Comments on: Paralegals Replacing First Year Associates? http://paralegalassociates.org/2009/08/paralegals-replacing-first-year-associates/ Professional Paralegal Services -- Virtually Anywhere Thu, 27 Jan 2011 23:58:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.1 By: Hjduncan http://paralegalassociates.org/2009/08/paralegals-replacing-first-year-associates/comment-page-1/#comment-343 Hjduncan Tue, 31 Aug 2010 18:46:45 +0000 http://paralegalassociates.org/?p=152#comment-343 Thanks for your comment. A couple of thoughts on your question. I suspect many attorneys have room to improve as business managers. Of course, as cost pressure rises, management skills associated with effective use of trained staff may sharpen. A business-sharp firm or solo uses paralegals, especially virtuals, to the maximum legal extent, in order to free attorney time for work only attorneys can legally perform, and for marketing. On a positive note, I have seen ads seeking paralegals for front-to-back case management; these are smart firms. Paralegals must press for greater professionalization of the field, including national standards for training, legal definition of the field, possibly licensing, CLE requirements, and an effective national professional advocacy organization. Thanks for your comment. A couple of thoughts on your question. I suspect many attorneys have room to improve as business managers. Of course, as cost pressure rises, management skills associated with effective use of trained staff may sharpen. A business-sharp firm or solo uses paralegals, especially virtuals, to the maximum legal extent, in order to free attorney time for work only attorneys can legally perform, and for marketing. On a positive note, I have seen ads seeking paralegals for front-to-back case management; these are smart firms.
Paralegals must press for greater professionalization of the field, including national standards for training, legal definition of the field, possibly licensing, CLE requirements, and an effective national professional advocacy organization.

]]> By: Alan Haley http://paralegalassociates.org/2009/08/paralegals-replacing-first-year-associates/comment-page-1/#comment-336 Alan Haley Mon, 23 Aug 2010 21:17:18 +0000 http://paralegalassociates.org/?p=152#comment-336 Kristina, I agree with you! In every firm I have been a part of, experienced paralegals consistently outperformed new associates. I have never really understood why paralegals are often treated as legal secretaries, when they have the potential for much, much more! Alan Haley Kristina,

I agree with you! In every firm I have been a part of, experienced paralegals consistently outperformed new associates. I have never really understood why paralegals are often treated as legal secretaries, when they have the potential for much, much more!

Alan Haley

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