Paralegals play a very important and essential role in a law firm. It is imperative to know that while a paralegal’s job can be fairly similar to that of an attorney, their overall duties and legal obligations are vastly different than that of a lawyer. The only constant is the legal field, a paralegal’s job remains the same across all fields of law whether that is immigration, family law and divorce, litigation, real estate, prenup agreements, criminal law, business law, trusts, wills, probate, deeds, trademarks and much, much more.
In this blog we will delve deeper into the real meaning of a paralegal. Paralegals assist attorneys in any capacity they are needed – this can include drafting legal documents, communicating with clients, checking the status of a case, summarizing interrogatories, assist attorneys in court preparations, and much more. Paralegals do not go into court or represent clients like a licensed attorney does and most importantly, paralegals never provide legal advice and may only provide their own personal opinion based on their experiences.
We all know lawyers are able to provide legal advice, but the burning question of the hour is why can’t paralegals also provide legal advice? After all, they are knowledgeable in the legal field, they prepare legal documents, assist with legal research, client communications and so much more! The simple answer – it is against the law for anyone that is not a licensed attorney under state law to provide legal advice. Giving legal advice implies you practice law, and again, only a licensed attorney can do that.
Following this thought process, any attorney can provide legal advice, of course you might want to ensure the attorney you are consulting with practices your area of needs for the best results. Immigration lawyers can provide legal advice regarding immigration law, family law attorneys can provide legal advice regarding divorce, child support, visitation, and etc. Each licensed attorney whether that is litigation, real estate, probate, criminal law or a different area of the law, can provide legal advice on their area of expertise. It goes without saying, whichever area of the law you find yourself requiring legal assistance in, it is vital to seek out an attorney that practices in that particular type of law. If you are wanting bankruptcy assistance, yet consulting on that matter with a criminal attorney is much like going to the doctor and asking them for stock trading advice – one has nothing to do with the other.
Every day, paralegals keep the law firm alive, constantly revolving, ensuring smooth transitions and meeting strict deadlines in each and every case. Being a paralegal shows a clear dedication to the law within any practice area, including family law, real estate, litigation, criminal law, immigration, and so many more areas of the law. Again, while a paralegal can only provide their own personal opinion based on their experience and never legal advice, their job is equally as imperative as the attorneys.
If you are in need of legal assistance and would like to schedule a consultation with one of our licensed attorneys so they may provide you with legal advice in your specific situation, you can contact our office online by submitting a Contact Form at Contact Us | The Law Offices of Eugene Mogilevsky (egmlegal.com) or by directly calling our office at (317) 743-7958. Our attorneys practice a variety of different laws such as immigration law, family law and divorce, real estate, criminal, bankruptcy, litigation, probate, wills, trust, trademarks, business law, Power of Attorney’s and more!
Disclaimer: This blog post is for educational and informational purposes only and is not to be taken as legal advice in any capacity. Reading this blog does not constitute or establish an attorney-client relationship.