What Makes a Paralegal a Paralegal?
One woman is dressed in a sharp black suit, with pin stripes and polished black pumps. her hair is held back in a slick chignon. She is proud of the paralegal degree that hangs on the wall in her office. She is on her way to a local title company to a real estate closing. Another woman is dressed in khakis and a black t-shirt, topped off with a cardigan. On the wall behind her desk hangs a bachelor's degree for a field that she never worked in, and it is flanked by a couple of framed certificates for seminars that she's attended in real estate and estate planning. She is pouring over a folder filled with deeds, investment account statements, bank account statements and notes scribbled on legal pads. She calls the financial advisor who referred the clients to the firm for some clarification on their insurance, then she begins drafting a family trust.
Is there a difference between these two women? Both are intelligent, educated women, but they arrived at their positions in very different ways. One dreamed of being a paralegal, and pursued the education required to get the job. The other fell into the job, found that she enjoyed it, and began to educate herself by reading, talking to others, and attending seminars.
As it stands now, a paralegal should meet certain requirements to be called a paralegal, and those requirements can vary from state to state. Many states are considering certification, licensure, and other requirements.
What do you think? Are there differences? What requirements should there be for a person to call him or herself a paralegal?
Is there a difference between these two women? Both are intelligent, educated women, but they arrived at their positions in very different ways. One dreamed of being a paralegal, and pursued the education required to get the job. The other fell into the job, found that she enjoyed it, and began to educate herself by reading, talking to others, and attending seminars.
As it stands now, a paralegal should meet certain requirements to be called a paralegal, and those requirements can vary from state to state. Many states are considering certification, licensure, and other requirements.
What do you think? Are there differences? What requirements should there be for a person to call him or herself a paralegal?
Well done post - welcome to the paralegal blogosphere! I'm adding you to Practical Paralegalism's Blog List.
Best,
Lynne
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