Florida Paralegal Information
Paralegals provide specialized support to attorneys by applying knowledge of their legal specialization. The Florida Bar offers a registered paralegal program that offers several benefits. In addition, several paralegal associations exist in Florida.
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History
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The paralegal profession was first recognized by the American Bar Association in 1969. The occupation arose due to the number of attorneys who needed assistance with their workloads. In addition, the rising cost of legal services ushered in the use of paralegals to alleviate the workload.
Misconceptions
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The terms legal assistant and paralegal have been used interchangeably, leading to confusion, according to the Florida Alliance of Paralegal Associations (FAPA). As a result, FAPA began the regulation of the paralegal profession in the state of Florida.
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Benefits
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Florida paralegals provide specialized support which alleviates the workloads of attorneys. Clients often review attorney billing closely and typically see no reason for an associate to perform administrative tasks. As a result, the economic benefits of the paralegal profession impact both the client and the attorney's practice.
Function
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Paralegals perform many of the same tasks as lawyers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, "they help draft contracts, mortgages, and separation agreements. They also may assist in preparing tax returns, establishing trust funds and planning estates."
Fun Fact
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Erin Brockovich, a litigation paralegal, met with Palm Beach Acreage residents in late 2009, according to a WPTV news report.
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References
- Photo Credit Legal Law Justice image by Stacey Alexander from Fotolia.com
