NCJ Number
13270
Date Published
1974
Length
16 pages
Annotation
REPORT ON EXISTING AND PROSPECTIVE USE OF SKILLED, TRAINED, LAY ASSISTANTS WHO WORK WITH LAWYERS IN LEGAL-RELATED JOB CAPACITIES IN GOVERNMENT AND NON-GOVERNMENT ENTERPRISES.
Abstract
ONE SOLUTION TO THE CURRENT SHORTAGE IN THE AVAILABILITY OF LEGAL SERVICES IS THE INCREASED USE OF PARAPROFESSIONALS. THE LEGAL PARAPROFESSIONAL IS A SKILLED, TRAINED, LAY ASSISTANT WHO WORKS WITH A LAWYER IN A LEGAL-RELATED CAPACITY. PARALEGALS CAN BE DIVIDED INTO TWO CATEGORIES. FIRST THERE ARE THOSE WHOSE WORK SERVES TO MAKE MORE EFFICIENT USE OF ALREADY EXISTING LEGAL SERVICES. THEIR TASKS INCLUDE INTERVIEWING CLIENTS, PREPARING ROUTINE CORRESPONDENCE, AND COMPILING REPORTS ON SUCH MATTERS AS JUROR LISTS AND SENTENCING RECOMMENDATIONS. THE SECOND CATEGORY OF PARALEGALS CONSISTS OF THOSE WHO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL, SUPPLEMENTARY LEGAL SERVICES, SOMETIMES AT GREAT DISTANCES FROM THE SUPERVISING ATTORNEYS. THE USE OF PARALEGALS IN CORRECTIONAL SETTINGS IS AN EXAMPLE OF SUCH ADDITIONAL SERVICES. ALTHOUGH THE PRECISE NATURE OF THE FIELD IS STILL AMBIGUOUSLY DEFINED, MOST ATTORNEYS GENERAL'S OFFICES CAN ALREADY BE SAID TO EMPLOY PARALEGALS. ONE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE HAS ROUTINIZED THE FUNCTIONS OF TRAINED, SKILLED SECRETARIES TO THE POINT WHERE ATTORNEYS CAN OBTAIN CORRESPONDENCE AND COURT PAPERS FROM A VIRTUAL COOKBOOK. IN ANOTHER OFFICE, TWO PARALEGALS USE STANDARDIZED PROCEDURES TO HANDLE HABEAS CORPUS LITIGATION. ALTHOUGH THE PRESENT AMBIGUITY IN THE FIELD ALLOWS ENTRY IN VARIOUS WAYS, AUTHORITIES AGREE THAT SPECIALIZED TRAINING IS ESSENTIAL TO ATTAIN THE CAREER POTENTIAL OF PARALEGALS. THIS TRAINING CAN BE OBTAINED FROM A SPECIALIZED ACADEMIC CURRICULUM OR FROM IN-HOUSE, ON-THE-JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS. AN APPENDIX TO THIS REPORT PROVIDES AN AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION LIST OF ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS OFFERING LEGAL ASSISTANT PROGRAMS. (SNI ABSTRACT)