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The Paralegal Profession
- 1. Paralegal Regulation: Why require it? A look at the future of this profession
- 7. Paralegal Profession Poised for Growth Looking to the future
- 10. BOLD New Trends on the Horizon Paralegal Profession: One to Watch!
- 11. © 2011 Jenna M. Salacuse
Editor's Notes
- Currently, there is no standard regulation when it comes to paralegal educational background when hiring, only industry trends - which change often. This profession has evolved over the past 10-15 years from more administrative assistant type duties, to highly technical and intensive legal work. Paralegals by their very nature are researchers. Should they not know a fact, they should know how to obtain that fact. But while on the job training is almost always standard, the basic education provided in Paralegal Studies programs not uniform.
- Speaker: The inability to perform any of the above is at best the difference between winning or losing a case, or retaining a client... ...at worst, it opens both the attorney and the firm to an Office of Disciplinary Counsel inquiry or possibly a malpractice lawsuit.
- While private law firms will continue to be the largest employer among the profession, insurance companies, banks, and other corporate venue are expected to increase their hiring of Paralegal to perform duties in their in house legal departments in an attempt to decrease and or cut costs and increase the availability of legal services at affordable prices. Since Paralegal are now routinely performing tasks once done by lawyers, there is a growing concern among veterans of the profession of the lack or mandated certification or licensing. Enviably, the growth in this profession will produce an influx of educational programs offering certifications and degrees in Paralegal Studies.
- Regulate Education: As discussed, practically less than half of the current paralegal studies certifications are ABA approved. This will cause an influx of professionals with the paralegal title, but not all will have the same education Regulate job descriptio: The duties of a paralegal vary greatly from employer to employer, and as previously discussed, those duties are becoming more like that of an attorney. Therefore continued education of the ever changing law profession is increasingly important Regulate pay scal Currently the range of pay for Paralegal can be a $50,000 difference from the lest paid to the highest. It is the belief by those well into their paralegal careers that licensing and mandated certification would remedy all of the above Speaker: Unlike the profession of dental hygienists, nurses, or other medical professions, there is currently no such requirement for the paralegal profession. Currently only one state has drafted have a bill drafted before the house to regulate Paralegal by instilling their own state board of examination. National paralegal associations such as National Associations of Legal Assistants - Paralegal seek to increase the number of their members to voluntarily seek certifications such as Advanced Certified Paralegal, (ACP) or Certified Paralegal (CP) by undergoing a multi-step process that includes Continued Education as well as a written examination that is touted by some as a "mini bar examination" Currently, Delaware Paralegal Association offers a Delaware Certified Paralegal (DCP) credential by having an applicant meet a certain criteria that is applied for and submitted to the board. In conclusion, with the expected increase in paralegal programs, and with Paralegal taking on additional and more detailed legal work, the time for mandatory licensing may have arrived. By doing so, Paralegal and their employers can rest assured that those hired into the role of paralegal are fully qualified to perform their duties and are well versed in all aspects of the legal field, not to mention be held personally accountable for their own mistakes or indiscretions