Actions That Are Not Unauthorized Practice of Law You may do these things.

What a Paralegal Does Other Law Office Professionals may perform these actions too

Drafting Discovery questions and responses Discovery questions and responses Complaints and answers Complaints and answers Bankruptcy petitions Bankruptcy petitions Articles of incorporation and minutes of meetings Articles of incorporation and minutes of meetings Real estate documents for closings Real estate documents for closings Wills and codicils Wills and codicils Visa and citizenship papers Visa and citizenship papers Documents for probating of wills Documents for probating of wills

Interview & Locate Clients Clients Witnesses Witnesses Experts Experts Witnesses Witnesses Assets Assets

Organize and Analyze Set up, summarize and attend depositions Set up, summarize and attend depositions Organize file materials Organize file materials Prepare trial notebooks and oral argument notebooks Prepare trial notebooks and oral argument notebooks Organize documents and evidence Organize documents and evidence Obtain facts from a Client Obtain facts from a Client Communicate information to the client Communicate information to the client Interview witnesses Interview witnesses Perform limited legal research to assist an attorney with legal analysis Perform limited legal research to assist an attorney with legal analysis Obtain documents Obtain documents

Prepare, summarize and analyze data received in response to discovery requests Prepare, summarize and analyze data received in response to discovery requests draft requests for production of documents draft requests for production of documents draft interrogatories draft interrogatories draft responses to interrogatories draft responses to interrogatories draft responses requests for documents (including organizing and preparing copies of documents) draft responses requests for documents (including organizing and preparing copies of documents) draft pleadings draft pleadings Draft Correspondence Draft Correspondence

Perform title examinations Perform title examinations Organize documents and evidence Organize documents and evidence Obtain facts from a Client Obtain facts from a Client Communicate information to the client Communicate information to the client Interview witnesses Interview witnesses Perform limited legal research to assist an attorney with legal analysis Perform limited legal research to assist an attorney with legal analysis Obtain documents Obtain documents

Prepare Prepare case chronologies case chronologies deposition summaries deposition summaries exhibit lists exhibit lists Organize and track deadlines Organize and track deadlines Conduct factual searches Conduct factual searches Explain to clients how legal process works Explain to clients how legal process works With supervision of Attorney With supervision of Attorney

What a Legal Secretary Does Prepare legal documents and correspondence from dictation or instruction Prepare legal documents and correspondence from dictation or instruction Organize jobs in order of priority Organize jobs in order of priority Proof read documents Proof read documents Compose and prepare routine correspondence Compose and prepare routine correspondence Record and prepare the minutes of meetings Record and prepare the minutes of meetings Prepare statements (bills) for services Prepare statements (bills) for services

Legal Secretary: Read and route incoming mail Read and route incoming mail Locate client file and attach it to correspondence Locate client file and attach it to correspondence Sort, fold, insert, seal, address and stamp outgoing mail Sort, fold, insert, seal, address and stamp outgoing mail Schedule appointments Schedule appointments Screen calls and greet clients or visitors Screen calls and greet clients or visitors Place outgoing calls Place outgoing calls File correspondence and documents File correspondence and documents

Legal Secretary: Schedule appointments and court hearings Schedule appointments and court hearings and reconfirm them and reconfirm them Respond to clients as directed Respond to clients as directed Interact with clients, attorneys and others as directed Interact with clients, attorneys and others as directed Desktop publishing Desktop publishing Develop spreadsheets Develop spreadsheets Develop and manage databases Develop and manage databases Perform on-line research Perform on-line research

Paralegals and Legal Secretaries May Prepare Legal Documents… Under a lawyer’s supervision Under a lawyer’s supervision But may not sign pleadings But may not sign pleadings But may not sign letter giving legal advice But may not sign letter giving legal advice And may not prepare forms directly for others And may not prepare forms directly for others

A Self Employed Paralegal HOWEVER, BE CAREFUL!! Give clients instructions and legal information needed to handle their own cases Give clients instructions and legal information needed to handle their own cases Provide appropriate court forms for customer’s use Provide appropriate court forms for customer’s use Prepare forms at the direction of the customer Prepare forms at the direction of the customer File court papers File court papers Have forms served as directed by the customer Have forms served as directed by the customer People v. Landlords Professional Services, 215 C.A.3d 1599 People v. Landlords Professional Services, 215 C.A.3d 1599