Glossary
Paralegal
A trained legal professional who assists lawyers but isn't a lawyer themselves. Paralegals can do legal research, draft documents, and manage cases: under a lawyer's supervision. They cannot give legal advice.
Paralegals do much of the practical work in a law office: interviewing clients, organizing case files, drafting initial versions of documents, and researching legal issues. A skilled paralegal can be essential to a busy lawyer's practice.
The line they can't cross: giving legal advice or representing clients in court. Even if a paralegal knows the answer to a client's question, they can't give it without a lawyer's supervision. That's the unauthorized practice of law line.