October 23rd is National Paralegal Day #ParalegalDay. If your #Homeschooling your children you could study #Paralegal’s today and take a Field Trip to the local Court House to see a Paralegal at work. When I was Homeschooling Charlie I didn’t know about National Paralegal Day or I would have done that.
National Paralegal Day, is an annual event on October 23rd that celebrates those who do the legal research and mountains of paperwork that enables law firms to function. Attorneys, who are ultimately responsible for a paralegal’s work, depend greatly on these men and women to get things right. That means having a firm grasp on the facts and the law.
Whether you call yourself a paralegal or a legal assistant, the work is basically the same/ To be an essential part of an attorney’s administrative team. As the need for attorneys continues to grow, skilled paralegals are increasingly in demand.
If you’re currently working in the profession or considering working as a paralegal in the future, National Paralegal Day has abundant information to get you up to speed on what the job entails and what kinds of certifications if any are required.
As far back as the early 1970s, interest was stirred about the need for an organized group of paralegals and legal assistants. This challenging job involves preparing and copying boatloads of legal documents like wills, real estate closings, affidavits and more, assisting attorneys with cases and trial prep and working with clients. But in the 70s, there was a general feeling among the workers that despite their expertise, attorneys didn’t always respect that work.
In 1973, the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) produced a series of seminars and workshops for people who helped lawyers in law offices. Eventually, the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) brought in about 15 other member organizations, established a code of ethics for paralegals and created a task force on credentialing criteria. Today the NFPA is comprised of 50 member organizations and 9000 individual members.
Although it’s difficult to find an American source for National Paralegal Day, you can get a specific card from Hallmark. Bottom line, the next time you find yourself in a law office, smile nicely to the worker bees who make it all happen, the certified paralegals.
How to Observe National Paralegal Day
- If you’ve recently worked with a law office or attorney, chances are there were paralegals working on your case until the wee hours of the night. Let them know you appreciate their help with a handwritten thank you note because there’s nothing sweeter.
- If you have the means send them a basket of baked goods. If you’re not a baker, you can always have Cookies or Fruit delivered to a local law office near you. Just be sure to note it’s for the paralegals on their holiday.
- If your looking to jump start your career paralegal training courses exist both online and in-person. Attending paralegals courses could be your first step towards a great gig or even law school.
Things Paralegals Do Daily
- A paralegal may have to conduct interviews with potential witnesses and take notes to summarize testimony.
- From complaints and subpoenas to pretrial orders and legal briefs, most of a paralegal are spent drafting these documents.
- Paralegals assist lawyers by gathering and analyzing information on the case as well as relevant laws, precedents, and prior judicial decisions.
Why National Paralegal Day is Important
- There’s no “I” in team and National Paralegal Day serves as a good reminder that it’s a team rather than just an attorney at work. Though the lawyer calls the (legal) shots, their arguments wouldn’t be possible without the help of the paralegal.
- National Paralegal Day shows paralegals that their tasks as assistants, researchers, and interviewers all matter, and the work doesn’t go unnoticed. Appreciation usually promotes better work ethic.
- Expressing gratitude at the office can improve work relationships and connections, according to research done by consultants. This, in turn, helps the attorneys accomplish their goals more efficiently.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
