- No international definition; each jurisdiction has their own definition
Within Canada
- Considered to be officers of the court
- Capable of obtaining a license
- At higher levels, able to represent clients in small cases
- Can provide legal services to the public
- Long and demanding work schedules
- Increased responsibility and stress
- Greater amount of prestige
Within The U.S.A.
- Essentially lawyers’ assistants
- Unable to offer legal services to the public
- Cannot appear in any level of court
- Unable to procure a license
- Less responsibility
- Smaller, potentially less challenging workloads
- Seen as “legal clerks”; lack of prestige
Differences Between Paralegals and Lawyers
- Paralegals are limited in varieties of work; usually primarily paperwork
- In most jurisdictions, paralegals are unable to represent clients
- Possible to become a paralegal within a few months
- Less extensive training and education
- Paralegal training focuses on practical application
- Lawyer training is more holistic, includes theory
- Requires only related bachelor’s degree and completion of certified paralegal program
- Expected to carry out and perform tasks as a result of lawyers’ decisions, analyses, and considerations
- Unable to advance to higher positions within a single firm; must move to larger (corporate or governmental) firms
- Paralegals have a lower salary with a similar workload relative to lawyers
- Less respect and prestige than that commanded by a lawyer
- Less competition to become a paralegal
