| Most people are confused when it comes to the | | | | motions in court, draft legal motions and/or write |
| two terms "paralegal" and "attorney". Sometimes | | | | legal memoranda. Though paralegals often |
| it's difficult to distinguish between the two terms. | | | | perform many of the duties that are usually |
| Some people consider "paralegals" and "attorneys" | | | | performed by an attorney, a paralegal is not |
| to be able to handle the same types of legal | | | | officially permitted to practice law; that why |
| work, often having trouble interpreting the | | | | paralegals have restrictions when it comes to |
| differences between the two. | | | | offering legal advice since paralegals do not have |
| The term "Paralegal" is used in most jurisdictions | | | | a legal license to practice law. |
| to define a non-lawyer who supports attorneys in | | | | An attorney on the other hand is the official |
| their legitimate work. Anyone can be a paralegal | | | | designation of a lawyer. An attorney can |
| regardless of whether he or she completes law | | | | concentrate his or her practice in a definite part |
| school. The National Federation of Paralegal | | | | such as litigation, goods and service liability, or a |
| Associations defines a paralegal as "a person, | | | | wide range of other choices. An attorney |
| qualified through education, training or work | | | | becomes licensed to practice law only after |
| experience to perform substantive legal work | | | | completing his or her academic requirements and |
| that requires knowledge of legal concepts and is | | | | passing a state BAR examination |
| customarily, but not exclusively, performed by a | | | | An attorney is legally registered to practice law, |
| lawyer." In most cases a paralegal assists an | | | | provide counsel on matters of legal precedent and |
| attorney in their day-to-day activities. | | | | represent clients in matters of the law on the |
| Although it may appear as though lawyers have | | | | behalf of client. Attorneys can drafts of legitimate |
| the ultimate responsibility for legal work, they | | | | papers such as deeds, contracts and wills. |
| often allocate many of their responsibilities to | | | | Attorneys are also required to be insured should |
| paralegals. For this reason they are often referred | | | | malpractice or other monetary issues arise |
| to as legal assistants. Under a lawyer, they can | | | | whereas a paralegal is not legally required to be |
| carry out legal investigation, factual inquiry, file | | | | insured. |