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The terms paralegal and legal assistant/specialist
are used interchangeably, referring to people
who, although not members of the legal profession,
are qualified through education, training, or
work experience, and are employed or retained
by a lawyer, law office, governmental agency
or other entity in a capacity or function which
involves the performance, under the direction
and supervision of an attorney, of specifically
delegated substantive legal work.
Paralegals may either work with attorneys who
oversee their work or work in areas where they
are specifically authorized to assume certain
law-related duties. The specific tasks
assigned to the paralegal vary according to
the area of practice. Paralegals
must comply with the legal restrictions on the
practice of law by non-lawyers.
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