The Paralegal Profession Flashcards
What roles did non-lawyers historically perform for lawyers?
Preparing documents, interviewing witnesses, performing legal research
These tasks were primarily handled by legal secretaries and private investigators.
What terms were coined to describe individuals assisting lawyers?
Legal assistant and paralegal
These terms are interchangeable.
What is the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA)?
A professional association of paralegals focused on continuing legal education, certification programs, and improving paralegal quality
NALA has over 18,000 members across 90 associations.
How does NALA define legal assistants?
Distinguishable group who assist attorneys in delivering legal services with knowledge of the legal system
NALA emphasizes formal education, training, and experience.
What significant realization occurred during the 1970s and 1980s regarding paralegals?
Paralegals could handle many legal tasks previously performed only by lawyers.
When was the American Bar Association (ABA) founded?
August 21, 1878
What was the original purpose of the ABA?
Advancement of the science of jurisprudence, promotion of justice, and uniformity of legislation
Founded by 100 lawyers from 21 states.
How did the ABA describe a legal assistant in 1986?
A person qualified through education, training, or work experience performing delegated substantive legal work under an attorney’s supervision.
What change did the ABA make to the legal assistant definition in 1997?
Acknowledged paralegals as important members of the business and corporate community with formal legal education.
What is the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA)?
A professional organization of state and local paralegal associations with more than 50,000 members.
What do many state legislatures do regarding the paralegal role?
Enact statutes defining the paralegal role and its limitations.
What was the average paralegal salary reported by NALA in 2018?
$67,578.00
What factors can affect paralegal salary and job opportunities?
- Locality
- Population
- Statutes
- Court decisions
True or False: Larger metropolitan areas tend to have lower salaries for paralegals.
False
Fill in the blank: A personal profile for a paralegal includes information about your _______.
[qualifications, education, experience, and expectations]
What could smaller cities offer for paralegal opportunities despite having lower demand?
University or college cities generating more litigation or large businesses offering paralegal positions.
What is jurisprudence?
A system or body of law.
