<Ul> <Li> From the National Federation of Paralegal Associations ( NFPA ) ( USA ) : `` A paralegal is a person , qualified through education , training or work experience to perform substantive legal work that requires knowledge of legal concepts and is customarily , but not exclusively , performed by a lawyer . This person may be retained or employed by a lawyer , law office , governmental agency or other entity or may be authorized by administrative , statutory or court authority to perform this work . Substantive shall mean work requiring recognition , evaluation , organization , analysis , and communication of relevant facts and legal concepts . '' </Li> <Li> From the National Association of Legal Assistants ( NALA ) ( USA ) : `` Legal assistants ( also known as paralegals ) are a distinguishable group of persons who assist attorneys in the delivery of legal services . Through formal education , training and experience , legal assistants have knowledge and expertise regarding the legal system and substantive and procedural law which qualify them to do work of a legal nature under the supervision of an attorney . '' This is NALA 's former 1984 definition . In 2001 , the organization adopted the American Bar Association 's ( ABA ) definition of a paralegal / legal assistant . </Li> <Li> From National Association of Legal Secretaries ( NALS ) ( USA ) : `` A legal assistant / paralegal is a person , qualified by education , training or work experience who is employed or retained by a lawyer , law office , corporation , governmental agency or other entity and who performs specifically delegated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible . '' </Li> <Li> From the American Association for Paralegal Education ( AAfPE ) ( USA ) : `` Paralegals perform substantive and procedural legal work as authorized by law , which work , in the absence of the paralegal , would be performed by an attorney . Paralegals have knowledge of the law gained through education , or education and work experience , which qualifies them to perform legal work . Paralegals adhere to recognized ethical standards and rules of professional responsibility . '' </Li> <Li> From the Institute of Paralegals ( United Kingdom ) : `` A paralegal is a non-lawyer who does legal work that previously would have been done by a lawyer , or if done by a lawyer , would be charged for . '' </Li> <Li> From the Paralegal Society of Ontario ( Canada ) : `` A paralegal is an individual qualified through education or experience licensed to provide legal services to the general public in areas authorized by the Law Society of Upper Canada . '' </Li> <Li> From the National Association of Licensed Paralegals ( United Kingdom ) : `` A person who is educated and trained to perform legal tasks but who is not a qualified solicitor or barrister . '' </Li> </Ul>
the two major national associations of paralegal professionals are known as
National Federation of Paralegal Associations National Association of Legal Assistants