The Paralegal Detective: Analyzing and Evaluating Records from Crash Scene to Emergency Room Discharge
Wednesday, March 28th
1:00 pm Eastern Time
Earn 1.5 Hours MCLE credit
What’s the secret to evaluating and analyzing the records from the accident scene through the emergency room discharge?
You must become a Paralegal Detective!
Join Lisa Kuipers, RN, and me for this 90-minute webinar that focuses on the important steps a paralegal should take when a client is involved in an accident.
Beginning with an important overview of Traffic Collision Reports, First Responders’ Records, and Emergency Room Medical Records, you will learn:
* The first important steps you should take
* Crucial details you should be aware of
* Critical elements you should check for
* The essential records you should review
* What you are looking for in documentation
But that’s not all! You must understand what you are looking for! In this course you will review actual records and evaluate their contents. You will discover:
* That items not marked may be as important as those that are
* Why all names are vital to your research
* Common abbreviations: what they mean and why they are important
* Why you need to know who responded and who delivered treatment
* And much more!!!
You won’t want to miss this outstanding learning opportunity brought to you by 2 people who have spent years combing through records (both medical and otherwise) to find the needle in the haystack that will help the client’s case.
This 90-minute webinar will qualify for 1.5 hours of MCLE. Certificates of Attendance will be sent to all registered attendees.
For more information, go to http://paralegal-detective.com.
Thirty-eight percent of lawyers interviewed for the quarterly Robert Half Legal Hiring Index plan to add legal jobs in the next three months, with 31% stating that general business/corporate law was expected to grow the most.
Only 1% of respondents indicated they would reduce personnel, but almost half (48%) expected no change. Litigation (29%) and restructuring/insolvency (8%) ranked second and third for growth prospects in the second quarter.
OU will train students as paralegals during summer classes
Jackie Sullivan , Copy Editor
Updated: March 7, 2012
The registration window for OU’s Department of Legal Assistant Education is open until May 11. The classes, which run in June and July, will train students as paralegals for private, corporate and government law practices.
The training will include teaching students to perform law-related tasks that will be beneficial in the field, according to a news release.
The classes to obtain a certificate will take place on Saturdays to cater to the students who have other obligations during the week, according to the release.
The classes will take place at the OU Law Center.
“Students who want to begin legal-assistant studies this summer will have a head start on completing the program,” OU College of Law director David Poarch said in the release.
“I’m Pamela Starr (no relation to Belle, Bart, Brenda, Ringo, or Ken – well, technically, Ken Starr was my father), and I have been a paralegal all of my adult life (how’s that for avoiding the number of years and lies about my age?).
I began my paralegal career, a long time ago (in a galaxy far, far away), as an independent contractor in Houston, working in Oil & Gas law, Intellectual Property, Title VII and, finally, Bankruptcy. After moving to Atlanta, I worked with designated counsel for Fannie Mae and later worked my way up to Senior Paralegal (Bankruptcy) at Miller & Martin PLLC.
After a lifetime of working as a paralegal for BigLaw, I decided it was time for a change; so in 2008, I started StarrParalegals, LLC.was an obvious and natural transition, positioned to utilize the growing use of the Internet and e-access to accomplish tasks that had been routinely performed from an office-bound desk. My services allow attorneys to maintain an image of professionalism as well as their bottom line by outsourcing paralegal duties.
StarrParalegals is a virtual paralegal company that allows me to remotely provide my knowledge of bankruptcy and creditor’s rights, including a comprehensive understanding of the intricacies (or perhaps, annoyances) of the CM/ECF system, as well as UCC, workouts and bankruptcy litigation to lawyers throughout the US.
A daughter of the Great State of Texas, now living in Georgia, I graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with BA in Political Science (and minors in Psychology and Classical Civilization) and from Southwestern Paralegal Institute in Houston – one of the first ABA approved paralegal certification programs in the US – as a certified paralegal in 1983; in 2006, I became a Certified Bankruptcy Assistant (“CBA”). If all goes as planned, I will graduate in May 2012 from Thomas Jefferson School of Law with my Master of Science of Law (“J.S.M.”).
