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stofudentsstudymoresAtueytseecomeinvestawarigatineg thhese trether aWhenendparevesar,lore andal career is rihave conveask twoor themons wstions: i.hWhprospectivat is a pareastudelegal”tsa, hdey“alwaysWhat do paralegalsbofoTIhesane areswerbneaturcauas quthinionsnsweiduauttoeghlalweseemayqplsuoesitatetions depr and theallnnasesw,uor;thfulf thther,saonpereheficndclientless wlegalIsibilitare athis.“one sizea paralee clientk conveeates thstudentguide to,We diethut“is,yeliverandetherparale” andy ofposyougalswha-t, paralegals “do.”  \nSteven W. Schneider  \nSecrets to a successful career!  \nPracticing Attorney  \nAdams Media Avon, Massachusetts  \nDedication  \nTo my family, my colleagues, and my students, from who I have learned much more than can be included here.  \n• • •  \nPublishing Director: Gary M. Krebs Director of Manufacturing: Susan Beale  \nAssociate Managing Editor: Laura M. Daly Associate Director of Production: Michelle Roy Kelly Associate Copy Chief: Brett Palana-Shanahan Cover Design: Paul Beatrice, Erick DaCosta, Acquisitions Editor: Kate Burgo Matt LeBlanc  \nDevelopment Editor: Katie McDonough Layout and Graphics: Colleen Cunningham,  \nAssociate Production Editor: Casey Ebert Sorae Lee, Jennifer Oliveira  \nCopyright ©2006, F+W Publications, Inc.  \nAll rights reserved. This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproducedin any form without permission from the publisher; exceptions are made for brief excerpts used in published reviews.  \nAn Everything® Series Book.  \nEverything® [and everything.com](and everything.com)® are registered trademarks of F+W Publications, Inc.  \nPublished by Adams Media, an F+W Publications Company  \n57 Littlefield Street, Avon, MA 02322 U. S.A.  \n[www.adamsmedia.com](www.adamsmedia.com)  \n[ISBN 10: 1-59337-583-2](ISBN 10: 1-59337-583-2)  \nISBN 13: 978-1-59337-583-6 (paperback)  \nISBN 13: 978-1-60550-340-0 (EPUB) Printed in the United States of America.  \nJ I H G F E D C B  \nLibrary of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data  \nSchneider, Steven W.  \nThe everything guide to being a paralegal / Steven W. Schneider.  \n[p. cm](p. cm).—(An everything series book)  \nISBN 1-59337-583-2  \n1. Legal assistants--United States. I. Title. II. Series: Everything series.  \nKF320 .L4S365 2006  \n340.023'73—dc22  \n2006004162  \nThis publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information with regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional advice. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought.  \n—From a Declaration of Principles jointly adopted by a Committee of the American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations  \nMany of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their products are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book and Adams Media was aware of a trademark claim, the designations have been printed with initial capital letters.  \nThis book is available at quantity discounts for bulk purchases.  \nFor information, please call 1-800-289-0963.  \nVisit the entire Everything® [series at](series at www.everything.com)[ www.everything.com](series at www.everything.com)  \nContents  \nTop Ten Reasons to Become a Paralegal | x  \nIntroduction | xi  \nCHAPTER 1: WHAT IS A PARALEGAL? | 1  \nWhy Consider Becoming a Paralegal? | 1  \nDefining a Paralegal | 3  \nWhat Does a Paralegal Do? | 4  \nTraits of a Successful Paralegal | 5  \nSkills of a Successful Paralegal | 7  \nPreparing to Become a Paralegal | 14  \nParalegal Salaries and Career Opportunities | 16  \nRegulation Versus Evaluation | 19  \nCHAPTER 2: THE RIGHT PARALEGAL PROGRAM | 21  \nTypes of Paralegal E","cbCaikHsSP9kt8kx","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaikHsSP9kt8kx","pdf",6361746,306,"English","# Top Ten Reasons to Become a Paralegal\n# Introduction\n# CHAPTER 1: WHAT IS A PARALEGAL?\n## Why Consider Becoming a Paralegal?\n## Defining a Paralegal\n## What Does a Paralegal Do?\n## Traits of a Successful Paralegal\n## Skills of a Successful Paralegal\n## Preparing to Become a Paralegal\n## Paralegal Salaries and Career Opportunities\n## Regulation Versus Evaluation\n# CHAPTER 2: THE RIGHT PARALEGAL PROGRAM\n## Types of Paralegal Education Programs\n## Which Program Is Right for You?\n## Practical Experience Opportunities\n## ABA Approval\n## AAfPE Affiliation\n## Selecting a Curriculum\n# CHAPTER 3: PARALEGAL CAREER OPTIONS\n## Planning Your Paralegal Career\n## Tricks of the Trade\n## Applying for a Paralegal Position\n## Reaching Your Career Goals\n# CHAPTER 4: WORKING WITH LAWYERS\n## The Paralegal Working Environment\n## Law Firm Management\n## Organization of a Law Office\n## Timekeeping\n## Billing\n## Client Trust Accounts\n## Docket Control\n## File and Records Management\n# CHAPTER 5: ETHICS AND PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY\n## How Ethical Rules Affect Paralegal Practice\n## Regulation of the Legal Profession\n## Unauthorized Practice of Law\n## Competence\n## Confidentiality\n## Conflicts of Interest\n## Fees and Fee Splitting\n## The Licensing Debate\n# CHAPTER 6: THE AMERICAN LEGAL SYSTEM\n## Unique Sources of American Law\n## Constitutional Law\n## Statutory Law\n## Administrative Law\n## Common Law\n# CHAPTER 7: THE AMERICAN COURT SYSTEM\n## Unique Structure of the American Court System\n## How the System Affects the Case\n## The Federal Court System\n## The State Court Systems\n## Alternative Dispute Resolution\n# CHAPTER 8: CHOOSING A LEGAL SPECIALTY\n## Specialization: The Key to Job Security?\n## When to Decide\n## How to Decide\n## What Are the Options?\n## How Specialty Choice Affects Compensation\n## Predicting the Next Hot Specialty Area\n# CHAPTER 9: CRIMINAL LAW\n## Why Criminal Law?\n## The Difference Between Civil and Criminal Law\n## Types of Crimes","[{\"question\":\"What is a paralegal and what does a paralegal do?\",\"answer\":\"The book explains how to define a paralegal and outlines the core responsibilities a paralegal performs in legal support work.\"},{\"question\":\"How should you choose a paralegal education program?\",\"answer\":\"It compares types of paralegal education programs, discusses how to decide which program is right, and covers factors such as practical experience opportunities, ABA approval, and curriculum selection.\"},{\"question\":\"What ethical rules and responsibilities affect paralegal practice?\",\"answer\":\"It covers competence, confidentiality, conflicts of interest, fee rules, unauthorized practice of law, and the licensing debate that shapes professional responsibility.\"},{\"question\":\"How does specialty choice influence career outcomes?\",\"answer\":\"The guide describes when and how to decide on specialization, what options exist, and how specialty selection can affect compensation while helping predict future in-demand practice areas.\"}]","The Everything Guide to Being a Paralegal | PDF",107]