It can be difficult to find the right legal assistance, especially when you don’t know where to start or what type of legal help you need. Navigating the legal system can be complex and confusing, especially if you don’t have a lot of experience with it. Trying to find the right lawyer, paralegal, or legal document assistant can feel like an impossible task, especially if you don’t understand the differences between these professions.
You might be wondering what do paralegal services entail? We wrote this article to answer the most common questions people have about paralegals. In it, we explain what a paralegal is, what they do, and how they are different from attorneys and legal document assistants (LDA).
What Is a Paralegal?
A paralegal is a legal professional who assists lawyers with their work. They are an important part of the legal profession and play a critical role in the justice system.
What Does a Paralegal Do?
A paralegal can perform a variety of law-related tasks. They are legal professionals who support lawyers by performing tasks such as preparing and organizing documents, conducting legal research, and managing client communications. Paralegals may only provide these services to attorneys through an independent contract.
As paralegals, we can provide legal research, investigate facts, draft legal motions, and/or write legal memoranda. Often times we perform many of the tasks that are performed by an attorney. However, paralegals are actually prohibited from practicing law and cannot provide legal advice, represent clients in court, or any other conduct which would violate the unauthorized practice of law statute.
Difference Between a Paralegal and an Attorney?
Many people are unsure of the difference between a paralegal and an attorney. The line between these two professions is often blurred, but there are some key distinctions.
Put simply, a paralegal is an individual who assists an attorney by performing research, preparing documents, and providing other legal support. An attorney is a lawyer who has passed the bar exam and is licensed to practice law in their state. As mentioned above, paralegals cannot represent you in court or provide any type of legal advice, while on the other hand, attorneys can.
Can the General Public Hire a Paralegal?
No. Paralegal services are designated to attorneys through an independent contract. Paralegals are barred from vending their services to private parties and/or the general public.
Where Can Private Parties and the General Public Obtain Legal Document Assistance?
Don’t worry. You can get the assistance you need! LDA is the acronym that stands for Legal Document Assistant. An LDA can work directly with the public in any area of the law and is also a UDA. Unlike Attorneys, LDA’s cannot give legal advice. What they can do is prepare documents at your specific request. Legal document assistance is offered to private parties and the general public!
Call Attorney Alternative Today!
If you are an attorney in need of Paralegal services or if you are a private party or member of the general public looking for Legal Documentation Assistance, trust the experts at Attorney Alternative. We are a locally-owned company that takes great pride in providing Fresno with the highest quality Professional Legal Documentation Assistance. We put our client’s needs above everything else to ensure they receive the most effective services. At Attorney Alternative, customer satisfaction is our number one priority. We are happy to answer any questions you may have about the services we provide. If you would like to schedule an appointment, please feel free to contact us via phone, email, or fill out the contact form on our website, and we will reach out to you as soon as possible.
Disclaimer:
Information provided through this site has been taken from self-help informational publications provided by the Court or other legal sources believed to be reliable. This information is general, published, factual information and should not be cited on or relied on as legal authority, nor should it be considered legal advice. It is always recommended that you seek legal advice from an attorney before filing any legal proceedings. Many attorneys offer free consultations.
I am not an attorney, I can only provide self-help services at your specific direction.
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