The paralegal profession has been one of the This chapter explores, paralegal careers by fastest growing professions of the 1980s and 1990s. examining the definitions of the term paralegal In fact, in its 1987 and 1989 surveys, the United and the emergence of the paralegal profession in States Department of Labor ranked the paralegal the United States. Next, this chapter focuses on profession as the fastest growing occupation in what paralegals do and who paralegals work for the United States. Even in times of economic ad- by examining paralegal employers, paralegal versity, the number of paralegals employed in specialties, and paralegal salaries and benefits. the United States continues to climb. For attorneys, This chapter next discusses strategies for a suc- paralegals represent a way to assist in providing cessful paralegal career, including beginning the affordable, quality legal services to clients. For job search, preparing a resume, preparing for an paralegals, the profession offers well-paid, inter- interview, and planning a career. esting work that many find rewarding. Paralegal Defined Paralegals may broadly be described as individu- ultimate direction and supervision of an attorney, als who perform legal services under the of specifically-delegated substantive legal work, supervision of an attorney, without practicing which work, for the most part, requires a sufficient law or giving legal advice. The terms paralegal knowledge of legal concepts that, absent such and legal assistant are usually interchangeable. assistant, the attorney would perform the task. The National Federation of Paralegal Associa- The National Association of Legal Assistants tions (NFPA) defines the term paralegal (or legal (NALA) also uses the term legal assistant. Note assistant) as: that the NALA definition (which follows) specifi [A] person, qualified through education, training cally states that legal assistants are qualified or work experience, to perform substantive legal through their formal education, training and ex- work that requires knowledge of legal concepts perience and that they do work of a legal nature and is customarily, but not exclusively, performed "under the supervision of an attorney." NALA by a lawyer. This person may be retained or em- defines legal assistants as a group of persons played by a lawyer, low office, governmental agency or other entity, or may be authorized by who assist attorneys in the delivery of legal serv- administrative, statutory, or court authority to per- ices. Through formal education, training, and form this work. experience legal assistants have knowledge and expertise regarding the legal system and The American Bar Association's Standing Com- substantive and procedural law which qualify mittee on Ethics and Responsibility prefers the them to do work of a legal nature under the term legal assistant, which it defines as follows: supervision of an attorney. A legal assistant is a person, qualified through Although by most definitions, paralegals are education, training, or work experience, who is those who assist attorneys and work under their employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, direction, under certain circumstances, freelance governmental agency, or other entity in a capacity or paralegals and legal technicians may work with- function which involves the performance, under the out attorney supervision in a limited manner. BALLENTINESBALLENTINESTALLENTRESBALLENTINESBALLETNES341 ESBALLENTINESBALLENTINE SBALLENTINE SBALLENTINESBALLENTINESBALLENTINESBALLENTINESBALLENTINES paralegal A person who, although not an attorney, performs many of the functions of an attorney under an attorney's supervision.INTRODUCTION The material in Chapters 2 through 8 will teach you basic legal research skills. This chapter is designed to provide you with an understanding of: " . . the American system of law, . our tripartite system of government, and . sources of law. The first portion of the chapter introduces you to basic terminology such as common law, civil law, and federalism. The second portion of the chapter discusses the roles of the three branches of government and the interplay among the three branches in lawmaking. The final portion of the chapter introduces you to the terms primary sources, secondary sources, and finding tools. This portion also provides you with a brief introduction to legal publishers. The information in this chapter may be a review for those of you who have com-_ pleted an introductory law course; for others, the chapter may contain new information. - 81 3: The chapter provides you with basic information needed to better understand subsequent chapters, concerning legal research; thus, the chapter describes a framework into which common law you can fit the pieces of the legal research puzzle. You may find yourself referring to this `1. Either all case law or the `case law that is made by chapter as you learn to perform legal research. You will be amazed at how much better you judges in the absence of understand the material in this chapter after you have covered subsequent chapters. statutes. 2. The legal system that ". originated in England and THE AMERICAN SYSTEM OF LAW is. composed.of case law and statutes that grow and change, influenced by OUR COMMON LAW HERITAGE ever-changing custom and tradition. Common law is the system of law developed in England and transferred to most of the English-speaking world. Many other countries are civil law jurisdictions. Louisiana is the civil law only state in the United States that is a civil law jurisdiction. Because of the state's French 1. Law handed down by the Romans., Law that is based and Spanish heritage, Louisiana's civil code is based on the French Code Napolean and the on one elaborate document or Spanish Fuero Real. Common law and civil law systems rely on different sources of law. "code," rather than a combi- A traditional common law system emphasizes case law or common law over leg- nation of many laws and judi- cial opinions islation. The other approach is the civil law system that traditionally emphasizes a . 2. "Noncriminal law."Posttrial Special skills that aid in a successful career as 1. Researching possible posttrial motions a litigation paralegal include interviewing skills, written and verbal communication skills, and 2. Drafting posttrial motions organizational and analytical skills for reviewing 3. Drafting notices of appeal and requests and organizing evidence and pleadings. Legal for transcripts research skills and computer proficiency are also 4. Assisting with research and writing of very important to litigation paralegals. appellate briefs Personal Injury (Plaintiff) Miscellaneous Personal injury is a branch of litigation that 1. Maintaining firm's calendaring system deals with actual injury to the person, typically 2. Organizing client files resulting from an automobile accident or some other injury stemming from the negligence of an- 3. Assisting with computerization of litigation other. Paralegals who work for plaintiff personal 4. Preparing documents associated with en- injury attorneys work with the attorneys to repre- forcing judgments sent individuals who have been injured. Because ANNUAL PARALEGAL SALARY BY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE 40 35 30 25 (in Thousands) Salaries 20 15 10