Unauthorized Practice of Law
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History of Unauthorized Practice of Law
In the 1800's state and local bar associations began to have more authority, which lead to the first UPL laws to be passed. These laws set a limit to what duties paralegals could perform for clients. It is also believed by some legal historians and commentators that the start of UPL came about during the Depression. UPL laws were passed in most states that made it a crime to practice law without a license.
The Three General Categories of Paralegal Practice
A traditional paralegal works with accountability to an attorney. The traditional paralegal is usually a full or part time employee of a law firm, corporation, or government agency working with attorneys. A contract paralegal works as an independent contractor with accountability to an attorney. These paralegals are usually retained by attorneys to provide substantive assistance on a case-by-case basis. An independent paralegal provides services to clients with regard to a process in which the law is involved, and their work should be assisted by an attorney, at the least, monthly. Independent paralegals often provide assistance directly to the public helping them prepare their documents, but they may not represent the client in court or give legal advice...