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What is paralegal?
Paralegals help lawyers by conducting research and preparing documents. They may perform all the functions of a lawyer except give legal advice, accept clients, set legal fees, and present a case in court. Paralegals generally do background work for the lawyer and may perform some administrative duties within an organization. They help lawyers prepare for trial by conducting research to uncover all relevant information. After analyzing all information, they may prepare a written report for use by the lawyer to determine how the case should be handled. They may also obtain affidavits, assist lawyers during trials, and help prepare documents such as contracts, mortgages, and trust instruments. Paralegals are also known as legal assistants and may specialize in one area of law, such as real estate, estate planning, or corporate law. They fulfill a role that is roughly analogous to the role of the paramedic in the medical field.
Legal costs have dramatically increased and the paralegal is one of the major means of making services more widespread, efficient, and available to all, with resultant cost savings to the client.
The program is a two-year evening curriculum. After completion of the program, the student will understand the principles of law office management and will be prepared to perform the duties of a paralegal, which include legal investigation, research, preparation of legal documents, and interviewing clients.