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As defined by the National Federation of Paralegal Associations, a Paralegal is a person, qualified through education, training or work experience to perform substantive legal work that requires knowledge of legal concepts and is customarily, but not exclusively, performed by a lawyer. This person may be retained or employed by a lawyer, law office, governmental agency or other entity or may be authorized by administrative, statutory or court authority to perform this work. Substantive shall mean work requiring recognition, evaluation, organization, analysis, and communication of relevant facts and legal concepts.

Also, please refer to the Department of Labor’s view of a paralegal at www.bls.gov/oco/ocos114.htm.

Paralegals work with attorneys who assume the professional responsibility for the final work product.  Paralegals also work in areas where “lay” individuals are authorized by statute, court authority, or regulation to assume certain law-related responsibilities.

Paralegals are employed by various organizations which include:  private law firms; banks; corporations; insurance agencies; legal clinics; courts; government agencies; accounting and engineering firms; title companies; construction companies and other entities where law-related work is performed.

NFPA’s recent Paralegal Compensation and Benefits Report indicated:

	25% of all paralegals have an associates degree.
	49% of all paralegals have a bachelor’s degree.
	8% of all paralegals have a masters or J.D. degree.
	83% of all paralegal received training as a part of, or in addition to college education.
	84% of all paralegals received some formal paralegal education from a two-year or four-year college or university.  (Proprietary schools generally award post-baccalaureate certificates.)

THE FUTURE OF THE PROFESSION

NFPA recognized the need to establish professional standards for the paralegal profession.  Therefore, in 1994, the membership voted to develop the Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam (PACE) to measure the proficiency level of experienced, practicing paralegals.  To take the exam, paralegals must have a combination of formal education and paralegal experience.  In addition, they must not have been convicted of a felony or had a license, registration, or certification revoked.  Individuals who successfully pass the exam are authorized to use the credential “PACE Registered Paralegal” or “RP”.  For complete details about this exam, visit www.paralegals.org and click on PACE.

[Source:  NFPA:  Paralegals Defining the Profession]

Memphis Paralegal Association
P.O. Box 3646
Memphis, TN 38173
info@memphisparalegalassociation.org