About Being a Paralegal

Under the supervision of a lawyer, a paralegal may analyze legal issues; investigate and evaluate facts; prepare pleadings, contracts, forms, legal memoranda, and other documents; interview clients; assist in case management; and perform other duties to assist the lawyer in the delivery of legal services to clients.

Except as specifically authorized by the Supreme Court of Arizona, a person may not practice law within Arizona unless they have been admitted to the State Bar of Arizona.

Paralegals are employed by law firms, corporations, financial institutions, title companies, accounting firms, government agencies and other organizations. The kind of work performed varies tremendously depending on the type, size, and specialties of the employer.

In Arizona, a paralegal is a person qualified by education, training, or work experience who performs substantive legal work requiring knowledge of and expertise in legal concepts and procedures, who is supervised by an active member of the State Bar of Arizona, and for whom an active member of the state bar is responsible. Paralegals work for lawyers, government agencies, companies, or other legal entities. Paralegals cannot practice law, provide legal advice, or represent clients in court. The most common way to obtain the education and training needed to work as a paralegal in Arizona is to complete an ABA-approved paralegal program, such as the one at Phoenix College.

In Arizona, a legal document preparer (LDP) is a person that can work without an attorney's supervision to provide document preparation to individuals and entities who are representing themselves and are not represented by an attorney. Legal document preparers may provide general legal information but may not practice law, give legal advice, or represent clients in court. Part of the requirements for becoming an LDP include meeting specific education and experience requirements. One way to meet the education requirement for becoming an LDP is to graduate from an ABA-approved paralegal program, such as the one at Phoenix College. For more information on the requirements to become an LDP, refer to the Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 7-208.

In Arizona, a legal paraprofessional (LP) is a person that can work without an attorney's supervision to practice law, give legal advice, and represent clients in court on specific, limited matters. Part of the requirements to become an LP include meeting specific education and experience requirements. One way to meet the education requirement for becoming an LP is to graduate from an ABA-approved paralegal program, such as the one at Phoenix College, along with completing a three-credit course on the Rules of Evidence. For more information on the education and experience requirements to become an LP, refer to the Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 7-210.

The terms mean same thing. The title "paralegal" has traditionally enjoyed wider usage, however, the term "legal assistant" is also common.

Successful paralegals have strong reading, writing, and listening abilities, are disciplined workers, and are very attentive to detail. Computer knowledge is a necessity in most legal offices today. A general interest in law and the legal process is also important.

The U.S. Department of Labor projects that paralegal will continue to be one of the fastest growing occupations in the new millennium.

For centuries, all law-related work was performed by attorneys. However, as the amount of legal work has exploded in recent times, lawyers have had to become more efficient by using paralegals wherever possible. This process of transferring many legal tasks from attorneys to paralegals is expected to persist indefinitely, continuing to generate demand for qualified paralegals.

Some of the individuals currently working as paralegals began their careers in other fields and through on-the-job training learned the additional skills necessary to be a paralegal. Today, however, employers are often looking for paralegals who have graduated from college programs approved by the American Bar Association (ABA). Attending a paralegal program that is approved by the ABA and gaining experience through an internship program can help in launching a paralegal career.

The American Bar Association (ABA) approves those programs that meet its Guidelines for the Approval of Paralegal Education Programs. A paralegal program's curriculum, faculty, administration, academic resources, student services, and library facilities are evaluated as part of the ABA approval process.