Guidelines

Guidelines for Use of Paralegals in Rendering Legal Services

These guidelines explain a lawyer’s professional responsibilities when supervising a paralegal.

Certification

The purpose of the State Bar's Plan for Certification of Paralegals, as well as national certification programs, is to assist in the delivery of legal services by identifying paralegals who are qualified by education and training to be certified and to encourage those paralegals to improve competency through mandatory continuing education.

Educational Programs

With respect to paralegal education, a wide variety of programs exist. There is no standard, prescribed curriculum for paralegals that is analogous to the curriculum requirements for an ABA accredited law school.

The Plan for Certification of Paralegals

The Plan for Certification of Paralegals is located in Subchapter G of the North Carolina State Bar's Rules and Regulations.