A paralegal must adhere strictly to the accepted standards of legal ethics and to the general principles of proper conduct. The performance of the duties of the paralegal shall be governed by specific canons as defined so that justice will be served and goals of the profession attained.

The canons of ethics set forth hereafter are adopted by the National Association of Legal Assistants, Inc., as a general guide intended to aid paralegals and attorneys. The enumeration of these rules does not mean there are not others of equal importance although not specifically mentioned. Court rules, agency rules and statutes must be taken into consideration when interpreting the canons.

Definition: Legal assistants, also known as paralegals, are a distinguishable group of persons who assist attorneys in the delivery of legal services. Through formal education, training and experience, legal assistants have knowledge and expertise regarding the legal system and substantive and procedural law which qualify them to do work of a legal nature under the supervision of an attorney.

Legal Work Can Often Be Overwhelming

With an abundance of tasks to complete, it is common for lawyers to hire a legal assistant, who is normally referred to as a paralegal. With the continuous rise of lawyers practicing around the globe, it is certainly no surprise that the career of a paralegal is opening doors for many.

YOU CANNOT DICTATE LEGAL FEES or GIVE LEGAL ADVICE

While paralegals are a huge help for any law firm, they cannot dictate legal fees, give advice, or present cases in court. Ultimately, this is a lawyer's position. Nevertheless, paralegals are extremely influential when it comes to the preparation of a case. Known for preparing trials, assisting with hearings, and identifying appropriate laws for a specific case, the workload is generally overpowering. Moreover, they may even be responsible for drafting contracts and developing an overall strategy.

Corporations Use Paralegals

Surprisingly, almost every type of company employs at least one paralegal. Due to the fact that there are always legal limitations, it is important for a corporation to know where they stand. From employee benefits to personal injury, corporate law, labor law, bankruptcy, and many other issues - the majority of people are often lost when it comes to these topics.

Fortunately paralegals can help shed light on what is clearly going on. For this reason, a paralegal must absolutely know the ins and outs of law, regardless of how long they have been working in the field. In addition to comprehension, paralegals must also have experience with computers. In today's technological age, many have to work with computer software that will easily allow them to organize their materials. While this sounds like a hassle, many find that it actually reduces their work load.