A certified paralegal is a person who assists lawyers with a variety of tasks and has been certified by a professional organization as being qualified to do so. Paralegals are also sometimes called certified legal assistants. They must usually pass a special exam to earn their certification. In most areas, certification is not required but it gives an advantage in the job market.
Typically, a certified paralegal works under the supervision of a lawyer to help complete a variety of legal tasks. In most areas, a certified paralegal is allowed to complete many of the same duties as a lawyer, up to the point of actually arguing a case in court or giving out official legal advice to clients. There are some exceptions that may allow certified paralegals more autonomy in certain areas or under certain circumstances.
The exact work that a certified paralegal does is dependent on the paralegal's training and experience, as well as the employer's needs. For example, some certified paralegals may focus primarily on legal paperwork, such as writing contracts and preparing documents for court filings. Others may research laws relevant to cases their employers are working on and write briefs regarding this research to help prepare lawyers for court cases. There are also some who work as general legal assistants in all areas of the law practice.
Paralegals may get training in a variety of ways. For example, they may learn on the job, under the direction of a lawyer or more experienced paralegal, or they may attend classroom-based training. Those who attend classes may earn a certificate in paralegal studies, but that only does not make them a certified paralegal. To become a certified paralegal, the person must successfully complete a special exam from one of the various professional paralegal organizations. In the U.S., for example, there are several national organizations that offer certification for paralegals practicing in any area, as well as a few state-specific organizations that cater to legal assistants working in those individual states.
While certification is generally not required, paralegals may find it to be an advantage in the job market. Having certification can help show a perspective employer that a paralegal has the necessary background knowledge needed to complete a variety of legal tasks. A certified paralegal is usually required to obtain a certain number of hours of continuing education and to re-certify at regular intervals, which can also help show an employer that the individual is current in his or her knowledge.