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2 pages/β‰ˆ550 words
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Check Instructions
Style:
APA
Subject:
Law
Type:
Research Paper
Language:
English (U.S.)
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Topic:

Defining Paralegal and Differentiating Its Meaning

Research Paper Instructions:

Using the Internet, library resources, or tab #1 in the Justice Studies Guide, research the definition of "paralegal" as used by the following four organizations (1) ABA, (2) NALA, (3) NFPA, and (4) AAfPE. Compare and contrast these definitions. Answer the following questions:
1. How are the definitions of "paralegal" similar?
2. How are they different?
3. Can you come up with a better, or different, definition?
4. Would you rather be a "paralegal" or a "legal assistant"? Do you prefer one title over the other? Does one sound more "professional" than the other?
Research whether your state has any regulations regarding entry into or participation in the paralegal profession. A good place to start your research is to see if your state has any paralegal associations.
5. Does your state have any regulations?
6. If so, what are these regulations?
Research the local (Miami, Florida) newspapers in your area to see what employment opportunities are available. See the classified advertisements section for paralegal positions. In particular, if your area has a legal newspaper or journal, review its classified advertisements for employment opportunities. Are you a LinkedIn member? Within LinkedIn there are also postings for paralegal positions.
7. What are the skills that employers are looking for in a paralegal?
Look at one of the companies that are looking for a paralegal.
8. What specialty areas are practiced at this company or law firm?
Requirements:
must be at least two pages.
must answer all eight questions.
must be Bluebook citation format, a sample of bluebook format is attached

Research Paper Sample Content Preview:

Paralegals
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation
Paralegals
How are the definitions of "paralegal" similar? 
A paralegal is an individual who is qualified by education, training, or work experience and is employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental agency, or other entity. Paralegals execute duties specifically assigned and for which a lawyer is responsible. This definition is held by ABA since 1997 and NALA since 2001. NFPA also defines the word like NALA and ABA, NFPA and AAfPE also recognize the fact that paralegals perform substantive and procedural functions as authorized by law, they also insist on the extensive knowledge and experience in legal matters as a requirement for a paralegal to function in their capacity effectively. 
1 How are they different?
The difference in definition includes the fact that NFPA specifies that the duties performed by a paralegal are not exclusively but customarily performed by a lawyer. Also, AAfPE specifies that the work of paralegals is as stipulated in the law and that their tasks could be performed by an attorney in their absence. The AAfPE emphasizes that paralegals have to adhere to a professional and recognized standard form of procedures and rules. 
 
 3. Can you come up with a better, or different, definition?
To better explain who a paralegal is, or what they do, I could define a paralegal as an individual who is well versant with the law and the court proceedings but is not fully qualified to practice as a lawyer, they work under the guidance of a lawyer, as auxiliary legal assistants and do the bulk work for lawyers who are then given the capacity and environment to serve their clients effectively by outsourcing most of the bulk duties to paralegals under them. 
 
 4. Would you rather be a "paralegal" or a "legal assistant"? Do you prefer one title over the other? Does one sound more "professional" than the other? 
I prefer to be a paralegal or to be referred to as one as I feel that they are more involved with more professional work as opposed to being referred to as legal assistants, whom I feel are more of just secretaries who are just handing clerical work and no...
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