A paralegal is someone without a law license
who performs routine tasks requiring some
knowledge of the law and procedures. Paralegals
perform substantive and procedural legal work as
authorized by law, which work, in the absence of
the paralegal, would be performed by an
attorney. Paralegals have knowledge of the law
gained through education, or education and work
experience, which qualifies them to perform
legal work. Usually paralegals have taken
paralegal courses in law and legal processes,
but others acquire their knowledge through
on-the-job training. Paralegals adhere to
recognized ethical standards and rules of
professional responsibility. The National
Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) has
created a Code of Ethics and Professional
Responsibility for its members. Any violation of
this code is cause for removal of membership.
Also, NALA affiliated associations must adopt
the NALA Code of Ethics and Professional
Responsibility as their standard of conduct.
Other standards for its members apply, for
example, requirements for a paralegal to take
either tier of PACE include work experience and
education. The paralegal cannot have been
convicted of a felony nor be under suspension,
termination, or revocation of a certificate,
registration, or license by any entity. However,
a paralegal is not required to be a member of
NALA.
Paralegals are employed in various settings,
such as law offices and government agencies.
Paralegals often handle much of the paperwork in
probates of estates, divorce actions,
bankruptcies, investigations, analyzing
depositions, preparing and answering
interrogatories and procedural motions and other
specialized jobs
This introduction is provided
by
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