NCJ Number
68618
Date Published
1980
Length
142 pages
Annotation
DESIGNED TO PROVIDE PRESENTLY AVAILABLE INFORMATION ABOUT PARALEGALS FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN A PARALEGAL CAREER, THE BOOK PROBES THE ADVANTAGES AND DRAWBACKS OF BECOMING A PARALEGAL.
Abstract
THE DISTINGUISHING FACTORS OF PARALEGAL POSITIONS ARE DESCRIBED, AND EXAMPLES OF PARALEGAL WORK ARE GIVEN. THE ACTIVITIES OF A FEW INDIVIDUAL PARALEGALS ARE DESCRIBED. THESE CAREFULY TRAINED ATTORNEYS' AIDES TAKE PRESSURE OFF THE LEGAL PROFESSION BY HANDLING ROUTINE PROBLEMS AND PERFORMING SPECIALIZED LEGWORK. THEY INTERVIEW CLIENTS, RESEARCH CASES, ACT AS COURIERS, LOCATE ESSENTIAL DOCUMENTS, REVIEW PRECEDENTS, AND CARRY OUT DOZENS OF SIMILARLY IMPORTANT CHORES. THE MOST RECENT STUDY OF THE SUBJECT OF PARALEGAL WORK IS 'LEGAL ASSISTANT EDUCATION AND UTILIZATION: A 1978 STATUS REPORT,' WHICH WAS CONDUCTED BY THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION. MOST OF THE 150 SCHOOLS EXAMINED IN THE STUDY USED A GENERALIZED APPROACH IN WHICH THEY ATTEMPTED TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR POSITIONS WHERE THEY WOULD BE EXPECTED TO PERFORM A VARIETY OF LEGAL TASKS. BUT PROGRAMS OF SHORT DURATION, PARTICULARY THOSE ACCEPTING PRIMARILY COLLEGE GRADUATES, TENDED TO GEAR THEIR PROGRAMS TOWARD TRAINING SPECIALISTS. A LIST OF 283 SCHOOLS WHICH PROVIDE PARALEGAL INSTRUCTION IS PROVIDED. FOUR CATEGORIES OF INFORMATION ARE GIVEN WITH EACH LISTING: ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS, DURATION OF COURSE, TUTITION, AND CERTIFICATE OR DEGREE OFFERED. SCHOOLS ARE LISTED BY STATES. THE JOB MARKET FOR PARALEGALS IS STEADILY GROWING. EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES WITH DATA ABOUT WAGES, ARE DESCRIBED FOR EACH STATE. FINALLY, A DIRECTORY OF 24 PARALEGAL ASSOCIATIONS, INCLUDING NATIONAL, STATE, AND LOCAL GROUPS, IS PROVIDED. A SUBJECT INDEX IS INCLUDED.