paralegal
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paralegal
n. a non-lawyer who performs routine tasks requiring some knowledge of the law and procedures, employed by a law office or who works free-lance as an independent for various lawyers. Usually paralegals have taken a prescribed series of courses in law and legal processes, which is much less demanding than those required for a licensed attorney. Paralegals are increasingly popular, often handling much of the paper work in probates of estates, divorce actions, bankruptcies, investigations, analyzing depositions, preparing and answering interrogatories, procedural motions and other specialized jobs. Clients should be sure that the hourly rate charged for paralegals is much less than that for the attorneys.
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paralegal
a person who assists a fully enrolled or admitted lawyer. The scope of activity varies from place to place but often the paralegal can have substantial client-care contact, be heavily involved in drafting standard documents and actively liaise with the professionals in progressing court actions. In England and Wales there is a high-level profession of LEGAL EXECUTIVE.Collins Dictionary of Law © W.J. Stewart, 2006