Foundations Chapter 1 PowerPoint: Introduction to the Paralegal Profession, Role of the Paralegal, Law, and the Legal System

1

Overview of the
Chapter 1 Paralegal
Profession



2
Introduction to the Paralegal Role of the

Paralegal
Profession, Role of the

3
Paralegal, Law, and the Legal Introduction to

Law and the
System Legal System




5
Program
Overview












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1
What is a
Paralegal?



2

Paralegal
Section 1 Education



3
Paralegal

Specialties and
Overview of the Paralegal Credentials



Profession 4

Continuing Legal
Education



5

Regulation of the
Paralegal
Profession







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1| Overview of the Paralegal Profession:

What is a Paralegal?















 ABA definition of a


paralegal


 Legal Assistant vs.

Paralegal



 Common duties performed

by paralegals



 Identify what a paralegal

CANNOT do











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1| Overview of the Paralegal Profession:

Paralegal Education

















 No uniform education


requirement for paralegals


 Different people learn in


different ways


 Program offers a blended


approach
















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1| Overview of the Paralegal Profession:

Paralegal Specialties and Credentials


















 Specialties have

developed over time



 Also specialties in area of

law



 Credentials offered

through NFPA and NALA
















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1| Overview of the Paralegal Profession:

Continuing Legal Education















 Required for attorneys,


can be utilized by


paralegals


 Many ways to obtain


CLE


 Always keep learning


and hone your skills














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1| Overview of the Paralegal Profession:

Regulation of the Paralegal Profession




















 No umbrella authority to


the paralegal profession


 Licensing vs.

Registration



 State efforts to regulate

















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1

Role of the
Paralegal in a
Law Office



2

Billing



Section 2 3
Role of the
Paralegal in

Other Settings

Role of the Paralegal 4


Which
Environment is
Right for Me?



5

Paralegal
Professional
Skills






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2| Role of the Paralegal:

Role of the Paralegal in a Law Office


















 Majority of paralegals

work in law firms



 Law firms vary by size and

practice area



 Several other members

make up a legal team
















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2| Role of the Paralegal:

Billing



















 What are attorney’s


fees?


 Billable vs. Non-


billable work


 Importance of good


timekeeping skills














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2| Role of the Paralegal:

Role of the Paralegal in Other Settings



















 Employment

opportunities outside of


a law firm


 In-house, public sector,


government


 Freelance work















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2| Role of the Paralegal:

Which Environment is Right for Me?


















 Salary is important but not


the only factor to consider


 Look at the non-tangible


parts of a job


 Evaluate using other


fulfillment factors















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2| Role of the Paralegal:

Paralegal Professional Skills

















 Beyond the classroom

training, paralegals should


possess certain skills and


attributes


 Always keep developing

your professional skills



 Ethics













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1

Section 3 What is Law?



2

Introduction to
Introduction to Law and the the Legal System



Legal System 3

Sources of Law





















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3| Introduction to Law and the Legal System:

What is Law?





















 Defines a system and a

process



 All federal laws stem from

the U.S. Constitution


 Attorneys vs. Lawyers

















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3| Introduction to Law and the Legal System:

Introduction to the Legal System





















 Three separate branches

of government



 U.S. Supreme Court


 Overview of federal court

structure

















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3| Introduction to Law and the Legal System:

Sources of Law




















 U.S. Constitution


 Primary authority vs.


secondary authority


 Substantive law vs.

procedural law


















© 2017 UEducate

1

Overview of
Program
Structure:
Foundations and

Section 4 Law Blocks


2

Introduction to
Program Overview Assignments and
Virtual Clients
File



3
Creating and

Maintaining a
Client File












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4| Program Overview:

Overview of Program Structure:



Foundations and Law Blocks

















 Foundations for skill-


building


 Law blocks for areas


of substantive law


 Legal technology and

research















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4| Program Overview:

Introduction to Assignments and Virtual


Clients File

















 Application-based

assignments


 Meet your Virtual


Clients


 Build your digital


ePortfolio
















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4| Program Overview:

Creating and Maintaining a Client File

















 Best practices for

organizing a file



 Accounting for time spent

organizing a file



 Consider employer

preferences for any filing


or organizing system













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