Essentials of Paralegalism

by Statsky, William P.

• ISBN13: 9781401861933
• ISBN10: 1401861938
• Edition: 4th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-07-22
• Publisher: Cengage Learning

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
How to Study Law in the Classroom and on the Job	xiii
Classroom Learning	xiv
On-the-Job Learning: The Art of Being Supervised	xxv
Part I The Paralegal in the Legal System	1	(256)
Introduction to a New Career in Law	3	(26)
Launching Your Career	3	(1)
Do You Know What Time It Is?	4	(1)
Major Players: The Big Five	5	(3)
Job Titles	8	(3)
Definitions of a Paralegal	11	(1)
Paralegal Fees and the Task-Specific Definition of a Paralegal	12	(3)
Career Ladders in Large Law Offices	15	(2)
Paralegal Salaries	17	(2)
Factors Influencing the Growth of Paralegalism	19	(7)
Conclusion	26	(3)
Chapter Summary	26	(3)
Paralegal Employment	29	(91)
The Job Market	29	(1)
Where Paralegals Work	30	(8)
Paralegal Specialties: A Dictionary of Functions	38	(25)
Finding a Job: Employment Strategies	63	(28)
The Job Hunting Notebook	91	(9)
Your Second Job	100	(20)
Chapter Summary	100	(4)
Appendix 2.A. Paralegal Employment in Selected Large Law Offices	104	(5)
Appendix 2.B. Summary Chart-Survey of State Government Job Classifications for Paralegals	109	(11)
The Regulation of Paralegals	120	(50)
Kinds of Regulation	120	(1)
Unauthorized and Authorized Practice of Law	121	(18)
Licensing of Paralegals	139	(13)
Should Paralegals Become Part of Bar Associations?	152	(2)
Self-Regulation by Paralegals: The Certification Debate	154	(6)
Fair Labor Standards Act	160	(2)
Tort Liability of Paralegals	162	(2)
Malpractice Insurance	164	(6)
Chapter Summary	166	(4)
Attorney Ethics and Paralegal Ethics	170	(66)
Introduction	170	(1)
Enforcing Ethics	171	(5)
Ethical Rules	176	(47)
Ethical Codes of the Paralegal Associations	223	(1)
An Ethical Dilemma: Your Ethics or Your Job!	224	(1)
Doing Research on an Ethical Issue	225	(11)
Chapter Summary	231	(5)
Introduction to the Legal System	236	(21)
Federalism, Checks and Balances, and Paralegals	236	(4)
Common Law and Our Adversarial System	240	(2)
Judicial Systems	242	(5)
Administrative Agencies	247	(3)
The Legislative Process	250	(7)
Chapter Summary	253	(4)
Part II The Skills of a Paralegal	257	(165)
Introduction to Legal Analysis	259	(28)
Introduction	259	(1)
The Structure of Legal Analysis	260	(3)
The Element-Identification Skill	263	(4)
The Issue-Statement Skill	267	(1)
The Definitions Skill	268	(1)
Factor Analysis	269	(2)
Briefing Court Opinions	271	(9)
Applying Court Opinions	280	(7)
Chapter Summary	285	(2)
Legal Interviewing	287	(36)
Client Relations in an Era of Lawyer Bashing	287	(1)
Hiring the Firm	288	(2)
The Context of Interviewing in Litigation	290	(1)
The Format of an Intake Memo	291	(2)
What Facts Do You Seek? Guides to the Formulation of Questions	293	(7)
What Does the Client Want?	300	(1)
Assessing Your Own Biases	301	(1)
Communication Skills	302	(21)
Chapter Summary	320	(3)
Investigation in a Law Office	323	(38)
The Nature and Context of Investigation	323	(4)
Fact Analysis: Organizing the Options	327	(1)
Distortions in Investigation	328	(2)
Sources of Evidence/Sources of Leads	330	(1)
Gaining Access to Records	330	(1)
Evaluating Evidence	331	(1)
Interviewing Witnesses	331	(5)
Special Investigative Problems: Some Starting Points	336	(10)
Evidence Law and Investigation	346	(6)
Taking a Witness Statement	352	(2)
The Settlement Work-Up	354	(7)
Chapter Summary	357	(4)
An Introduction to the Use of Computers in a Law Office	361	(34)
Introduction	361	(2)
Terminology: A Review of Some of the Basics	363	(3)
Software in a Law Firm	366	(6)
Computer-Assisted Legal Research	372	(11)
Internet	383	(7)
Intranet and Extranet	390	(5)
Chapter Summary	391	(4)
Introduction to Law Office Administration	395	(27)
The Practice of Law in the Private Sector	395	(4)
The Legal Administrator and the Legal Assistant Manager	399	(2)
Expenses	401	(2)
Timekeeping	403	(5)
Kinds of Fees	408	(3)
Billing	411	(2)
Client Trust Accounts	413	(1)
Administrative Reports	414	(1)
Client File Management	415	(7)
Chapter Summary	419	(3)
Appendix A. Paralegal Associations and Related Organizations	422	(9)
Appendix B. State and Local Bar Associations	431	(1)
Appendix C. Federal Government Organization Chart	432	(2)
Appendix D. Starting a Freelance Paralegal Business	434	(5)
Appendix E. Announcements	439	(1)
Glossary	440	(17)
Index	457