PLG 100 Ch 1

To maintain the CLA designation, a paralegal must complete how many hours of continuing legal education every five years?

50 hours

How does the American Bar Association define the term "paralegal"?

A legal assistant or paralegal is a person qualified by 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.

How can a paralegal demonstrate the qualification for employment as a paralegal?

A paralegal can demonstrate their qualifications for employment through the preparation of their resume which lists their educational and academic achievements as well as their work experiences. Also, important to establishing qualifications is how they conduct themselves during the interview, including how they responds to questions and the questions they asks of the interviewer. Finally, the paralegal who maintains a portfolio of work demonstrates their skills and is prepared to share those documents with a potential employer at the interview will effectively display their skills.

What advantages might a person have in entering the paralegal profession later in life?

A person entering the paralegal profession later in life has several advantages. First, they have job experience which, combined with a paralegal education, may yield a highly desirable paralegal. (nurse paralegal, engineer combined with paralegal might work well in a construction litigation law firm). Second, they may be more certain of their preferences thus being more certain of their career path. Third, they have established some of the employment skills such as commitment, resourcefulness, etc. in their prior position.

Who established the qualifications of a paralegal

American Bar Association's Standing Committee on Paralegals American Association for Paralegal Education.

What is a CLA

Certified Legal Assistant

What skills are required to be a paralegal and why are they important?

Common to all paralegals are certain professional skills, aka soft skills, including communication skills, team working, leadership, self-motivation, analytical skills, and interpersonal skills including cultural sensitivity.

What are the "soft skills" paralegals need

Communication skills Initiative Ressourcefulness Problem sloving skills Commitment Teamwork Leadership Self-motivation

Paralegals can work in the following settings:

Corporations. Government agencies. Law firms.

True or False: Paralegal can never appear and represent clients during hearings.

FALSE

What organization adopted the definition of a paralegal or legal assistant in 1997?

National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA)

How can one satisfy the court that he or she is qualified as a paralegal and not as a legal secretary?

One way of satisfying the court is simply by performing substantive legal work demonstrating the knowledge, training and skills of the paralegal.

The designation "RP" may be used by those who have successfully taken the:

PACE exam.

What is PACE

Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam

What is the role of the paralegal in the legal system?

Paralegal is a member of the legal services delivery team. Their primary function is to assist attorneys in preparing for hearings, trials, meetings, and real estate closings. Paralegals help draft documents, assist in the preparation of other documents and forms and coordinate the activities and functions required in some cases, and maintain the financial records of the firm.

Why should those planning to become paralegals or legal assistants get a well-rounded education and develop the necessary skills?

Paralegals and legal assistants have assumed many responsibilities formerly handled by lawyers. Working with complex legal issues requires that a paralegal/legal assistant possess clear writing, researching, and critical thinking abilities. Employers want to know that those who they hire as paralegals are qualified for those positions.

What are the minimum qualifications that a paralegal should meet?

Regulations and qualifications lack uniformity, either by state or court rules. ABA Standing Committee Guidelines require that instruction be at post-secondary level and contain at least 60 semester hours including general educational and legal specialty courses. Of these 60 hours, 18 must be general education courses and at least 18 must be legal specialty courses.

True or False: A paralegal may appear and represent a client's interest at Social Security Disability hearing.

TRUE

True or False: The growth outlook for legal services is projected to increase.

TRUE

Why are good English writing and speaking skills important for the paralegal?

The legal profession is entirely dependent on the written and spoken word. For the paralegal, the ability to perform essential functions of interviewing clients and witnesses and preparing documents and pleadings require good English speaking and writing skills. Also, in many cases the only contact we have is through the written word or telephone conversations, thus, the quality of speech and written word can enhance or detract from the reputation of the paralegal and the law firm.

What is the advantage to the paralegal in obtaining the PACE or the CLA designation?

The paralegal who obtains the PACE or CLA designation has the advantage of establishing his or her abilities, education and training simply by use of the designation following his or her name. The PACE or CLA designation tells the world that the paralegal meets the high professional, educational and ethical standards set by the professional association.

Functions of a paralegal

To assist attorneys in preparing for hearings, trials, and closings

Reasons for regulating the practice of law

To protect the public from incompetent and unscrupulous practitioners.

What are analytical skills

following a step by step process to solve a problem