Paralegals - What Exactly Do They Do?

So, what's a lawyer got that a paralegal does not?

Well, there's that law degree diploma hanging on the wall. And that hefty fee that comes with an office visit.

While there are some limitations to what a paralegal can do, chances are that most of your attorney's work is done by a paralegal, a legal assistant that he or she trusts to know the law and the documents being prepared. Be thankful - the paralegal fee is far less than the fee would be if an attorney were completing your paper work. Don't worry that your legal work is less effective or efficient because it was completed by someone other than your actual attorney. When the attorney puts his or her signature on a document prepared by a paralegal, the lawyer is verifying that the information is correct. It's just as legal - but probably costing you a lot less - to have the paralegal complete your paper work.

There are a lot of duties a paralegal plays in an attorney's office. The paralegal may do legal research and writing for your attorney. A paralegal may even take over as case manager, a situation that many firms are considering if they have not already adopted to help keep legal fees lower and affordable.

There are five things a paralegal cannot do. One, a paralegal cannot give legal advice. Only a licensed attorney should do that. Two, a paralegal cannot develop the attorney-client relationship. It just makes sense - the attorney-client relationship should be between those two people, otherwise it would be called the law firm representative - client relationship. Three, the paralegal cannot sign papers on behalf of the client. Only the attorney can attest his or her name to those legal documents. Four, the paralegal cannot represent a client in court. While many paralegals could probably do so quite well, it just isn't legal. And, five, the paralegal cannot set and collect legal fees. Only the attorney can do that.

Different states have different requirements for paralegals. Some do specifically require certification. Other states allow attorneys hiring the paralegals to judge the person's qualifications. After all, the attorney will be the one signing off on all of the paralegal's work. Some attorneys require a certain amount of legal experience, a background in research or other clerical skills. If you are interested in a career as a paralegal, check with some attorney's offices or law firms in your hometown. See what their qualifications are. If they prefer to hire paralegals with course certificates, ask if they can recommend a school or schools for you to examine.

There are plenty of opportunities to take paralegal courses, even for today's busiest people. In addition to home study courses, there are online courses, and programs of study at two and four year colleges and universities. One method of study is sure to fit your budget and the school of your choice may even have financial aid options available. If you are thinking of a paralegal career - or changing careers to be a paralegal - check out all your options and decide if having a two or four year paralegal certificate will help make you more marketable in the legal world.

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Visit paralegal progam | paralegal careers or career paralegal for more information on a Paralegal Career.

What is a Paralegal?

A paralegal is a person who assists the attorneys in the delivery of legal services. A paralegal is also known as legal assistant. A paralegal should be qualified through education and training to perform substantive legal work. Substantive work of paralegal includes recognition, evaluation, organization, analysis, and communication of legal facts. Paralegal cannot represent a client. Attorneys are responsible for the legal work delegated to paralegals. The attorney is held responsible for ethical violations committed by a paralegal. Paralegals are members of national and local associations and they should follow the ethical codes of those associations.

Paralegals are of great assistance to attorneys in that they help the attorneys to prepare complex cases. They are prohibited from practicing law without license. Paralegals are not allowed to give legal advice. All work performed by the paralegals must be under the supervision of an attorney. Paralegals can conduct interviews and maintain general contact with the client. They can locate and interview witnesses and draft legal documents and pleadings. Paralegals can conduct legal research and attend court or administrative hearings and trials with the attorney.

Paralegals generally work with attorneys, judges, prosecutors and public defenders. They also work with corporations, banks, consumer organizations, finance companies, accounting firms, real estate agencies, advertising agencies, engineering firms, government agencies and insurance companies. Paralegal may work as freelancers in private practice. Paralegals can also specialize in special areas such as health care, family law, civil litigation, environmental protection, personal injury and criminal law.

