Much of the work in a law firm can be done by paralegal assistants, also known as legal counsel or simply paralegals, who work with licensed lawyers. Often, a paralegal is trained in a narrow field and then entrusted to him. In this respect, paralegals are similar to paraprofessionals in other fields, such as engineering. Previously, paraprofessionals were trained in the office itself, but today it is common to study for a paraprofessional certificate or degree at a community college or university. Nglish: Canon 6 Spanish Language Paralegal Translation – A paralegal should strive to maintain integrity and a high level of competence through professional liability education and training, local rules and practices, as well as training in the substantive areas of law, in order to better support the legal profession in fulfilling its duty to provide legal services. Canon 9 – A paralegal must do all other incidental, necessary or timely things for the fulfillment of ethics and responsibilities as defined by law or a court order. Canon 10 – The conduct of a paralegal is guided by the bar codes of professional responsibility and the rules of ethics. Every NALA member is committed to following the canons of the NALA Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility. Violations of the Code may result in termination of membership. The Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility, first adopted by NALA members in May 1975, is the basis for the ethical practices of paralegals in the legal community. Definition: Paralegals, also known as paralegals, are a distinct group of people who assist lawyers in providing legal services.
Through formal education, training and experience, paralegals have knowledge and expertise in the legal system and substantive and procedural law that qualifies them to carry out an activity of a legal nature under the supervision of a lawyer. In 2001, NALA members also adopted the ABA definition of a paralegal/paralegal as follows: Canon 4 – A paralegal must apply discretion and professional judgment commensurate with his or her knowledge and experience, but cannot render an independent judgment in place of a lawyer. The services of a lawyer are essential in the public interest when such a court decision is required. Canon 1 – A paralegal cannot perform any of the functions that only lawyers can perform, nor can he take any action that lawyers are not allowed to take. A paralegal must strictly adhere to recognized standards of legal ethics and general principles of good conduct. The performance of the paralegal`s duties is governed by specific canons as defined herein, so that justice is done and the goals of the profession are achieved. (See Model Standards and Guidelines for the Use of Legal Assistants, section II.) This is one of the most important skills in the practice of law: building an effective work team to serve clients in the best possible way and make a profit. Paralegals can be a key part of this team, especially in promoting profitability. The information in this section is intended to help you effectively use paralegals in your practice.
Canon 2 – A paralegal may perform any task duly delegated and supervised by a lawyer, provided that the lawyer is ultimately responsible for the client, maintains a direct relationship with the client and assumes professional responsibility for the work product. These sample sentences are automatically selected from various online information sources to reflect the current use of the word “paralegal.” The opinions expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us your feedback. The canon of ethics described below is adopted by the National Association of Legal Assistants, Inc. as a general guide to assist paralegals and lawyers. The enumeration of these rules does not mean that there are not others of equal importance, although they are not explicitly mentioned. The rules of the Court, the rules of the agency and the statutes must be taken into account when interpreting the canons. Canon 3 – A paralegal may not: (a) engage in, promote or contribute to any act that may constitute an unauthorized exercise of law; and (b) establish relationships with clients, set fees, provide legal advice or advice, or represent a client before a court or body, unless that court or body has approved it; and (c) engage in any conduct or take any action that would assist or involve the attorney in the event of a breach of professional ethics or give the appearance of professional incompetence. Canon 7 – A paralegal must protect a client`s trust and must not violate any rule or law now or later adopted to control the doctrine of privileged communication between a client and a lawyer. Canon 5 – A paralegal must disclose their paralegal status at the beginning of a professional relationship with a client, lawyer, court or administrative authority or its staff or member of the public. A paralegal should exercise caution when determining the extent to which a client can be supported without the presence of a lawyer.
“Paralegal”. Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paralegal. Accessed January 14, 2022. Canon 8 – A paralegal must disclose to his or her employer or potential employer any pre-existing client or personal relationship that may conflict with the interests of the employer or potential employer and/or its clients.
