The terms Legal Assistant and Paralegal are often interchanged. But what you may not realize is that there has been a massive debate in the legal profession regarding these two terms. The debate has been raging in paralegal groups, web sites, magazines, and bar associations.
Recently, laws have been introduced to designate who may use which title.
For example, in California, rules went into effect in 2001 to establish qualifications for practicing as a paralegal which made it unlawful for individuals to use the title 'paralegal' unless they meet those qualifications (one of which is that all the services they perform must be under the direct supervision of an active member of the California State Bar).
SCOLA, previously the Standing Committee on Legal Assistants determined that paralegal is the preferred title by employers and subsequently changed its name to the Standing Committee on Paralegals.
In another example, the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) removed the term 'legal assistant' from its definition.
So it seems, paralegal is quickly becoming the preferred term to use. In addition, educational requirements like CLE credits are becoming more popular in this profession. All this can only be a good thing for paralegals across the nation as it will advance their status in the legal profession.
