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Written by Kristine Custodio Suero, ACP Many of us contemplate it but do not actually make the leap from paralegal to lawyer. Yet some of us make that transition to lawyer early in our careers and some make the decision after many years of practice as a paralegal. For those of us considering the law […]

Paralegals assist lawyers in the delivery of legal services. The career began to develop in the late 1960’s when law firms and individual practitioners sought ways to improve the efficient and cost-effective delivery of legal services. Utilization of paralegals in a law firm ultimately reduces the cost to the client and frees time for attorneys. […]

Employers establish the hiring standards for paralegals. Generally, a paralegal should meet certain minimum qualifications for employment, and for law firms to use in establishing billing rates. The following standards may be used to determine an individual’s qualifications: Successful completion of the Certified Paralegal certifying (CP) examination of the NALA; Graduation from an ABA approved […]

Paralegal education programs are offered in many formats and lengths. Generally, paralegals are graduates of two-year associate degree programs. Various kinds of public and private institutions offer paralegal education, including community colleges, four-year colleges and universities, business colleges, and proprietary institutions. The variety of institutions makes it possible for people with diverse backgrounds to enter […]

Working under the supervision of an attorney, the paralegal’s work product is merged with the attorney work product for a client. In communications with clients and the public, the paralegal’s non-lawyer status must be clear. Paralegals cannot give legal advice or perform any duty specifically reserved for licensed attorneys. Typical duties of a paralegal include, […]