Most of the paralegals would have completed a bachelor?s degree in paralegal studies. A certified paralegal is one who has completed the voluntary certification program of a professional association. The American Association for Paralegal Education, National Association of Paralegals and National Federation of Paralegal Associations conduct different certification programs for paralegals. Paralegal is not a licensed profession in United States.

Paralegal provides detailed information on Paralegal, Paralegal Jobs, Paralegal Schools, Paralegal Training and more. Paralegal is affiliated with Notary Public Supplies

The Principal P's of a Paralegal Career

Being a paralegal, or legal assistant, is a fulfilling and challenging career. It can be rewarding. It can also be quite stressful. The four P?s will pave the way for a successful paralegal career. These are:

1. Punctuality. Ever notice how your stress level rises when you?re late for work or a meeting? You sit in traffic and the clock is ticking out a drumbeat in your head. By the time you get to work, you?re flustered and certainly not in the best mind frame to calmly begin your work tasks. Instead of this nerve-racking scenario, the practical, punctual paralegal plans on leaving for work 15 minutes earlier. This allows extra time for unforeseen circumstances to intrude but not alter one?s sense of serenity. I have a rule of thumb ? anticipate five irritations while driving to work and smile through them. If there?s more than five, well, maybe it?s time to pull off the road and let the maniacs go on ahead.

2. Patience. Be gentle with yourself. If you feel tenseness building, take deep, cleansing breaths, and several more as needed. Oxygen fills your lungs, your pulse lowers, and a feeling of peacefulness returns. Paralegals practice patience toward co-workers, clients, phone callers, anyone who may not quite have being gentle with themselves mastered yet.

3. Perseverance. A missing witness? Keep trying to locate him, and stop when you do. A file has disappeared? Search until it?s found and ask others for assistance. Feeling brain-dead while summarizing a very dry deposition transcript? Get up and stretch, look out a window for a few minutes while you feel yourself relaxing. Then don your determination again, and get back to the grind. Legal assistants who excel in their jobs are dedicated to completing tasks.

4. Pride. If you know you?re doing your best, you will feel proud of your accomplishments. Ensure your work product reflects positively on you and your boss. Every document going out of your office gauges quality; for professionals this is extremely important. Sloppy work does not go unnoticed. Check and then doublecheck your documents. Are they as clean and attractively presented as possible? If so, sit back and smile.

The above principal P?s for paralegals are, of course, only part of what highlight good skills. But they are very important. They also contribute to attaining satisfaction and pleasure in one?s position. Being good at your job AND enjoying it, what a great combination!

Laura McDonald is a paralegal. She has many years of experience in the areas of personal injury (accident related and medical malpractice), workers? compensation, civil litigation, family, environmental, and corporate law, estate planning, and bankruptcy. She is employed by Michael L. Hawkins & Associates, P.L.L.C. in Frankfort, Kentucky. Her website is: http://www.paralegalsecretary.bravehost.com. Laura is available to encourage anyone interested in entering the paralegal field or seeking to improve related skills

Legal and Paralegal Online Schools

Online Legal and Paralegal Schools, colleges, and universities offer the option of preparing for this profession at times and locations that are convenience to the student. Professional certificates, associate degrees, and bachelor degrees in legal and paralegal programs are available completely through Internet studies!

Online Legal and Paralegal Schools, colleges, and universities train professionals to work under the supervision of lawyers. The Legal and Paralegal professional's responsibilities include many duties, such as drafting motions and subpoenas, reviewing documents, and filing papers with courts, and procedural functions of the Law firm. However, some Legal and Paralegal professionals work independently as freelancers and in private practice, as well as directly under the employment of individual lawyers and legal corporations.

Online Legal and Paralegal training and education can vary widely. Certificates are attained through schooling and passing tests that confirm legal or paralegal skills, understanding, and abilities. Legal and Paralegal Professional Certification is a voluntary process that proves one's skill levels and preparation for entrance into the profession. Legal and Paralegal certificates often increase the possibility of hire and of promotion.

