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7 Clearinghouse Rev. 463 (1973-1974)
Issue 8

handle is hein.journals/clear7 and id is 467 raw text is: VOLUME 7, DECEMBER 1973 NUMBER 8 A SHORT REVIEW OF THE PARALEGAL MOVEMENT by William R. Fry, Executive Director, National Paralegal Institute, Inc. I. Introduction The National Paralegal Institute has received many requests for information about the nature of the paralegal movement, the forces at work in it, the job market for paralegals, and the future of the occupation. Although the entire subject has been studied and reported in various quarters, we believe a short summary may be useful for general information. II. Definition of a Paralegal There is no authoritative definition, but those in the field including paralegals themselves tend to use the term in a certain way. It is generally conceded that a paralegal must be specifically trained, whether on the job or in a formal training program. It is also conceded that paralegals work under the indirect or direct supervision of attorneys on the kinds of problems attorneys have traditionally handled. The concept excludes some fairly well defined supportive roles in the lawyering process: secretarial, clerical, librarian, social worker, community aid, and office administrator. The paralegal should be trained in basic legal concepts, skills appropriate for his work, and one or more specialties. What paralegals do with this training will vary, as the following picture of paralegal diversity reveals. So far there are no credentialing or licensing rules which define a paralegal, but some state bar associations and paralegal groups are talking about the need for such rules. Ill. Who Are Paralegals? Paralegals come in many forms, and can be classified by where they work, what they do, or where they trained. The following is an effort to provide a profile of paralegals by dividing them into such classifications purely for convenience. The divisions have no formal significance. 1. OEO Legal Services A recent survey by the National Paralegal Institute shows that 127 OEO-funded Legal Services offices (out of 280) make use of paralegals. Some have as many as 20, although more often there are only one or two. More than 70% of the paralegals have had some college training, up to post-graduate schooling. Few received any formal training prior to entering the Legal Services Program. Some Legal Services projects have inaugurated in-house training pro- grams, and others use on-the-job training provided by individual lawyers. The in-house training varies consider- ably. In Maine, paralegals are trained one day every other week for a full year. In Georgia, paralegals were given a two week intensive training program with follow-up training once they began work, and in Long Beach, California, an attorney spends full time supervising and training para- legals. They receive formal class teaching, study materials specially prepared for them, and continuous supervision and guidance from the attorney, who handles no cases himself. OEO paralegals perform a wide range of services. Virtually all interview clients, and a vast majority negotiate with government agencies on behalf of the clients in public entitlement cases, represent clients at administrative hearings, and do investigative work. Many also do legal research and drafting. OEO Legal Services directors report substantial gratification with the work of paralegals, and it is only lack of financing that prevents them from employing more. 2. Institute for Paralegal Training in Philadelphia This profit-making school started several years ago by practicing attorneys who invested a good deal of money preparing elaborate specialty training materials. Its admis- sion standards are high, and it seeks young women college graduates with good academic records. Tuition is $700, and a placement fee of $1,800 is required from law firms. The students are guaranteed placement in the city of their choice or tuition is refunded. Placement success is virtually total. Most of the training consists of specialty study in one area of law. For three months students are trained in their choice of corporations, real estate, tax, litigation, or trusts and estates. There is in addition a single general course geared for the paralegal who will work in a small office. Most graduates are working in major law firms in urban areas. The law firms are generally very satisfied, although it is unclear whether it is the training or the screening process which is most valuable to them. VOLUME 7, DECEMBER 1973 NUMBER 8 A616 . 1NATONA CEAR]INGHOUSE F~ FO LEGL SERVICE

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