A paralegal or legal assistant is an individual qualified through education, training or work experience, who is employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental agency or other entity and who performs specifically delegated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible. Paralegals must obtain a certificate of completion of a paralegal program approved by the American Bar Association, or a certificate of completion of a paralegal program at, or a degree from, a postsecondary institution. They must work under the supervision of attorneys and are not “document preparers” working directly with the public. A paralegal cannot contract with, or be employed by, a natural person other than an attorney to perform paralegal services.
Paralegals perform substantive legal work that would otherwise be done by attorneys. Clerical work is not substantive legal work. Paralegals must avoid the unauthorized practice of law. Generally, paralegals may not represent clients in court, take depositions, or sign pleadings. Some federal and state administrative agencies, however, do permit non-lawyer practice. Check with specific agency to determine whether non-lawyer practice is authorized. For more information on paralegals and legal assistants visit the National Association of Legal Assistants website.