Essentials of Paralegalism

by Statsky, William P.

• ISBN13: 9780314129000
• ISBN10: 0314129006
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1998-02-01
• Publisher: Delmar Pub

Summary

Essentials of Paralegalism is an introduction to this emerging legal field. It covers primary employment and regulatory issues, including job-search strategies. The material teaches the basic skills paralegals will need when working in the field including interviewing, investigation and analysis at an introductory level. The More-On-the-Net feature provides addresses for Web sites that relate to the theme for each chapter, and analysis problems throughout promote analytical thinking skills needed on the job. Concrete examples from paralegal professionals' experience in the work setting give readers an insider's view of this profession.

Table of Contents

Preface	ix	(4)
How to Study Law in the Classroom and on the Job	xiii
A. Classroom Learning	xiv	(13)
B. On-the-Job Learning: The Art of Being Supervised	xxvii
Part I THE PARALEGAL IN THE LEGAL SYSTEM	1	(304)
1 Introduction to a New Career in Law	3	(34)
A. Questions, Frustration, and Challenge	4	(1)
B. Do You Know What Time It Is?	4	(1)
C. Major Players: The Big Five	5	(3)
D. Job Titles	8	(3)
E. Job Definitions	11	(6)
F. Paralegal Salaries	17	(2)
G. Historical Perspective	19	(12)
H. Stages in the Development of Paralegalism	31	(3)
Chapter Summary	34	(3)
2 Paralegal Employment	37	(112)
A. The Job Market	38	(1)
B. Where Paralegals Work	38	(9)
C. Paralegal Specialties: A Dictionary of Functions	47	(29)
D. Finding a Job: Employment Strategies	76	(34)
E. The Job Hunting Notebook	110	(9)
F. Your Second Job	119	(3)
Chapter Summary	122	(1)
Appendix 2.A Employment in Selected Large Law Firms and Corporations	123	(10)
Appendix 2.B Summary Chart-Survey of State Government Job Classifications for Paralegals	133	(16)
3 The Regulation of Paralegals	149	(58)
A. Kinds of Regulation	150	(1)
B. Unauthorized and Authorized Practice of Law	150	(20)
C. Licensing of Paralegals	170	(12)
D. Bar Association Control of Paralegal Education	182	(3)
E. Should Paralegals Become Part of Bar Associations?	185	(3)
F. Self-Regulation by Paralegals: The Certification Debate	188	(7)
G. Fair Labor Standards Act	195	(3)
H. Tort Liability of Paralegals	198	(3)
I. Malpractice Insurance	201	(3)
Chapter Summary	204	(3)
4 Attorney Ethics and Paralegal Ethics	207	(78)
A. The Ten Commandments of an Ethical Conservative	208	(1)
B. Enforcing Ethics	208	(7)
C. Ethical Rules	215	(53)
D. Ethical Codes of the Paralegal Associations	268	(6)
E. An Ethical Dilemma: Your Ethics or Your Job!	274	(1)
F. Doing Research on an Ethical Issue	275	(8)
Chapter Summary	283	(2)
5 Introduction to the Legal System	285	(20)
A. Federalism, Checks and Balances, and Paralegals	286	(3)
B. Common Law and Our Adversarial System	289	(1)
C. Judicial Systems	290	(6)
D. Administrative Agencies	296	(3)
E. The Legislative Process	299	(3)
Chapter Summary	302	(3)
Part II THE SKILLS OF A PARALEGAL	305	(202)
6 Introduction to Legal Analysis	307	(26)
A. The Structure of Legal Analysis	308	(2)
B. The Element-Identification Skill	310	(3)
C. The Issue-Statement Skill	313	(1)
D. The Definitions Skill	314	(2)
E. Briefing Court Opinions	316	(10)
F. Applying Court Opinions	326	(5)
Chapter Summary	331	(2)
7 Legal Interviewing	333	(40)
A. Client Relations in an Era of Lawyer Bashing	334	(1)
B. Hiring the Firm	334	(2)
C. The Context of Interviewing in Litigation	336	(2)
D. The Format of an Intake Memo	338	(1)
E. What Facts Do You Seek? Guides to the Formulation of Questions	339	(8)
F. What Does the Client Want?	347	(1)
G. Assessing Your Own Biases	348	(2)
H. Communication Skills	350	(21)
Chapter Summary	371	(2)
8 Investigation in a Law Office	373	(42)
A. The Nature and Context of Investigation	374	(4)
B. Fact Analysis: Organizing the Options	378	(1)
C. Distortions in Investigation	379	(2)
D. Sources of Evidence/Sources of Leads	381	(1)
E. Gaining Access to Records	382	(2)
F. Evaluating Testimonial and Physical Evidence	384	(1)
G. Interviewing Witnesses	385	(4)
H. Special Investigative Problems: Some Starting Points	389	(11)
I. Evidence and Investigation	400	(6)
J. Taking a Witness Statement	406	(3)
K. The Settlement Work-Up	409	(3)
Chapter Summary	412	(3)
9 An Introduction to the Use of Computers in a Law Office	415	(54)
A. Law Offices, Computers, and Paralegals	416	(2)
B. Survival Strategies	418	(2)
C. Terminology	420	(8)
D. Software	428	(30)
E. The Internet	458	(8)
Chapter Summary	466	(3)
10 Introduction to Law Office Administration	469	(38)
A. The Practice of Law in the Private Sector	470	(4)
B. The Legal Administrator and the Legal Assistant Manager: Overview of Administration in a Large Law Firm	474	(4)
C. Expenses	478	(1)
D. Timekeeping	479	(8)
E. Kinds of Fees	487	(3)
F. Billing	490	(2)
G. Administrative Reports	492	(2)
H. The Procedures Manual in a Small Office: Mail, Copying, and Filing	494	(5)
I. Computer-Based Records Management System in a Large Office	499	(5)
Chapter Summary	504	(3)
Appendix A. Paralegal Associations and Related Organizations	507	(12)
Appendix B. Federal Government Organization Chart	519	(2)
Appendix C. Federal Job Information	521	(4)
Appendix D. How to Start a Freelance Paralegal Business	525	(6)
Appendix E. Murphy's Law for Paralegals	531	(2)
Glossary	533	(20)
Index	553	(20)
Request Forms	573