The paralegal profession continues to experience growth. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook, an 18% growth in the profession is projected between 2010 and 2020. Paralegals and legal assistants are an integral part of the legal system, assisting attorneys with a variety of substantive tasks. A legal assistant or paralegal is a person, qualified by education, training or work experience, who is employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental agency or other entity and who performs specifically delegated substantive legal work.
The typical duties of a paralegal or legal assistant are incredibly wide-ranging and varied. You are expected to perform all the legal work that does not require a lawyer sometimes, this means performing this legal work for several lawyers and a fair amount of the office tasks. There are also model rules and ethical codes to be followed.
The Legal Assistant's Complete Desk Reference, 2015 Edition
explores these myriad responsibilities and types of paperwork in six easy-to-use sections and additional material:
Introduction
Part I: A Day in The Life Of A Legal Assistant
Part II: Court Systems and Procedures
Part III: Preparing Legal Instruments, Documents and Court Filings
Part IV: Legal Research and Writing
Part V: Trial Preparation
Part VI: Areas of Practice
Appendix A: State-By-State Resource
Appendix B: Glossary of Common Legal Terms
This is a complete guide to the rules and regulations guiding paralegals and legal assistants, as well as the many different types of forms they are responsible for each day. This comprehensive handbook also explores the career opportunities open to paralegals and legal assistants, as well as some common areas of legal practice and what they entail.
With a CD of writable sample forms and letters, a state-by-state resource guide, a glossary of common legal terms, and a thorough index, this is the guide you need to efficiently complete all your many duties. This updated edition contains new forms and additional samples.