UPL Unauthorized practice of law. They apply to many professions who cannot provide services without referring to legal concerns, including realtors, bankers, accountants, trust companies and insurance companies. Throughout the United States, there are contrasting viewpoints about what activities constitute the practice of law. In order to review the practice of law as it relates to the paralegal profession, we must first recognize the evolution and growth experienced by the profession over the past ten years. The types of tasks which a paralegal may perform are limited only by statutory or court authority or by the accountable attorney's determination of the paralegal's competency.
Paralegals are better educated and are given a greater level of responsibility than ever before.
There are 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. An independent paralegal provides services to clients with regard to a process in which the law is involved, and for whose work no attorney is accountable. Independent paralegals often provide assistance directly to the public and are challenging the boundaries for the delivery of legal services.