A paralegal is a person trained in subsidiary legal matters but not fully qualified as a lawyer. They are skilled in the preparation of affidavits, legal correspondence, etc. they provide legal first aid services to persons in need of justice.

A paralegal should be distinguished from a lawyer in the sense that a paralegal only provides basic advice and assistance to parties in taking first and immediate steps to access justice.  A paralegal is thus appropriately trained to practise in the legal profession. They are usually employed or retained by law offices, corporation, governmental agency to perform specifically delegated substantive legal work for which knowledge of the law and legal procedures are required.

The National Federation of Paralegal Association has defined a paralegal as a person qualified through education, training or work experience to perform substantive legal work that requires knowledge of legal concepts that is not customarily and exclusively performed by a lawyer.A paralegal usually works under the supervision of a lawyer.

DUTIES OF A PARALEGAL

The duties of a paralegal includes amongst others;

  1. Conduct client interviews and maintain general contact with client
  2. Locate and interview witnesses
  3. Conduct investigations, statistical, documentary  and legal research
  4. Educate people about their legal rights and how to enforce them
  5. Summarize depositions, interrogatories and testimonies
  6. Attend executions of wills, real estate closings, depositions, court or administrative hearings and trials with the lawyer
  7. Interface with law enforcement agencies on behalf of their client
  8. Engage in advocacy, community mobilization and networking
  9. Employ ADR mechanism to resolve disputes  for clients
  10. Assist clients in simple legal drafting
  11. Make referrals to appropriate persons, organizations and institutions

WHO CAN BE A PARALEGAL

Many paralegals have completed a formal paralegal education programme while others had on –the job trainings

However, anybody with a passion and commitment for promoting the betterment of individuals and groups can be a paralegal.  However, a good paralegal should have the following qualities:

  1. Have a good knowledge of the law and their enforcement procedures
  2. A paralegal must be a person of sound mind and integrity
  3. He or she must be good at handling clients confidential information and issues
  4. He or she must be committed to providing support to persons seeking redress
  5. He or she must possess excellent communication skills, be compassionate as well as be a good listener.

PARALEGAL ETHICS:

A paralegal must adhere strictly to the accepted standards of legal ethics and to the general principles of proper conduct. They are obligated to maintain professional integrity, competence, diligence and honesty. They are bound to protect clients’ confidentiality as well as bound to disclose all conflicts of interest.

IAH operates paralegal services. If you need a paralegal, please contact us