Difference Between Paralegal and Lawyer

Paralegal vs Lawyer

Lawyers and paralegals are employed in the same profession, but their job responsibilities, duties, rights, and capacities to function in the system are very different. They work for the“LAW.”

A lawyer is a person who practices law and is an attorney, solicitor, and counsel who has studied law. Law can be described as a system of conducts and rules established by the government of a country or society in order to maintain social and political stability and punish or correct any wrong deeds by delivering justice. The lawyer has various responsibilities, and they keep changing as per the legal jurisdiction. Lawyers apply the knowledge and theories of law in practical circumstances whereas paralegals, which is basically a term used in the United States, are people who assist the lawyers and help them in their legal work. In countries like Canada, they have different other functions and have a license and can represent clients in courts like provincial courts.

The difference in the function of lawyers and paralegals is that the lawyers can give legal advice; they can set a fee for their consultation; they can appear in the court as counsel, and they can sign court documents and pleadings. Lawyers analyze, consider, and strategize a case, but a paralegal is not allowed to carry out any of these functions. They are responsible for carrying out all the requirements arising from analyzing, considering, and strategizing. Paralegals are supposed to handle responsibilities like researching the case and other documents and legal writings for the lawyer they are working for.

The education of lawyers and paralegals is also very different. Lawyers have a more formal, longer, and more advanced education in law than paralegals. They have to go to law school and pass the Bar exam before practicing law, but a paralegal does not have to go through such an extensive study of law though they have to complete academic training of a specialized type. They are professionally capable of dealing with deadlines, court proceedings, contracts, evidence, and do almost all the research work required by the lawyer to conduct a case.
The responsibility and function of paralegals is different in different countries. In the U.K. they are considered non-lawyers who are capable of doing legal work. There is no consistency in the job description internationally.

Summary:

1.A lawyer is a person who practices law and is an attorney, solicitor, and counsel who has studied law; a paralegal cannot practice law but works for a lawyer and is responsible for researching the case and other documents and legal writings for the lawyer they are working for.
2.A lawyer has to go to law school and pass the Bar exam; paralegals have a specialized course but do not have to go for an extensive law degree.
3.The basic duties and functions of the lawyers is pretty much the same internationally; there is no consistency in the job responsibilities of paralegals internationally.

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