What types of legal services does a Paralegal provide?
Wednesday, September 30th, 2009 at
3:11 pm
What are their limitations? If I just wanted to find out if I have a legitimate case for litigation, could a paralegal tell me? Do I just get out the Yellow Pages to find one? Do they have specialties?
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A paralegal cannot give you legal advice, that includes reviewing your case facts and applying them to applicable laws/cases…that would be the unauthorized practice of law. Paralegals conduct inital client interviews, but all they do is take down facts and information. They assist attorneys in researching good law, they write briefs, draft memos and pleadings, track cases, help with discovery and trial preparation.
You need an attorney, you know, a lawyer. Someone that spent 3 years in law school and passed the state bar…someone knowledgeable and trained for things just like this.
GENERAL
* Conduct interviews w/clients to gather background info. * Correspond w/clients, counsel, & others on factual matters. * Inform client periodically of case/matter status. * Draft pleadings & documents. * Organize & maintain forms & client files. * Index or summarize documents or transcripts. * Assemble & analyze records from courts or agencies relevant to a case or client. * Prepare clients for court hearings. * Assist in administering law library. * Review legal periodicals & material relevant to a specialty area of law. * Maintain current binders of court rules. * Maintain calendar or tickler system. * Administer paralegal program. * Research law, including procedural, administrative, or case law. * Keep track of & report any pending legislation that may affect clients.
Paralegal provide assisstance to lawyers and their clinets like research, cliebt interview, investiagting facts and praparing files and indexes.
They work at the back office of the lawyers and attorney but cannot engange themselves into practice of law.
You can’t go to a paralegal, but you can most likely find a law firm in your area that offers free consultations, so it won’t cost you anything to see if you have a case or not.