The most prominent positions in the legal field are obvious -- lawyer and judge. But what about those who work behind the scenes to ensure that the lawyers are well-prepared for trial and that the evidence can hold up in court? Paralegals, also known as legal assistants, serve an important function in legal proceedings. Paralegals provide support to the lawyer by assisting with research and preparing important legal documents. While they do not provide legal services or advise clients, paralegals play a vital role in helping lawyers and other members of the legal team be more effective in court. What do paralegals do? Paralegals help lawyers prepare for hearings, trials, closings and meetings. Paralegals also help investigate the facts of a case and identify the laws, judicial decisions and legal articles that could be relevant to a particular case. In addition to preparatory work, paralegals draft important legal documents such as contracts, mortgages and separation agreements. Where do paralegals work?
These professionals will sit alongside solicitors and barristers within the legal sector – filling a gap, and a need, that is currently being underserved. Paralegals are already an important, if not very visible, section of the legal services industry – and this will only increase. Solicitors and barristers should recognise the opportunities this brings them and the sector as a whole and embrace Paralegals as one of the ways consumers can have access to legal advice and support. As part of this, it is important that Paralegals are robustly trained and qualified in order to build trust with consumers, and for the sector generally [2]. Currently, the lack of respect towards individuals who have qualified by alternative routes is not adding to the trust-building process nor the credibility of the profession…and it is indeed a 'profession'. Organisations such as NALP are offering robust, fit-for-purpose paralegal qualifications regulated by Ofqual [3]. Ofqual is the government body that accredits nationally recognised qualifications such as GCSEs and A Levels.
Paralegals on the defense side work with clients to investigate allegations and prepare responses. Discovery A majority of the Litigation Paralegal's time is spent during the discovery process of a case. Litigation Paralegals assist attorneys in preparing interrogatories and requests for other discovery. Paralegals on the defense side are responsible for locating people within the client organization to help develop responses to interrogatories. The Litigation Paralegal is also responsible for conducting factual research and gathering relevant information from a variety of resources, including libraries, newspapers, police and fire departments, and the media. Pre-Trial Litigation Paralegals play an extremely important role during the pre-trial process. This is where the Paralegal's communication and organization skills are the most valuable. The Litigation Paralegal is responsible for organizing and indexing exhibits, preparing trial binders, and managing important files. Litigation Paralegals also serve as a liaison between the trial team and third parties, including clients, witnesses, vendors, experts and courtroom personnel.
A Paralegal is a person qualified through education and training to perform substantive legal work that requires knowledge of the law and procedures but who is not a qualified solicitor, barrister or chartered legal executive. Paralegals may work for, or be retained by solicitors within the legal profession or they may work within a legal environment within commerce, industry or the public sector. Paralegals can now offer legal services directly to their own clients provided they have a Licence to Practise through NALP. Paralegals are the 'Fourth Arm of The Legal Profession' Within the legal profession, solicitors have always relied upon their unadmitted support staff and could not operate effectively without them. Paralegals are important members of the legal team, playing key roles in the legal process. The work that Paralegals undertake is quite often virtually indistinguishable from that undertaken by the Solicitors who employ them. However, Paralegals have, in recent years, taken on a new significance with the virtual eradication of Legal Aid, meaning that Consumers may be unable to afford the fees of solicitors.
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Call toll MISSOURI S LAWYER DISCIPLINE SYSTEM MISSOURI S LAWYER DISCIPLINE SYSTEM Discipline System Clients have a right to expect a high level of professional service from their lawyer. In Missouri, lawyers follow a code of ethics known as the Rules BPO.
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