DO PARALEGALS PRACTICE LAW?
No, only attorneys licensed by the Illinois Supreme Court can practice law in the state. By virtue of their education, experience and professional license, attorneys can give legal advice, represent a client in court, establish fees for clients, and accept cases. More importantly, only an attorney has the ultimate authority in making decisions regarding the legal rights of a client. Equally, an attorney bears the ultimate responsibility for the quality of legal services provided to clients. These things a paralegal is NOT permitted to do. A paralegal functions under the supervision of a licensed attorney. WHAT DOES A PARALEGAL DO? Paralegals are resource persons who, as an important part of the legal team, assist in providing economical, quality legal services to the public. The specific tasks a paralegal performs vary with the setting in which a paralegal works. Some paralegals are generalists who work with sole practitioner attorneys to deliver a wide range of legal services. However
