Whether paralegals should be licensed or certified is one of the most important issues for paralegals today.
There are various levels of certification and membership according to the level of training, qualification and experience. To become a Licensed Paralegal a person should have an acceptable qualification in law, e.g. the Association's Diploma in Paralegal Studies, ILEX, Law Degree or HND (plus a procedural law qualification) or any other qualification deemed suitable, and who can satisfy the other criteria laid down by the Association namely: knowledge, competence, dedication, character requirements and continuous professional development.
NALPs mission is to re-enforce and increase its position as the leading professional organisation catering for the Career Paralegal not only within the legal profession but also within commerce, industry and the private and public sectors and will strive to ensure the proper recognition of its Members as an integral part of the legal profession by the quality of its qualifications, professional development and the standards of behaviour and its regulatory powers laid down for its Members. It will encourage, promote and develop the role and practice of the Paralegal and represent the best interests of its Members.
ILEX Since 1994 City and Guilds, in association with ILEX, has offered the UK's leading range of nationally and internationally approved qualifications for Paralegals and Legal Secretaries, which have been taken by over 20,000 people. They offer a Level 2 Award/Certificate/Diploma in Legal Studies qualification. This provides the underpinning knowledge which will help in day-to-day work and will also allows progression onto the ILEX route to becoming a lawyer. The qualification is divided into units and is assessed by way of assignments and a multiple-choice test. A Level 3 Diploma in Vocational Paralegal Studies qualification is also available, and this is equivalent to A-level standard. The qualification is divided into units and again, is assessed by way of assignments. The qualifications are also recognised by the ILEX (Institute of Legal Executives) as a route into their membership grades.
The Institute of Paralegals is the UK body setting national standards for paralegals, legal secretaries and other non-lawyer legal professionals working in the legal profession. They offer self regulation and certification for paralegals in England and Wales. On behalf of paralegals they also liaise regularly with government, The Law Society, Bar Council and others on issues of concern to paralegals, such as rights of audience, diversity, recognition of paralegals, terms and conditions, education and direct access to the Bar.
The Institute is widely recognised by, amongst others, The Law Society, Bar Council, UK government, Solicitors Regulation Authority and Legal Services Ombudsman. They are headquartered in Berkeley Square, Mayfair, London.
A not-for-profit professional body incorporated by guarantee, they were formed in 2003. They were granted institute status by the UK government in 2005, with the support of, amongst others, The Law Society of England & Wales, the Bar Council, Citizens Advice and the Crown Prosecution Service, all of whom recognised the need for the developing paralegal profession to have a representative body.
Paralegals working for the U.S. federal government average over $73,000 per year while state and local government paralegals earn around $54,000. Larger law firms may pay over $100,000 annually with benefits depending on experience with starting salaries over $50,000. Starting salaries in smaller metropolitan areas, however, are about $44,000 annually.
The paralegal field is growing rapidly.
# Establish the attorney-client relationship # Give legal advice # Sign legal papers and pleadings on behalf of a party # Appear in court on behalf of another (i.e. the client)* # Set and collect fees for legal services
Beyond the five acts above, the paralegal can perform practically any other task, including legal research, legal writing, factual investigation, preparation of exhibits, and the day-to-day tasks of case management. The key is that attorneys are entirely responsible for the actions of their paralegals, and, by signing and filing court documents drafted by paralegals (or law clerks), attorneys make those documents their own.
The United Kingdom has gone one step further. Much legal work by lawyers for the poorer elements of society is legally aided, or paid for by the state. As overall costs have risen due to more people than ever engaging with the law, the government has reduced such legal aid. As a result the work has become uneconomic for many and they have ceased doing it. Paralegal advisory firms are stepping in to fill the gap.
The increased use of paralegals has slowed the rising cost of legal services and serves in some small measure (in combination with contingency fees and insurance) to keep the cost of legal services within the reach of the regular population. However, one commentator has warned that "our profession makes a serious error if it uses legal assistants only as economic tools."
However, it is only recently that paralegals have begun to be seen as more than merely assistants to lawyers. They are now a newly emergent, and increasingly distinct, group of legal professionals.
Research shows there to be over 200,000 non-lawyers doing legal work in the United Kingdom. There are now almost 4,000 government registered/regulated paralegal advisory firms offering services that would previously have been offered by lawyers.
The United Kingdom actually comprises three separate jurisdictions: England and Wales; Scotland; and Northern Ireland (the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man are distinct political entities as well as different jurisdictions). In the United Kingdom anyone may call himself/herself a paralegal without any qualifications whatsoever. Professional bodies such as the National Association of Licensed Paralegals are lobbying for this to change, but for the present 'paralegal' is not a protected title.
Paralegals in England and Wales may offer legal advice, as may any person, as there is no offence such as the unauthorized practice of law - with three exceptions:
# Undertaking the activities reserved to solicitors under the Solicitors Act 1974; # Undertaking immigration work if not registered with the Office of the Immigrations Services Commissioner; # Undertaking certain types of claims/compensation related work if not registered with the Ministry of Justice.
Paralegals technically have very limited rights to conduct litigation/rights of audience before courts/tribunals. In practice many appear in courts and tribunals at all levels.
Paralegals also act as Police Station Representatives if they are accredited, giving advice to clients held in police custody.
The National Association of Licensed Paralegals is working to improve recognition for paralegals and has done so for 22 years, having introduced qualifications and standards and self-regulation to the profession and is recognised by The Law Society of England as the professional body for paralegals in England & Wales.
In Scotland, the Scottish Paralegals Association has been recognised by the Law Society of Scotland as the independent professional body for paralegals in Scotland.
The Province of Alberta, Canada, has no legislation in place currently that regulates paralegals. The majority of legal assistants and paralegals work under the supervision of a lawyer.
The most famous is probably Erin Brockovich, a real legal clerk whose participation in a toxic tort case became a major motion picture. In the movie Eagle Eye (2008) starring Shia LaBeouf and Michelle Monaghan, Monaghan plays a single mom who works as a paralegal.
Another notable exception is the character Della Street, from the Perry Mason novel, television and movie series. Although Mason identifies Della as "my confidential secretary", the projects he assigns her are entirely consistent with the law office work performed by experienced paralegals.
John Grisham includes many paralegals in his novels; for example, Rudy Baylor (the main character in Rainmaker) works briefly as a paralegal - and his associate Deck subsequently becomes Rudy's paralegal when he starts his own firm.
Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law, an esoteric cartoon comedy, features a paralegal in the form of Avenger, Harvey Birdman's eagle, who is usually seen managing files, preparing and presenting documents to the attorneys, and drafting letters to clients. Avenger will usually accompany the charismatic, yet often under-prepared, Birdman into court, and whisper case information and advice into his ear. Despite not knowing English, he is by far the most competent employee of Sebben & Sebben.
The most current example is likely contained in FX's The Riches in which Doug Rich, a con-artist played by Eddie Izzard, impersonates a lawyer at a cutthroat real estate development company. Rich's apparent lack of legal knowledge is often compensated by Aubrey McDonald, a highly-skilled paralegal who manages to help guide the under-educated anti-hero through more than a few sticky situations.
In American television, USA's "Suits" features a young paralegal named Rachel who greatly assists a young aspiring lawyer with various research and otherwise.
A few current and former paralegals have also ventured into politics, including Amanda Reeve (Arizona State Legislature) and Michael Strautmanis (Obama friend and White House Staff).
This text is licensed under the Creative Commons CC-BY-SA License. This text was originally published on Wikipedia and was developed by the Wikipedia community.
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