I gained a bit of notoriety in June 2010 when I published “Paralegal Paradigm Shift – An Open Letter to Jones Day (and ‘big law’) re: Downsizing”. In December 2010, I was profiled by BankruptcyProfessional.com, in January 2011, I was named as one of the 12 Paralegal Superstars of 2011 by Paralegal Gateway, and in June 2011, I was nominated by my peers as Georgia Powerhouse Paralegal 2011.
In my “copious” spare time, (along with obtaining my JSM in Bankruptcy & Restructuring and E-commerce), I launched Sessions with a Starr – both a blawg dedicated to ‘dragging lawyers and paralegals out of their brick and mortar offices and into the cloud,’ and consulting program helping others redefine their career options in an evolving economy. I am also a Trekkie and the mom to two adorable cats – Mr. Sulu and Lt. Uhura (did I mention that I’m a Trekkie?). “
Reprinted from LTN LAW TECHNOLOGY NEWS - October 2011
Who should be in charge of handling your trial technology? Ultimately, the decision will depend on the complexity of the trial and the technology and the attorneys’ comfort in using the technology. Tips from our experts:
IF POSSIBLE, lawyers should handle the technology personally, “because you can change your presentation on the fly and don’t have any problems coordinating with whoever is assisting you,” says Frederic Lederer.
DAVID SPARKS manages his own technology. “I like going to trial and having three or four attorneys on the side and then just having me on my side with my Mac,” he says.
CRAIG WILLIAMS recommends just having a trusted associate or paralegal, who is extremely familiar with both the case and the technology being used. “Don’t ever try do an examination or or an opening or closing argument statement and run the technology at the same time.”
Paralegal Tara Howie, 40, helped a court-appointed New Jersey Guardian lawyer Lynn Kenneally, 50; steal some $800,000 from the lawyer’s wards over a six-year period failed to make required disposition of property received. The scam involved overpayments routinely made on behalf of wards. When refund checks were issued, they diverted them to Howie’s accounts, according to government allegations, and omitted from financial disclosure documents that Ms Kenneally was required to file.
In a Monmouth County grand jury indictment, both were charged with theft by failure to make required disposition of property received. Both are free on $75,000 bail, according to the Asbury Park reports.
Wages of paralegals and legal assistants vary greatly. Salaries depend on education, training, experience, the type and size of employer, and the geographic location of the job. In general, paralegals who work for large law firms or in large metropolitan areas earn more than those who work for smaller firms or in less populated regions. In May 2008, full-time wage-and-salary paralegals and legal assistants earned $46,120. The middle 50 percent earned between $36,080 and $59,310. The top 10 percent earned more than $73,450, and the bottom 10 percent earned less than $29,260. Median annual wages in the industries employing the largest numbers of paralegals were:
Federal Executive Branch
$58,540
Management of companies and enterprises
55,910
Insurance carriers
52,200
Employment services
50,050
Legal services
44,480
In addition to earning a salary, many paralegals receive bonuses, in part to compensate them for sometimes having to work long hours. Paralegals also receive vacation, paid sick leave, a savings plan, life insurance, personal paid time off, dental insurance, and reimbursement for continuing legal education.
Despite projected much faster-than-average employment growth, competition for jobs is expected.
Formally trained, experienced paralegals should have the best employment opportunities.
Most entrants have an associate’s degree in paralegal studies, or a bachelor’s degree in another field and a certificate in paralegal studies.
About 71 percent work for law firms.
Nature of the Work
Although lawyers assume ultimate responsibility for legal work, they often delegate many of their tasks to paralegals. In fact, paralegals—also called legal assistants—are continuing to assume new responsibilities in legal offices and perform many of the same tasks as lawyers. Nevertheless, they are explicitly prohibited from carrying out duties considered to be within the scope of practice of law, such as setting legal fees, giving legal advice, and presenting cases in court.
