Welcome to PACO!
At PACO, we work to promote the interests of paralegals, foster relationships with the legal community, serve the public, advocate the Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility, and endorse the individual missions of PACO and the Columbus Bar Association (CBA).
What's New?
Mark your calendars for the Statewide Fall Forum on September 12, 2009 -- Check out the PACO Events Calendar for details...New photos posted of the 2009 PACO Board Elections & Oscar Party -- More...
Hot off the presses....it's the summer 2009 issue of The Citator!
Thanks to you, Paralegal Day 2009 was a huge success! Check out photos and more...
Nominate a deserving paralegal that you know for the annual McCormac Award -- More...
Hot off the presses! Read the NFPA News, Volume 1 - April 2009 -- More...
Renew your PACO membership and SAVE! Hurry...offer ends June 30, 2009 -- More...
NFPA to Present Awards & Scholarships -- More >
What is a paralegal?
A paralegal is a person, qualified through education, training, or work experience to perform substantive legal work that requires knowledge of legal concepts and is customarily, but not exclusively, performed by a lawyer. This person may be retained or employed by a lawyer, law office, governmental agency or other entity or may be authorized by administrative, statutory or court authority to perform this work.
Understanding the Nature of Paralegal Work
While lawyers ultimately are responsible for legal work, they often delegate many tasks to paralegals. Paralegals continue to assume tasks in legal offices around the country and perform many of the same tasks as lawyers. However, paralegals are still prohibited from carrying out duties such as: setting legal fees, accepting new clients, giving legal advice, and appearing in court on behalf of an attorney.
Paralegals work in all types of organizations, law firms, corporate legal departments, and various government offices. Within these organizations paralegals can work in many different areas of the law such as: litigation, personal injury, contract law, corporate law, criminal law, employee benefits, insurance law, intellectual property, labor law, bankruptcy, immigration, family law, and real estate. Paralegals work in occupations that require a specialized understanding of the law such as: law clerks, title examiners, claims adjusters, appraisers, examiners, and investigators.
For more information of the paralegal profession and job opportunities, go to:
- US Department of Labor Information concerning the profession
- American Bar Association Career Information concerning the profession
Paralegal Education Programs in Ohio
If you are interested in becoming a paralegal, please check out the American Bar Association's (ABA) Standing Committee on Paralegals List of Approved Programs. Additional information can also be found by clicking here. Please note that PACO does not endorse any paralegal education program.
Paralegal Canons and Ethical Considerations
Paralegals understand and embrace their commitment to the paralegal profession, as well as their obligation to increase the quality and efficiency of legal services, and uphold their responsibility to the public and the legal community. Please click here to view the paralegal Canons and Ethical Considerations.
...in
The Citator, our quarterly membership publication that is packed with the
news YOU can use to stay at the top of your game as a paralegal. Click