Certified Paralegal: The Law’s Production Crew

2007-03-08 10:33:40

( Education )



THE LEGAL ASSISTANT

A certified paralegal acts is more than just a lawyer’s assistant. He is a certified professional and a necessary element in the legal system. In any legal presentation, lawyers are at the front and center, while paralegals work furiously on the background.

A certified paralegal can perform all the legal functions of an attorney short of giving legal advice and representing clients in court. Of course a certified paralegal cannot collect legal fees. The certified paralegal is an integral part of the legal system by providing a system of support services to the otherwise swamped work of an attorney.

Subject to the consent and supervision of an attorney, you can dispense of the following duties as a certified paralegal: conduct investigations and research, locate and interview witnesses, write legal documents, transcribe testimonies and depositions, be present as witnesses in executions of wills and settlements. Your duties are not limited to the above mentioned ones. As a certified paralegal, you can also perform other legal functions as long as you are acting with full sanction of your law firm.

PARALEGAL EDUCATION

While the best paralegal schooling is in a law firm, where you can learn through experience, there are many schools offering formal education so you can become a certified paralegal. There are even paralegal schools offering online paralegal classes if you are too busy to attend normal schooling. Of course, while education and theory is useful, the best training in this case is still hands-on experience. After all, your job as a certified paralegal has nuances that cannot be taught inside the classroom.

Aside from becoming a lawyer’s assistant, what are other career options for a certified paralegal? As a certified paralegal, you are not limited to the corporate and litigation aspects of law. You can find gainful employment in insurance companies, banks, social welfare groups, schools, etc. Your career options are limited only by your interest.


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