One of a paralegal’s most important tasks is helping lawyers prepare for closings, hearings, trials, and corporate meetings. Paralegals might investigate the facts of cases and ensure that all relevant information is considered. They also identify appropriate laws, judicial decisions, legal articles, and other materials that are relevant to assigned cases. After they analyze and organize the information, paralegals may prepare written reports that attorneys use in determining how cases should be handled. If attorneys decide to file lawsuits on behalf of clients, paralegals may help prepare the legal arguments, draft pleadings and motions to be filed with the court, obtain affidavits, and assist attorneys during trials. Paralegals also organize and track files of all important case documents and make them available and easily accessible to attorneys.
In addition to this preparatory work, paralegals perform a number of other functions. For example, they help draft contracts, mortgages, and separation agreements. They also may assist in preparing tax returns, establishing trust funds, and planning estates. Some paralegals coordinate the activities of other law office employees and maintain financial office records.
Computer software packages and the Internet are used to search legal literature stored in computer databases and on CD-ROM. In litigation involving many supporting documents, paralegals usually use computer databases to retrieve, organize, and index various materials. Imaging software allows paralegals to scan documents directly into a database, while billing programs help them to track hours billed to clients. Computer software packages also are used to perform tax computations and explore the consequences of various tax strategies for clients.
Paralegals are found in all types of organizations, but most are employed by law firms, corporate legal departments, and various government offices. In these organizations, they can work in many different areas of the law, including litigation, personal injury, corporate law, criminal law, employee benefits, intellectual property, labor law, bankruptcy, immigration, family law, and real estate. As the law becomes more complex, paralegals become more specialized. Within specialties, functions are often broken down further. For example, paralegals specializing in labor law may concentrate exclusively on employee benefits. In small and medium-size law firms, duties are often more general.
The tasks of paralegals differ widely according to the type of organization for which they work. Corporate paralegals often assist attorneys with employee contracts, shareholder agreements, stock-option plans, and employee benefit plans. They also may help prepare and file annual financial reports, maintain corporate minutes’ record resolutions, and prepare forms to secure loans for the corporation. Corporate paralegals often monitor and review government regulations to ensure that the corporation is aware of new requirements and is operating within the law. Increasingly, experienced corporate paralegals or paralegal managers are assuming additional supervisory responsibilities, such as overseeing team projects.
The duties of paralegals who work in the public sector usually vary by agency. In general, litigation paralegals analyze legal material for internal use, maintain reference files, conduct research for attorneys, and collect and analyze evidence for agency hearings. They may prepare informative or explanatory material on laws, agency regulations, and agency policy for general use by the agency and the public. Paralegals employed in community legal-service projects help the poor, the aged, and others who are in need of legal assistance. They file forms, conduct research, prepare documents, and, when authorized by law, may represent clients at administrative hearings.
Work environment. Paralegals handle many routine assignments, particularly when they are inexperienced. As they gain experience, paralegals usually assume more varied tasks with additional responsibility. Paralegals do most of their work in offices and law libraries. Occasionally, they travel to gather information and perform other duties.
Paralegals employed by corporations and government usually work a standard 40-hour week. Although most paralegals work year round, some are temporarily employed during busy times of the year. Paralegals who work for law firms sometimes work very long hours when they are under pressure to meet deadlines.
In litigation involving many supporting documents, paralegals usually use computer databases to retrieve, organize, and index various materials.
Most entrants have an associate’s degree in paralegal studies, or a bachelor’s degree in another field and a certificate in paralegal studies. Some employers train paralegals on the job.
Education and training. There are several ways to become a paralegal. The most common is through a community college paralegal program that leads to an associate degree. Another common method of entry, mainly for those who already have a college degree, is earning a certificate in paralegal studies. A small number of schools offer bachelor’s and master’s degrees in paralegal studies. Finally, some employers train paralegals on the job.
Associate’s and bachelor’s degree programs usually combine paralegal training with courses in other academic subjects. Certificate programs vary significantly, with some taking only a few months to complete. Most certificate programs provide intensive paralegal training for individuals who already hold college degrees.
More than 1,000 colleges and universities, law schools, and proprietary schools offer formal paralegal training programs. Approximately 260 paralegal programs are approved by the American Bar Association (ABA). Although not required by many employers, graduation from an ABA-approved program can enhance employment opportunities. Admission requirements vary. Some schools require certain college courses or a bachelor’s degree, while others accept high school graduates or those with legal experience. A few schools require standardized tests and personal interviews.
