What is a Paralegal?
State of California Business and Professions Code Section 6450 defines "Paralegal" as a person who holds himself or herself out to be a Paralegal, who is qualified by education, training, or work experience, who either contracts with or is employed by an attorney, law firm, corporation, governmental agency, or other entity, and who performs substantial legal work under the direction and supervision of an active member of the State Bar of California, as defined in Section 6060 of the Business and Professions Code, or an attorney practicing law in the federal courts of this state, that has been specifically delegated by the attorney to him or her.
What does a Paralegal do?
As reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition, Paralegals and Legal Assistants, Paralegals perform a multitude of duties and tasks, depending upon their worksite and work environment. While lawyers assume ultimate responsibility for legal work, they often delegate many of their tasks to Paralegals. In fact, Paralegals—also called legal assistants—are continuing to assume a growing range of tasks in legal offices.
One of a Paralegal's most important tasks is helping lawyers prepare for closings, hearings, trials, and corporate meetings. Paralegals might investigate the facts of cases and ensure that all relevant information is considered. Paralegals may also help prepare the legal arguments, draft pleadings and motions to be filed with the court, obtain affidavits, and assist attorneys during trials. Paralegals also organize and track files of all important case documents and make them available and easily accessible to attorneys.
In addition to this preparatory work, Paralegals perform a number of other functions. For example, they help draft contracts, mortgages, and separation agreements. They also may assist in preparing tax returns, establishing trust funds, and planning estates. Some Paralegals coordinate the activities of other law office employees and maintain financial office records. Corporate Paralegals often assists attorneys with employee contracts, shareholder agreements, stock-option plans, employee benefit plans, maintain corporate minutes’ record resolutions, and prepare forms to secure loans for the corporation.
Generally, as defined by State of California Business and Professions Code Section 6450, tasks performed by a Paralegal are inclusive of, but are not limited to, case planning, development, and management; legal research; interviewing clients; fact gathering and retrieving information; drafting and analyzing legal documents; collecting, compiling, and utilizing technical information to make an independent decision and recommendation to the supervising attorney; and representing clients before a state or federal administrative agency if that representation is permitted by statute, court rule, or administrative rule or regulation.
Paralegal Job Outlook
As reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition, Paralegals and Legal Assistants, the job outlook, employment demand, and job prospects, for Paralegals is excellent. In fact, despite projected rapid employment growth, competition for jobs is expected to continue as many people seek to go into this profession. Employment of Paralegals is projected to grow 22% between 2006 and 2016, much faster than the average for all occupations. The U.S. Department of Labor notes that employers are trying to reduce costs and increase the availability and efficiency of legal services by hiring Paralegals to perform tasks once done by lawyers. Furthermore, Paralegals are performing a wider variety of duties, making them more useful to businesses.
Job Prospects & Future Employment
The U.S. Department of Labor reports that Paralegals held about 238,000 jobs in 2006. Private law firms employed 7 out of 10 Paralegals; most of the remainder worked for corporate legal departments and various levels of government. Within the Federal Government, the U.S. Department of Justice is the largest employer, followed by the Social Security Administration and the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Private law firms will continue to be the largest employers of Paralegals, but a growing array of other organizations, such as corporate legal departments, insurance companies, real estate and title insurance firms, community organizations, and banks also hire Paralegals. Community legal service programs, which provide assistance to the poor, elderly, minorities, and middle-income families, will employ additional Paralegals to minimize expenses and serve the most people. Job opportunities also are expected in Federal, State, and local government agencies, consumer organizations, and the courts.
As can be seen, Paralegals are found in all types of organizations, but most are employed by law firms, corporate legal departments, and various government offices. In these organizations, they can work in many different areas of the law, including litigation, personal injury, corporate law, criminal law, employee benefits, intellectual property, labor law, bankruptcy, immigration, family law, and real estate. As the law becomes more complex, Paralegals become more specialized. For example, Paralegals specializing in labor law may concentrate exclusively on employee benefits; while Paralegals specializing in family law may concentrate on divorce, separation and temporary restraining measures.
Paralegal Job Earnings
The U.S. Department of Labor reports that in May 2006, full-time wage-and-salary Paralegals and legal assistants had median annual earnings, including bonuses, of $43,040. The middle 50 percent earned between $33,920 and $54,690. The top 10 percent earned more than $67,540. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of Paralegals included: Federal Government ($56,080); Management of companies and enterprises ($52,220); Local government ($42,170); Legal services ($41,460) and State government ($38,020). Because of their important role in organizations, Paralegals often also receive vacation, paid sick leave, a 401 savings plan, life insurance, personal paid time off, dental insurance, and reimbursement for continuing legal education.
Similar information has been accumulated and reported through the historical trends provided by the National Federation of Paralegal Associations, Inc. in their 2006 Compensation & Benefits Study Report. The Report revealed that over a 13-year period through 2006, gross salaries climbed 61% ! The average current salary reported was just over $50,000, with one-fourth reporting a salary at or above $60,000.
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