Just about every week, the question of whether to license paralegals comes up. What never comes up is the real "why". Oh sure, you'll hear ramblings on and on as to the pros and the cons. The reasoning includes how paralegals are supposed to come under the supervision of attorneys anyway (as though this relieves them somehow of major responsibility); whether it should...
Paralegals working in Florida will want to keep an eye on the proceedings outlined in the Jacksonville Daily Record:"The Unlicensed Practice of Law (UPL) program was established by the Supreme Court of Florida to protect the public against harm caused by unlicensed individuals practicing law. "This program is a proposal only. It has been approved by the Board of Governors of The Florida...
After a hard-fought legislative battle, independent paralegals in in Ontario will become a regulated profession on May 1. This Toronto Star article outlines why licensing is needed:"In recent years, the need for regulating paralegals has been the subject of considerable comment by Ontario judges and in two Ontario government reports. The most recent comment occurred in a Superior Court...
What the Michigan State Bar has to say about the utilization of legal assistants: "Article 1, Sec 6, of the Bylaws of the State Bar of Michigan defines 'legal assistant' for purposes of membership in the State Bar Legal Assistant Section as follows:"Any person currently employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, governmental agency or other entity engaged in the practice of law, in a...
It will be most interesting to compare U.S. regulation with Canada's approach: "She will be among the first students to graduate from Humber College's first bachelor degree programs. As a newly minted paralegal, Sheelagh McLellan will also be among the first in Ontario to benefit from groundbreaking legislation that will regulate the often-misunderstood profession. "'I was interested in...
Another strong opinion about regulating Canadian paralegals: "Ontario has passed a law that will regulate paralegals. This is good news. Until now, what has it taken to be a paralegal? Call yourself one. That's it. No training required. No liability insurance. No minimum standards. No discipline for bad ones. "I've seen some good paralegals. I've seen some bloody awful ones too. Of...
Cases like this undoubtedly supported the fight to regulate paralegals in Canada: "It was a dream payday for Brampton, Ont., paralegal Vince Chiarelli: He made $1,800 for just two hours of work. "But for his client, Pamela Elliot, that contract with Mr. Chiarelli would represent her lowest point in a year of sheer hell. "Having already lost her husband and her job, the 39-year-old...
This news is not a surprise, but it does sound like the battle continues: "Ontario became the first province in Canada to regulate paralegals Thursday, but many in the profession worry they could be forced out of business because they will be regulated by lawyers - the very people they compete against for most of their work. "The Liberal government had to use its majority to out-vote...
Regulation up north has definitely been a hard-fought battle: "Last month, the Ontario Bar Association managed to lobby successfully for further clarity of the portion of bill 14 that amends the Law Society Act, after it made submissions to the Standing Committee on Justice Policy. "As a result, the legislation now refers to paralegals as 'paralegal members' rather than 'persons...
My, how time has flown for the paralegal profession in Texas! "Paralegals have made their way out of the figurative woods and into the light of a recognized profession since the State Bar of Texas created its paralegal division 25 years ago, an Austin woman who was instrumental in the landmark said Wednesday. "Debra Crosby told 30 people at a Petroleum Club luncheon that she entered...