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What Organization Adopted the Definition of a Paralegal or Legal Assistant in 1997

Canon 9 – A paralegal must do all other things that are incidental, necessary or expedient to carry out ethics and responsibilities as defined by law or court rules. The term “Chartered Paralegal” does not belong to NALA or any other organization (just as the term “certified public account” does not belong to the various organizations that offer accountant certification). The term is not the property of NALA, only the certification mark (image and trademark information is available from the U.S. Patent Office: tmsearch.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=4802:l0lqo1.2.1 and NALA). On occasion, paralegals mistakenly refer to themselves as an “ABA Certified Paralegal” in reference to the certificate they received after graduating from paralegal school. This is very different from certification. A certificate from the School of Paralegals is a certificate of completion. The paralegal school attended by these paralegals has been approved by the ABA. Out of about 1500 paralegal schools in the United States, only about 280 have been approved by the ABA. The school must meet certain qualifications set by the ABA and pay an initial and annual fee to maintain its admission status. [5] When a student completes the 4-month, 2- or 4-year program, they receive a certificate of completion, but are not certified.* Promote paralegals through certification and professional development. The National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) advocates for and promotes diversity, equity and inclusion in the allied legal profession.

We recognize that to continually be an “exceptional resource for individual and professional success,” we must leverage inclusion, equity, diversity and the initiatives that foster them. NALA fosters and fosters a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment within the Association and its affiliated associations, as well as the law firms, corporations, legal service providers and the paralegal community that support our members and colleagues. NALA seeks partnerships with affiliated associations and other professional legal organizations to promote and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. NALA welcomes members from all walks of life and fosters connections among our diverse members. Certification, training and networking are opportunities offered by NALA. We understand that the paralegal profession is constantly evolving and that professionals must be able to keep up with changes. That`s why we`ve developed continuing education programs and services specifically designed to develop paralegals. Some of the educational resources we offer include our conference and paralegal workshop held each July, and our plethora of online educational courses, programs and books. The American Alliance of Paralegals (AAPI) awards the American Alliance Certified Paralegal (AACP) designation. AACP certification is recognized by the American Bar Association[16] and state bars. At an emotional meeting in April 1975, the NALS Board of Directors accepted the proposal, and NALA quickly became a reality. Within hours, the statutes were adopted and the officers were selected.

The first Board of Directors was composed of nine former members of the working groups. The current definition replaces the one adopted by the Chamber of Deputies in 1997. This updated definition removes the term “legal assistant” to reflect terminology that more accurately represents the type of substantive work performed by paralegals. In 2001, NALA members also adopted the ABA`s definition of paralegal as follows: Canon 4 – A paralegal must exercise discretion and professional judgment based on his or her knowledge and experience, but cannot render an independent legal judgment in place of a lawyer. The services of counsel are essential in the public interest when such a judicial judgment is required. To become a CP in the United States, the candidate voluntarily passes the Certified Paralegal Examination (CP Examination). [7] The Certified Paralegal program – the oldest in the United States – was established in 1976 and is administered by the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA). [8] The CP designation is a certification duly registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (No. 78213275) Like lawyers, all certifying bodies require candidates to take continuing legal education courses to renew their certification.

Chartered paralegals who do not meet the recertification requirements may have their credentials revoked. The paralegal must then retake the certification exam to use the credential. The ethical principles set out below are adopted by the National Association of Legal Assistants, Inc. as a general guide to assist paralegals and lawyers. The enumeration of these rules does not mean that there are not others of equal importance, although they are not explicitly mentioned. The rules of the Court, the rules of the agency and the statutes must be taken into account when interpreting the canon. Once a paralegal has obtained the CP qualification, he or she is eligible to participate in the Paralegal Advanced Certification Program. The certification awarded upon successful completion of the program is the “ACP” certification. A CP must complete an ACP course and pass an exam demonstrating advanced knowledge in the specific practice area(s) in which the course will be taken. [10] According to the American Bar Association, a distinction is made between “certified” and “certified” paralegals, and the terms are not interchangeable. Certified paralegals have passed a professional examination and certified paralegals have completed a paralegal program or other preparatory training through an educational institution. [3] Chartered paralegals are usually eligible to write one of the many certification examinations upon completion of a recognized paralegal program.

[4] Canon 3 – A paralegal shall not: (a) engage, encourage or contribute to any act that could constitute an unauthorized exercise of his or her rights; and (b) establish solicitor-client relationships, set fees, give legal advice or advice, or represent a client before a court or authority, unless authorized by such court or authority; and (c) engage in conduct or take any action that would assist or implicate counsel in the event of a breach of professional ethics or create an appearance of professional impropriety. Despite the American Bar Association`s position on this issue, there is no consensus in the legal field on the specific roles of paralegals/paralegals/paralegals, and some law firms and legal services still maintain paralegals and paralegals as separate job titles.