What Is Paralegal Law?

A person who becomes a paralegal is one who does the background work on cases under the supervision and leadership of a lawyer. There are rules pertaining to the amount of education that a paralegal needs, what skills that they must possess, the importance of knowing what an "unauthorized practice of law" is and the ethics that a paralegal must live by. It is important that if you are going to embark on the journey to become a paralegal that you know what the paralegal laws are.

Education

While most states have no regulated amount of education for a paralegal, many employers prefer for their paralegals to have a Certificate in Paralegal Studies, an Associate's degree in Paralegal Studies or a Bachelor's degree in paralegal studies. Others may also require that you have membership in one of the associations that regulate paralegals through testing such as the National Association of Legal Assistants or through the National Federation of Paralegal Associations.

Skills

Paralegals need to have knowledge of the law and have strong communication skills, research skills and office skills. Paralegals assist the attorney by preparing legal documents, meeting and interviewing clients, researching precedents for cases, real estate transactions, and many other duties.

Unauthorized Practice of Law

Unlike a lawyer, paralegals do not practice law, and are not allowed to give any legal advice. While they can help fill out forms and they can search for pertinent information, they cannot advise the client on what routes to take in any case. The job of the paralegal is to assist the lawyer by doing all the administrative work and researching the information he needs to make his cases.

Ethics

Ethical behavior is important for any profession; for paralegals this is especially important. The privacy of clients is very important. Remembering not to give legal advice even if you know what recommendation the attorney will make is also very important. The rules of ethics for the paralegal should be learned and adhered to at all times. Remember that you are an important part of the attorney's office and unethical actions are not an option at any time.

Misconceptions

Another rule that is important for paralegals is when to use the titles of "registered" or "certified." In order to be considered either of these designations, you will need to join the National Association of Legal Assistants or the National Federation of Paralegal Associations. These designations are awarded to members of these associations after successfully taking and passing the examinations they offer. These designations may only be used by a professional paralegal who meets the requirements of the association.

References

• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Paralegals and Legal Assistants
• Journal of the DuPage County Bar Association: Unauthorized Practice of Law
• Washington State Bar Association: Legal Ethics and Paralegals: Your Responsibilities and What You Need to Know
• American Bar Association: What is a Certified Paralegal