Answered By: Carolyn Oldham Last Updated: Jun 12, 2023 Views: 104
The main code for paralegals (in California) is B&P §6450, Business & Professions code §6450, et seq.
The two top links below link to the code and information from the California Alliance of Paralegal Associations, which quotes the code.
Business & Professions code §6450, et seq. (from the caparalegal website)
https://www.caparalegal.org/business-professions-code-6450
The code is linked below, and the beginning section quoted:
California Legislative Information: Business Professions Code 6450
BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE - BPC
DIVISION 3. PROFESSIONS AND VOCATIONS GENERALLY [5000 - 9998.11]
( Heading of Division 3 added by Stats. 1939, Ch. 30. )
CHAPTER 5.6. Paralegals [6450 - 6456]
( Chapter 5.6 added by Stats. 2000, Ch. 439, Sec. 1. )
6450.
(a) “Paralegal” means a person who holds himself or herself out to be a paralegal, who is qualified by education, training, or work experience, who either contracts with or is employed by an attorney, law firm, corporation, governmental agency, or other entity, and who performs substantial legal work under the direction and supervision of an active member of the State Bar of California, as defined in Section 6060, or an attorney practicing law in the federal courts of this state, that the attorney has specifically delegated to him or her.
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/
Other sources:
These may give you more general information about paralegals and regulations concerning their use:
The article below, from the ABA website, contains some information about laws about the use of paralegals in legal firms:
No, a paralegal is not a lawyer: https://apps.americanbar.org/buslaw/blt/2007-01-02/kao.shtml
A section of the ABA Model Guidelines is quoted here:
Guideline 1 of the ABA Model Guidelines for the Utilization of Paralegal Services (Utilization Guidelines) provides that "a lawyer is responsible for all of the professional activities of a paralegal performing services at the lawyer's direction and should take reasonable measures to ensure that the paralegal's conduct is consistent with the lawyer's obligations under the rule of professional conduct . . . ." In turn, Rules 1.7 through 1.10 of the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct (Model Rules) impose specific obligations on lawyers with respect to conflicts and imputations of conflicts.
Career websites that have information and links on paralegals as a career:
O’Net, Summary of Paralegal Careers
https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/23-2011.00
Occupational Outlook Handbook
https://www.bls.gov/OOH/legal/paralegals-and-legal-assistants.htm#tab-1
Was this helpful? 0 0
Comments (0)
Related Topics
Chaffey Library Help:
Get assistance from a Chaffey Librarian during our open hours!
In case our librarians are unavailable, don't worry! Our worldwide cooperative of librarians is always there to assist you with any general campus and research-related questions.