Paralegals perform substantive and procedural legal work as authorized by law, which work, in the absence of the paralegal, would be performed by an attorney. Paralegals have knowledge of the law gained through education, or education and work experience, which qualifies them to perform legal work. Paralegals adhere to recognized ethical standards and rules of professional responsibility.

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LEGAL ASSISTANTS (NALA)

www.nala.org

Legal assistants, also known as paralegals, are a distinguishable group of persons who

assist attorneys in the delivery of legal services. Through formal education, training and experience, legal assistants have knowledge and expertise regarding the legal system and substantive and procedural law which qualify them to do work of a legal nature under the supervision of an attorney.

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF PARALEGAL ASSOCIATIONS (NFPA)

www.paralegals.org

A paralegal/legal assistant is a person qualified through education, training or work experience to perform substantive legal work that requires knowledge of legal concepts and is customarily, but not exclusively, performed by a lawyer. This person may be retained or employed by a lawyer, law office, governmental agency or other entity or may be authorized by administrative, statutory or court authority to perform this work.

INDIVIDUAL STATE DEFINITIONS

www.paralegals.org/Development/bar_def.htm

A 1980 South Carolina case defines a paralegal's role as follows:

Paralegals are routinely employed by licensed attorneys to assist in the preparation of legal documents such as deeds and mortgages. The activities of a paralegal do not constitute the practice of law as long as they are limited to work of a preparatory nature, such as legal research, investigation, or the composition of legal documents, which enable the licensed attorney-employer to carry a given matter to a conclusion through his own examination, approval or additional effort. Matter of Easler, 275 S.C. 400, 272 S.E. 2d 32 (1980), cited in State v. Robinson, 321 S.C. 286, 468 S.E.2d 290(1996).

SOUTH CAROLINA ALLIANCE OF LEGAL ASSISTANT ASSOCIATIONS

(SCALAA)

Founded in 1989, SCALAA is comprised of five member associations listed below

representing approximately 500 paralegals throughout the state. SCALAA provides a

statewide voice for legal assistants and paralegals on a variety of issues affecting the

profession, including the adoption of voluntary standards for South Carolina legal assistants and paralegals which include Minimum Educational Standards, Admission Standards, a Code of Ethics, and Continuing Legal Education Requirements.

SCALAA defines a Legal Assistant/Paralegal as follows:

A "Legal Assistant" or "Paralegal" is a person qualified through education, training, or work experience to perform substantive legal work, requiring knowledge of substantive and procedural law, which work is customarily, but not exclusively, performed by attorneys. Legal Assistants/Paralegals may be employed by one or more attorneys, law offices, governmental agencies, or other entities. Legal Assistants/Paralegals may also be retained as independent contractors, by one or more attorneys, law offices, governmental agencies, or other entities. The substantive legal work performed by Legal Assistants/Paralegals should be supervised by an attorney, except where otherwise allowed by law, regulation or statute (Language Adopted September 26, 1995) .

The South Carolina State Bar Association has defined legal assistants as qualified and educated individuals working under attorneys' supervision.

This Page last Modified on 08/15/2007