What is a Paralegal?

The American Bar Association (ABA) defines a 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.

The National Federation of Paralegal Associations expands this definition, adding that substantive legal work employs such skills as: recognition, evaluation, organization, analysis, and communication of relevant facts and legal concepts. Paralegals should also be good communicators, strong writers, and possess solid interpersonal skills such as conflict resolution and negotiation.

State regulations define a paralegal’s scope of practice. In nearly all states, paralegals must work under the direct supervision of an attorney. Paralegals must uphold standards of ethics and confidentiality. They may not offer legal opinions or legal advice, represent clients in court, accept new clients into the practice or set legal fees.

Practically speaking, paralegals have many duties within law offices, governmental agencies, corporations and other places in need of legal assistance. These duties will vary depending on the size of the office, the range of services offered by the office and the number of other legal support staff employed within the office.  Paralegals working as generalists will likely have greater variation within their duties whereas specialists will have a narrower focus but greater depth in their job responsibilities. While most paralegals are employed by law firms, government agencies and corporations, some paralegals work as freelancers who contract out their professional skills to lawyers in need of legal support services.

 

Source(s):  American Bar Association, August 14, 2008

  National Federation of Paralegal Associations, 1987