paralegal
A paralegal is a qualified person employed by a lawyer , law office, corporation , or agency and who performs specifically delegated substantive legal work. To be certified as a paralegal, a person must complete the voluntary certification process by developing a specific level of competency.
According to the American Bar Association (ABA) , paralegals perform legal work that would otherwise be done by attorneys. For example, paralegals can conduct legal research, prepare documents for legal transactions , draft discovery notices, interview clients, and assist attorneys in other ways.
However , paralegals are not licensed to practice law or give legal advice. For instance, paralegals cannot represent clients in court , take depositions , or sign pleadings .
[Last reviewed in July of 2021 by the Wex Definitions Team ]
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