NCJ Number
57060
Journal
WISCONSIN BAR BULLETIN Volume: 28 Dated: (AUGUST 1975) Pages: 7-15
Date Published
1975
Length
7 pages
Annotation
THE NEED FOR LEGAL ASSISTANTS IN WISCONSIN LAW OFFICES, WHERE PRACTICE IS SPREADING TO NEW FIELDS SUCH AS CONSUMER LAW, IS DISCUSSED, AND GUIDELINES FOR THE USE OF LEGAL ASSISTANTS ARE OUTLINED.
Abstract
USE OF PARALEGALS TO DO WORK OFTEN DONE BY LAWYERS BUT NOT REQUIRING A LEGAL EDUCATION CAN RESULT IN ECONOMIC ADVANTAGES AND INCREASED QUALITY OF LEGAL SERVICES. LAWYERS ARE BRANCHING OUT INTO NEW AREAS AND FINDING A LARGE BODY OF NEW CLIENTS (THE MIDDLE CLASS AND THE POOR WHO HAVE CONSUMER, LANDLORD-TENANT, AND INSURANCE PROBLEMS) THAT OFFERS A HIGH VOLUME BUSINESS WITH LOW FEE POTENTIAL. THE LEGAL ASSISTANT AND THE LEGAL SYSTEM APPROACH PERMIT A STANDARDIZATION OF LEGAL SERVICES AT A LEVEL ABOVE THAT POSSIBLE WITHOUT USING LEGAL ASSISTANTS, OFFER A GREATER OPPORTUNITY TO RETAIN AND ORGANIZE PAST WORK PRODUCTS, AND ENABLE LAWYERS TO SELECT THE BEST WORK AND AVOID MISTAKES OR TIME-CONSUMING PRACTICES. LEGAL ASSISTANTS HOWEVER, MUST, WORK UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE LICENSED ATTORNEY, AND THE ATTORNEY MUST MAINTAIN A DIRECT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CLIENT AND ASSUME PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE WORK PRODUCT. A LEGAL SYSTEM SHOULD BE DEVELOPED TO CREATE A STRUCTURE IN WHICH ASSISTANTS MAY WORK. TO CREATE A SYSTEM (I.E., AN ORGANIZED METHOD OF ACCOMPLISHING SOME SPECIFIC LEGAL TASK), LAWYERS SHOULD SELECT ONE PARTICULAR AREA OF LAW AND ANALYZE EXISTING OFFICE PROCEDURES, COLLECT PAST WORK PRODUCTS AS A BASIS FOR THE NEW SYSTEM, AND PREPARE A SET OF FORMS (E.G., OFFICE FORMS, CLIENT CONTROL LETTERS, INTERVIEW SHEETS) AND A DETAILED SET OF INSTRUCTIONS FOR LEGAL ASSISTANTS. MANY TRAINING PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE TO LEGAL ASSISTANTS, AND MANY OF THESE PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED OR ASSISTED IN SOME WAY BY THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION. STATE BARS ARE BEGINNING TO CONSIDER LICENSURE OF PARALEGALS. THE WISCONSIN BAR HAS HAD LITTLE INVOLVEMENT WITH PARALEGAL TRAINING AND SERVICES, BUT IT HAS APPOINTED SPECIAL COMMITTEES TO EXAMINE AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS WITH RESPECT TO LEGAL ASSISTANTS. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (DAG)