Introduction to Paralegal Studies

• Assignment 1: Avoiding Unauthorized Practice of Law

  Due Week 4 and worth 200 points

  It is widely known that utilizing paralegals is a frequent concern for practicing attorneys, especially when a paralegal’s actions may leave them performing tasks (e.g., advising on legal rights, negotiation or settlement, management of a law practice, etc.) which could result in the unauthorized practice of law.  Per the American Bar Association, one must possess a law license in order to perform such tasks.

  Write a five to six (5-6) page paper in which you:

1.    Determine three (3) most important characteristics of an effective paralegal. Justify your response.

2.    Develop at least three (3) general guidelines for conducting legal research that a new paralegal should follow on in order to ensure that the attorney for whom the paralegal works is referencing valid laws within his / her legal documents.

3.    Propose two (2) strategies that a paralegal could take in order to avoid the unauthorized practice of law. Provide a rationale to support your response. 

4.    Compare and contrast the key differences between the activities of paralegals versus those of attorneys in preparing a case for trial.

5.    Use at least two (2) quality references. Note: Wikipedia and other Websites do not quality as academic resources.

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

·         Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.

·         Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

·         Analyze what paralegals do, the career choices available to paralegals, their role in the legal profession, and the need for continuing education and training. 

·         Examine the paralegal workplace, tasks, and functions of a paralegal and accounting procedures in the law office.

·         Use technology and information resources to research issues in paralegal studies.

·         Write clearly and concisely about paralegal studies using proper writing mechanics.