The quality of paralegal training programs varies; some programs may include job placement services. If possible, prospective students should examine the experiences of recent graduates before enrolling in a paralegal program. Training programs usually include courses in legal research and the legal applications of computers. Many paralegal training programs also offer an internship, in which students gain practical experience by working for several months in a private law firm, the office of a public defender or attorney general, a corporate legal department, a legal aid organization, a bank, or a government agency. Internship experience is a valuable asset in seeking a job after graduation.
Some employers train paralegals on the job, hiring college graduates with no legal experience or promoting experienced legal secretaries. Some entrants have experience in a technical field that is useful to law firms, such as a background in tax preparation or criminal justice. Nursing or health administration experience is valuable in personal-injury law practices.
Certification and other qualifications. Although most employers do not require certification, earning voluntary certification from a professional national or local paralegal organization may offer advantages in the labor market. Many national and local paralegal organizations offer voluntary paralegal certifications by requiring students to pass an exam. Other organizations offer voluntary paralegal certifications by meeting certain criteria such as experience and education.
The National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA), for example, has established standards for certification that require various combinations of education and experience. Paralegals who meet these standards are eligible to take a 2-day examination. Those who pass the exam may use the Certified Legal Assistant (CLA) or Certified Paralegal (CP) credential. NALA certification is for a period of five years and 50 hours of continuing education is required for recertification. According to the NALA, as of September 4, 2009, there were 15,652 Certified Paralegals in the United States. NALA also offers the Advanced Paralegal Certification for experienced paralegals who want to specialize. The Advanced Paralegal Certification program is a curriculum-based program offered on the Internet.
The American Alliance of Paralegals, Inc., offers the American Alliance Certified Paralegal (AACP) credential, a voluntary certification program. Paralegals seeking the AACP certification must possess at least 5 years of paralegal experience and meet one of three educational criteria. Certification must be renewed every 2 years, including the completion of 18 hours of continuing education.
In addition, the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) offers the Registered Paralegal (RP) designation to paralegals with a bachelor’s degree and at least 2 years of experience who pass an exam. To maintain the credential, workers must complete 12 hours of continuing education every 2 years. The National Association of Legal Secretaries (NALS) offers the Professional Paralegal (PP) certification to those who pass a four-part exam. Recertification requires 75 hours of continuing education.
Paralegals must be able to document and present their findings and opinions to their supervising attorney. They need to understand legal terminology and have good research and investigative skills. Familiarity with the operation and applications of computers in legal research and litigation support also is important. Paralegals should stay informed of new developments in the laws that affect their area of practice. Participation in continuing legal education seminars allows paralegals to maintain and expand their knowledge of the law. In fact, all paralegals in California must complete 4 hours of mandatory continuing education in either general law or a specialized area of law.
Because paralegals frequently deal with the public, they should be courteous and uphold the ethical standards of the legal profession. The NALA, the NFPA, and a few States have established ethical guidelines for paralegals to follow.
Advancement. Paralegals usually are given more responsibilities and require less supervision as they gain work experience. Experienced paralegals who work in large law firms, corporate legal departments, or government agencies may supervise and delegate assignments to other paralegals and clerical staff. Advancement opportunities also include promotion to managerial and other law-related positions within the firm or corporate legal department. However, some paralegals find it easier to move to another law firm when seeking increased responsibility or advancement.
Paralegals and legal assistants held about 263,800 jobs in 2008. Private law firms employed 71 percent; most of the remainder worked for corporate legal departments and various levels of government. Within the Federal Government, the U.S. Department of Justice is the largest employer, followed by the Social Security Administration and the U.S. Department of the Treasury. A small number of paralegals own their own businesses and work as freelance legal assistants, contracting their services to attorneys or corporate legal departments.
Despite projected much faster than average employment growth, competition for jobs is expected to continue as many people seek to go into this profession; experienced, formally trained paralegals should have the best employment opportunities.