Legal and paralegal practitioners may choose to pursue advanced certificates through associations or agencies that specialize in areas of certification, such as business and commercial law, corporate law, criminal law, real estate, tax and probate, estate planning, intellectual property. However, Legal and Paralegal certification is not required in many states for those who practice their Legal and Paralegal skills.

Online Legal and paralegal Schools, universities and colleges offer complete bachelor degree programs in Legal and Paralegal studies. Two-year courses of study can also be found in accredited community colleges. The increasing trend for law is to respond quickly to the needs and workloads of law firms and the manner in which a firm handles their business.

If you are interested in learning more about Online Legal and Paralegal Schools and other types of schools, please search our site for more information and resources.

DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERAL OVERVIEW and may or may not reflect specific practices, courses and/or services associated with ANY ONE particular school(s) that is or is not advertised on SchoolsGalore.com.

Michael Bustamante is a staff writer for Media Positive Communications, Inc. in association with SchoolsGalore.com. Find Colleges, Universities, Vocational Schools, and Online Schools at SchoolsGalore.com; your educational resource to locate schools.

How To Choose ABA Approved Online Paralegal Degree Programs - Part I

Paralegal Studies institutions approved by ABA (American Bar Association) all have the following characteristics...

Curriculum for Paralegals is usually ABA curriculum tailored towards providing you, after a successful completion of paralegal studies, the skills and opportunities of working as a lawyer's assistant in research, document preparation, client interviews and drafting of legal documents. As a qualified paralegal your services are also required in the legal departments of corporations, firms and organizations.

Another aspect of ABA approved Paralegal program is the pre-law specialization that prepares you for the law school proper.

ABA approved Paralegal institutions offer Associate of Applied Science, Post Degree Certificate, (only those who have already obtained a bachelor or associate degree are qualified). Bachelor of Science degree on Paralegal Studies and Certificate in Legal Nurse Consulting are two other programs offered by ABA approved paralegal study institutions.

ABA approved Paralegal institution’s minimum course duration is 1 - 2 academic years and internship is mandatory in most schools.

If you are looking for ABA approved Paralegal Education Program, then the Standing Committee on Paralegals Directory of ABA approved Paralegal Education Programs is where to look.

Some work experience is usually beneficial for an intending paralegal student like you. Courses, depending on the type of institution, can run for between 2 (for community and junior colleges) to 4 years in a University. Aside from the general requirements above, the ABA Standing Committee Directory listing carry varying standard requirements for different instructions in terms of duration of course, course content and admission requirements.

Therefore, you should consider the factors favourable to you while choosing any particular school or institution.

More than 1000 institutions are offering Paralegal degree and certificate programs in the United States of America, but the ABA approved Paralegal institutions can be found at the ABA standing committee Directory of Paralegal schools.ABA approval for Paralegal schools or instructions is not mandatory by law so it is not a measure of the quality of or reputability of an institution that it is ABA approved, yet institutions have found it necessary to get ABA approval by meeting the ABA requirement in order to, I suppose, bluster their image. My advise is that you should go for ABA approved institutions for your paralegal studies.

Online institutions like their offline counterparts are of different categories and as such offer different qualities of course content programs. You should as a matter of fact take a critical look at the institution offering the Paralegal Degree Online program you chose. Carry out your investigation with the information below to ensure that such institution is an ABA approved paralegal degree online program.

INSIGHT INTO ABA ONLINE PARALEGAL DEGREE PROGRAMS

Paralegal degree programs prepares you for employment as a paralegal or legal assistant in a private law office and even both the public and the private sectors such as banking, insurance, real estate etc. Care must, however, be taken to ensure that a chosen school or online paralegal degree program is approved by the American Bar Association in conjunction with the institution being an institutional member of the American Association for Paralegal education (AAFPE) and other relevant regulatory bodies for Paralegal studies.

Concluding Part II will be on this same category soon.

Neshah, a retired paralegal, writes for your success - get free paralegal information and resources at http://online-paralegal-degree.fateback.com