The word paralegal is a generic term that comes from the Latin word para, which means "to cover." In broader terms, a paralegal covers for a lawyer. There would be many reasons why somebody would consider working as a paralegal. Perhaps he or she wants to be a lawyer, but isn't ready to take the plunge. In any case, there is no better way to get a peek at what a lawyer's lifestyle is really like. Depending on the employer, paralegals may get to participate in more glamorous tasks such as interviewing witnesses and drafting legal documents. Paralegals may help a single attorney or more than one.
What is the Difference Between a Lawyer and a Paralegal?
In virtually every organization that has a legal department, paralegals have many of the same skills as attorneys. Both of these individuals have specialized knowledge of contracts, wills, court proceedings, rules of evidence and so on. However, there are a few activities that a paralegal is not allowed to perform. Paralegals are not licensed to practice law; thus, they can't provide legal advice, present a case in court or charge any legal fees. Paralegals must make it clear they are not permitted to accept cases when meeting clients.
Another important difference is that lawyers are regulated, and paralegals are not. If a lawyer is found to have acted improperly, he or she can be disciplined, fined, suspended or even disbarred. Clients have a good chance of being compensated if an attorney has been dishonest. On the other hand, taking a paralegal to court can be an expensive and confusing process.
The Nature of Paralegal Work
The specific duties of paralegals will depend on the area in which they want to specialize. Corporate paralegals often help attorneys with employee contracts, shareholder agreements and employee benefit plans. They will monitor and review government regulations to make sure a company is operating within the bounds of the law. Experienced corporate paralegals can assume additional supervisory responsibilities or be in charge of a team project.
The job of litigation paralegals tends to be more research oriented. They maintain reference files, uncover all facts of a case before trial and obtain affidavits. After the fact-gathering stage a paralegal will prepare reports for use by the supervising attorney in deciding how a case should be litigated. In whatever organization a paralegal may be in, it's a job that requires hard work with lots of attention to detail and a high tolerance for stress. This is because paralegals frequently communicate with clients in difficult and emotionally charged situations, such as divorce, probate or custodial hearings.
Qualifications Needed to Find a Paralegal Job
There are many educational options available for aspiring paralegals. There is no definitive avenue that somebody would be required to take. A two year associate's degree in a paralegal studies program can be acquired through a community college or over a period of four years at a university. The final two years of a university program would allow a student to take more advanced courses, with emphasis in several areas of legal specialization. At the very least, larger law firms would require an associate's degree.
Some programs offer certification upon graduation, and in some cases that would be enough to get hired by a small, private practice. Certification courses would teach the basics of research, the judicial process, legal ethics and other important skills. Law firms tend to favor job seekers who have graduated from a paralegal program that has been approved by the American Bar Association. This will make a degree more attractive to potential employers.
Somebody who is interested in every facet of the law but doesn't want to spend considerable time and money by going to law school could do well as a paralegal. These assistants work in both the public and private sectors. Before making a decision to pursue a career as a paralegal it would be helpful to know exactly what kind of position is desired in the field, in order to focus the education and certification needs.
References:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupation Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition, Paralegals and Legal Assistants.
Attorney, Lawyer and Film Law Directory
Paralegal Duties and Skills
Scott Hayden - Since joining Suite101 in early 2007, I've contributed articles about travel, history and health. My speciality is writing about workplace ...
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