SO WHAT IS ASO WHAT IS A

PARALEGAL?PARALEGAL?

Debbie Boyd, Charlton Troutner, and Ceney Brenes

PARALEGALSPARALEGALS INVESTIGATE FACTS OF CASESINVESTIGATE FACTS OF CASES INTERVIEW CLIENTSINTERVIEW CLIENTS RESEARCH LAWS AND PAST LEGAL RESEARCH LAWS AND PAST LEGAL

CASESCASES REVIEW JUDICIAL DECISIONS AND LEGAL REVIEW JUDICIAL DECISIONS AND LEGAL

ARTICLESARTICLES ANALYZE AND ORGANIZE INFORMATION ANALYZE AND ORGANIZE INFORMATION PREPARE WRITTEN REPORTSPREPARE WRITTEN REPORTS PREPARE LEGAL DOCUMENTSPREPARE LEGAL DOCUMENTS DRAFT PLEADINGS AND MOTIONS DRAFT PLEADINGS AND MOTIONS OBTAIN AFFIDAVITS OBTAIN AFFIDAVITS ASSIST ATTORNEYS IN TRIALASSIST ATTORNEYS IN TRIAL

WHERE THERE’S A LAWWHERE THERE’S A LAW

THERE’S A THERE’S A PARALEGALPARALEGAL

TORTSTORTS

CONTRACTSCONTRACTS

PROPERTY LAWPROPERTY LAW

ESTATE LAWESTATE LAW

BUSINESS LAWBUSINESS LAW

EMPLOYMENT LAWEMPLOYMENT LAW

FAMILY LAWFAMILY LAW

CRIMINAL LAWCRIMINAL LAW

ENVIRONMENTAL LAWENVIRONMENTAL LAW

INTERNATIONAL LAWINTERNATIONAL LAW

There are so many new law practices There are so many new law practices everyday…laws will always exist and everyday…laws will always exist and

there will always be there will always be and a need for lawyers and and a need for lawyers and

paralegals. paralegals.

SO WHERE DO YOU FIND A SO WHERE DO YOU FIND A PARALEGAL?PARALEGAL?

COURT SYSTEMSCOURT SYSTEMS PRIVATE LAW FIRMSPRIVATE LAW FIRMS CORPORATE LEGAL CORPORATE LEGAL

DEPARTMENTS DEPARTMENTS INSURANCE COMPANIESINSURANCE COMPANIES REAL ESTATE AGENCIESREAL ESTATE AGENCIES TITLE/ ESCROW FIRMSTITLE/ ESCROW FIRMS BANKSBANKS

HEALTH CARE HEALTH CARE ORGANIZATIONSORGANIZATIONS

NON-PROFIT NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONSORGANIZATIONS

FEDERAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL GOVT. LOCAL GOVT. AGENCIESAGENCIES

CONSUMER CONSUMER ORGANIZATIONSORGANIZATIONS

DOES IT PAY TO PARALEGAL?DOES IT PAY TO PARALEGAL?

(U.S DEPT. OF LABOR STATISTICS) @//www.paralegals.org

EMPLOYMENT FOR PARALEGALS IS PROJECTED TO GROW MUCH FASTER THAN AVERAGE FOR ALL OCCUPATIONS THROUGH 2014.

IN MAY 2004, THE MIDDLE 50% EARNED BETWEEN $31,040 AND $49,950. IN ADDITION TO EARNING A SALARY, MANY PARALEGALS RECEIVED BONUSES.

Paralegal vs. Attorney at Paralegal vs. Attorney at LawLaw

Paralegals must always remember that as part of the legal profession they are required to maintain demanding ethical standards. The following three “keynotes” ( as stated in Intro to Law for Paralegals, 3rd ed. by Currier and Eimermann) are of special importance to paralegals.

#1 Paralegals are not attorneys and #1 Paralegals are not attorneys and therefore cannot give legal advice, therefore cannot give legal advice, sign court documents, or appear in sign court documents, or appear in

court on behalf of a client. court on behalf of a client. To do so is the unauthorized To do so is the unauthorized

practice of law, a crime in most practice of law, a crime in most states. states.

#2 Attorneys and their staff must #2 Attorneys and their staff must respect the confidentiality of the respect the confidentiality of the client-attorney relationship. You client-attorney relationship. You must treat anything you lmust treat anything you learn as a earn as a paralegal as confidential and not paralegal as confidential and not discuss it with anyone- even discuss it with anyone- even your spouse or other family your spouse or other family member.member.

#3 Clients expect their attorneys #3 Clients expect their attorneys and staff to be loyal to them. and staff to be loyal to them.

Therefore, if you change employers, Therefore, if you change employers, you must alert your new employer to you must alert your new employer to any cases with with which you were any cases with with which you were

involved while working for your involved while working for your former firm. Not to do so means former firm. Not to do so means

running the risk of creating a conflict running the risk of creating a conflict of interest for the firm. of interest for the firm.

The Truth, The Whole Truth, And Nothing But The Truth

Information used in this presentation and sources useful in obtaining more information on the Paralegal profession are as follows:

Introduction to Law for Paralegals by Currier and Eimermann

US Dept. of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics @ www.bls.gov

National Association of Legal Assistants, Inc. http:/www.nala.org

Standing Committee on Paralegals, American Bar Association, 321 North Clark St. Chicago Il 60610 http://www.abanet.org/legalservices/paralegals

National Federation of Paralegal Association, 2517 Eastlake Ave. East, Suite 200. Seatt;e. WA 98102 http://www.paralegals.org

American Association for Paralegal Education, 19 Mantua Rd., Mt. Royal, NJ 08061 http://www.asfpe.org

SO YOU WANT TO BE A SO YOU WANT TO BE A PARALEGAL? PARALEGAL?

SO YOU WANT TO HIRE A SO YOU WANT TO HIRE A PARALEGAL? PARALEGAL?

May the law lead you in May the law lead you in the right direction. the right direction.