Mt San Antonio College

"Paralegal" and "legal assistant/specialist" are interchangeable titles for people who, although they are not members of the legal profession, have education, training, or work experience qualifying them to perform specifically entrusted, substantive legal work under the oversight of an attorney while employed or on retainer for a lawyer, law office, governmental agency, or other entity.

In some situations paralegals must work under the direction and supervision of attorneys, but they can also work independently when they are specifically authorized to carry out precise law-related duties. Paralegals can either work with lawyers who supervise their task or work in sectors where they are specifically empowered to undertake certain law-related responsibilities. The specific tasks assigned to the paralegal vary according to the area of practice. There are legal restrictions on the practice of law by non-lawyers that paralegals must comply with.