ABA Journal

Paralegals

353 ABA Journal Paralegals articles.

Role of nonlawyer assistants in client intake addressed in new ABA ethics opinion

Lawyers may train nonlawyer legal assistants to handle client intake matters, but they must ensure that such assistants’ conduct is compatible with the lawyer’s professional obligations, including giving clients an opportunity to consult with the lawyer about questions, according to an ethics opinion from the ABA Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility released Wednesday.

Lawyer’s paralegal was fooled by fraudster who changed wiring instructions, suit says

A Connecticut lawyer sent part of the proceeds from a home sale to a fraudster’s bank account, rather than the bank holding the mortgage, a negligence lawsuit alleges.

Colorado will license paraprofessionals to perform limited legal work

The Colorado Supreme Court has approved a new rule that allows licensed nonlawyer paraprofessionals to perform limited legal work in some divorce and child-custody matters.

Citing slowdown, Stroock & Stroock & Lavan confirms layoffs

Stroock & Stroock & Lavan has laid off nine lawyers and 18 staff members and business professionals.

Goodwin Procter plans layoffs of lawyers, paralegals and staff members

Goodwin Procter announced lawyer and staff layoffs in an internal memo Thursday that will affect 5% of its timekeepers and nonlawyer professionals.

Citing ‘overcapacity,’ Cooley lays off 150 lawyers and professionals

Cooley has laid off 78 lawyers and 72 paralegals and business professionals as a result of “overcapacity” following an “unexpected economic downturn.”

Pierce Bainbridge, former partner reach deal in suit by paralegal who alleged sexual assault

A former paralegal at Pierce Bainbridge Beck Price & Hecht has apparently reached an agreement to end her August 2020 lawsuit alleging sexual assault by a former law firm partner.

Paralegal market is red-hot thanks to hybrid and remote work

It’s a seller’s market for paralegals. Remote work arrangements, which were uncommon pre-pandemic, today are nonnegotiable for many candidates. That’s been hard for some lawyers to accept.

California bill signed into law restricts state bar sandbox proposals

A State Bar of California proposal to explore law firm ownership by nonlawyers and allow paralegals to perform certain legal services was limited Sunday, when Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill requiring legislative approval for regulatory sandbox spending.

Advances in legal tech and regulatory innovation explored in new ABA report

The ABA Center for Innovation on Tuesday released its inaugural Innovation Trends Report, which explores developments in the legal services industry by focusing on internal ABA innovation, advances in legal technology and regulatory innovation.

How could mistaken release of cellphone data affect Texas lawyer for Infowars founder Alex Jones?

Because of a mistaken cellphone revelation, the Houston lawyer representing Infowars host Alex Jones in a Texas defamation lawsuit could have exposed himself to malpractice claims by his client, legal disciplinary action by the state and sanctions in a separate case in Connecticut.

Licensed paralegals program in Oregon gets final approval

The Oregon Supreme Court has given final approval to a program that allows licensed paralegals to provide limited legal services in family law and landlord-tenant cases.

Former Paul Ewing paralegal pleads not guilty to embezzling more than $600K

A former paralegal at Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr in Chicago has pleaded not guilty to allegations that she embezzled more than $600,000 while working on bankruptcy matters at the…

Former paralegal in federal prosecution office is convicted for outing witnesses

A former paralegal at the U.S. attorney’s office in New Jersey was convicted Tuesday based on accusations that she outed cooperating witnesses against her gang member son.

One-time jailhouse lawyer creates legal jobs program for the formerly incarcerated

Devon Simmons, co-founder and project director of a new program helping those with past convictions find work as paralegals and other jobs in the legal profession, says there’s a wealth of untapped legal talent among formerly incarcerated people.

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