Paralegal Position Description
Paralegals are qualified to perform "substantive legal work" that is usually, but does not have to be, performed by an attorney, according to the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA). NFPA defines substantive as "requiring recognition, evaluation, organization, analysis and communication of relevant facts and legal concepts." The tasks paralegals perform are varied and can range from client interviews to legal research.
Other People Are Reading
-
Education
-
Those seeking to be a paralegal can obtain an associate degree or a bachelor's degree in paralegal studies; a few institutions even offer master's degrees, according to the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA). If you have an associate or bachelor's degree in a different field, you can become a paralegal by obtaining a paralegal certificate. Your paralegal program will likely include courses that address the legal system, the court system and legal research. You may also take one or more courses on specific areas of the law, including family law, corporate law, bankruptcy, real estate or litigation.
Certification
-
NFPA offers a certification exam for paralegals who meet one of several requirements, including four years of substantive paralegal experience prior to December 31, 2000. If a paralegal does not have this experience, she must have some paralegal education to take the exam. NALA also offers certification. Most education-related requirements for certification from both NFPA and NALA include education from an accredited institution or a program approved by the American Bar Association (ABA). Certification is not required to work as a paralegal, but consider obtaining your education from an accredited school or ABA-approved program as it may provide credibility and validity to your education when job seeking.
-
Skills and Personality
-
Maintaining a positive attitude during stressful situations is an essential personality trait for paralegals. Paralegals may also need to juggle numerous tasks at once, so good prioritizing and organizing skills can help them get their projects done in a timely and satisfactory fashion. Assertiveness and initiative can also be important qualities for a paralegal; if you work with attorneys in a traditional law firm setting, you may need to suggest tasks you can complete or ask for work. Analytical and computer skills, especially with word processing, spreadsheets, presentations and graphics, can also be helpful.
Job Types
-
Paralegals work in federal or state government, nonprofit organizations, administrative agencies, corporations, medical facilities, banks, insurance companies and, of course, law firms. Some paralegals also run their own businesses as freelance or contract paralegals. According to NALA's 2008 National Utilization and Compensation Survey Report, nearly two-thirds of the paralegals responding to the survey worked in private law firms in a variety of areas including corporate, probate, family and bankruptcy law as well as litigation.
Ethics
-
NFPA, NALA and ABA each have similar definitions and ethical rules or guidelines regarding what paralegals are allowed to do. NFPA's Model Code of Ethics lists several guidelines or goals regarding paralegal behavior, including gaining competency as a paralegal, participating in continuing legal education, and completing assignments efficiently and in a timely way. It also explains general ethical duties regarding billing practices, confidentiality, conflict of interest and the unauthorized practice of law. It states paralegals cannot give legal advice; accept clients; negotiate or accept fees; sign legal documents; or represent clients in court except where authorized by law, rule or regulation.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit your next position image by Keith Frith from Fotolia.com
