What a Paralegal Does

ontario paralegal representative

ontario paralegal representative  are basically legal assistants. The simplest definition of a paralegal is provided by United Kingdom s National Association of Licensed Paralegals which says, a paralegal is a person who is educated and trained to perform legal tasks but who is not a qualified solicitor or barrister.

Paralegals assist lawyers in almost everything including court trials. They look into the case, investigate facts, build an argument and decide the plan of action. Even the legal documents required to file a lawsuit or pass a motion can be prepared by a paralegal. A paralegal is well aware of the laws and legal procedures of a country.

The work of a ontario paralegal representative  is vast. Within the realm of law itself, they have many options. They can specialize in family law, criminal law, real estate, litigation, immigration etc. However, they are not restricted to working in law firms even though 71% of paralegals do work in law firms. They can be found in any corporate organization working on employment plans, shareholder plans, securing loans for the organization, handling the finances and even overseeing certain projects.

Though paralegals are recognized in almost all countries now, there is a lot of ambiguity and non-consistency regarding the authority, salary, qualifications of a paralegal. In the USA, paralegals are legal assistants but in Ontario, Canada, they are licensed by the Law Society of Upper Canada and are considered as an official part of the legal system. This allows them to represent cases in the provincial offences court, small claims court and summary conviction criminal court but they are restricted to practice in certain areas such as family law which are only for lawyers.



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Can A Paralegal Handle The Same Cases As A Lawyer?

ontario paralegal representative

The term 'ontario paralegal representative ' began to emerge around the late sixties. At that time, the public demand for legal solutions was growing rapidly. As such, law firms were experiencing a tremendous increase in their workloads, and they were seeking the aid of people who could do administrative tasks for them. Such people were given the designation of paralegals.

What is a ontario paralegal representative ?

A paralegal is a person who does administrative work for a lawyer, and he is under the direct supervision of the lawyer. This person must be academically qualified, and he must have the necessary training and work experience to assist a lawyer in the provision of legal services. It is also required that a paralegal has an extensive knowledge of the legal system.

Duties and Responsibilities of a Paralegal

The duties and responsibilities of a paralegal are somewhat similar to the tasks of a lawyer. However, a paralegal does not practice law, and he is strictly prohibited to do so. Ordinarily, a paralegal works together with a lawyer to make preparations for court cases. While making preparations, a paralegal may reveal all the facts that are gathered to support the case, and perform research to draw attention to certain laws and court decisions that pertain to the nature of the case. A paralegal may be working for a lawyer, in a government agency, in a law office or in any other organization that has the authority to carry out legal work.

Differences Between a Paralegal and a Lawyer

Unlike a lawyer, a paralegal is not allowed to give any legal advice nor can he represent a certain client in court. Also, he cannot appoint legal fees or accept a case. While a paralegal can author and sign a legal correspondence, it should be clearly stated that the correspondence does not include any independent legal judgment or advice. In contrast, a lawyer who is considered the legal representative of a client has the sole right to handle and represent a certain client in court. A lawyer takes charge of a paralegal, and he is accountable to the client for the excellence of the legal services and advice delivered.




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