Employment change. Employment of paralegals and legal assistants is projected to grow 28 percent between 2008 and 2018, much faster than the average for all occupations. Employers are trying to reduce costs and increase the availability and efficiency of legal services by hiring paralegals to perform tasks once done by lawyers. Paralegals are performing a wider variety of duties, making them more useful to businesses.
Demand for paralegals also is expected to grow as an expanding population increasingly requires legal services, especially in areas such as intellectual property, healthcare, international law, elder issues, criminal law, and environmental law. The growth of prepaid legal plans also should contribute to the demand for legal services.
Private law firms will continue to be the largest employers of paralegals, but a growing array of other organizations, such as corporate legal departments, insurance companies, real-estate and title insurance firms, and banks also hire paralegals. Corporations in particular are expected to increase their in-house legal departments to cut costs. The wide range of tasks paralegals can perform has helped to increase their employment in small and medium-size establishments of all types.
Job prospects. In addition to new jobs created by employment growth, more job openings will arise as people leave the occupation. There will be demand for paralegals who specialize in areas such as real estate, bankruptcy, medical malpractice, and product liability. Community legal service programs, which provide assistance to the poor, elderly, minorities, and middle-income families, will employ additional paralegals to minimize expenses and serve the most people. Job opportunities also are expected in Federal, State, and local government agencies, consumer organizations, and the courts. However, this occupation attracts many applicants, creating competition for jobs. Experienced, formally trained paralegals should have the best job prospects.
To a limited extent, paralegal jobs are affected by the business cycle. During recessions, demand declines for some discretionary legal services, such as planning estates, drafting wills, and handling real estate transactions. Corporations are less inclined to initiate certain types of litigation when falling sales and profits lead to fiscal belt tightening. As a result, full-time paralegals employed in offices adversely affected by a recession may be laid off or have their work hours reduced. However, during recessions, corporations and individuals are more likely to face problems that require legal assistance, such as bankruptcies, foreclosures, and divorces. Paralegals, who provide many of the same legal services as lawyers at a lower cost, tend to fare relatively better in difficult economic conditions.
Wages of paralegals and legal assistants vary greatly. Salaries depend on education, training, experience, the type and size of employer, and the geographic location of the job. In general, paralegals who work for large law firms or in large metropolitan areas earn more than those who work for smaller firms or in less populated regions. In May 2008, full-time wage-and-salary paralegals and legal assistants earned $46,120. The middle 50 percent earned between $36,080 and $59,310. The top 10 percent earned more than $73,450, and the bottom 10 percent earned less than $29,260. Median annual wages in the industries employing the largest numbers of paralegals were:
Federal Executive Branch
$58,540
Management of companies and enterprises
55,910
Insurance carriers
52,200
Employment services
50,050
Legal services
44,480
In addition to earning a salary, many paralegals receive bonuses, in part to compensate them for sometimes having to work long hours. Paralegals also receive vacation, paid sick leave, a savings plan, life insurance, personal paid time off, dental insurance, and reimbursement for continuing legal education.
On the website (www.salary.com) you can research paralegal and legally related jobs in various locations of the country. For example, the site reports that within Indiana there is a lot of variation in Paralegal Manager Salaries. These variations depend on on a wide range of factors from population to general competitiveness in the market. Maps display a few key cities in Indiana and surrounding states, you can click on any one to find Paralegal Manager Salaries for that area. The website also gives information about the cost of living, and also describes other occupations’, such as teacher’s salaries. information.
The Job Description for Paralegal Manager reads:
Responsible for distributing cases to the paralegals and assuring their timely completion. Provides research and training support to the
paralegals on statutes, recorded judicial decisions, and other legal articles or documents. Validates and oversees the preparation of legal
documents, such as briefs, appeals, wills, or contracts. May require a bachelor’s degree and at least 8 years of experience in the field or in a
related area. Familiar with a variety of the field’s concepts, practices, and procedures. Relies on extensive experience and judgment to plan
and accomplish goals. Performs a variety of tasks. Leads and directs the work of others. A wide degree of creativity and latitude is expected.
Typically reports to the head of a unit/department.
Alternate Job Titles: Paralegal Manager, Legal Assistant Manager
Categories: Legal Services
Source: HR Reported data as of October 2011
