NCJ Number
31721
Date Published
1976
Length
563 pages
Annotation
DESIGNED FOR USE BY PUBLIC DEFENDER AGENCIES AND INMATE LEGAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, THIS MANUAL OFFERS PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS ON THE APPROPRIATE ROLES, RESPONSIBILITIES, RECRUITMENT, AND TRAINING OF PARALEGALS.
Abstract
THE OBJECTIVES OF THIS MANUAL ARE AS FOLLOWS: TO TELL ADMINISTRATORS WHERE SUCCESSFUL PARALEGAL PROJECTS ARE; TO GUIDE ADMINISTRATORS TO OTHER SOURCES OF INFORMATION; TO DESCRIBE OPTIMUM PARALEGAL ROLES IN DEFENDER OFFICES AND CORRECTIONS LEGAL SERVICES PROGRAMS; AND TO DESCRIBE METHODS OF HIRING, TRAINING, AND SUPERVISING PARALEGALS. THE INFORMATION ON ROLES, SUPERVISION, AND TRAINING, WAS DRAWN FROM THE EXPERIENCE OF ATTORNEYS AND PARALEGALS ACTUALLY INVOLVED IN PARALEGAL PROGRAMS. DEFENDER PARALEGAL SERVICES ARE FIRST DISCUSSED. FOR EACH SERVICE - CASE INTAKE, EARLY CARE PROCESSING, DIVERSION, CLIENT INTERVIEWS, PLANNING OF COMMUNITY SERVICES FOR CLIENTS, TRIAL PREPARATION, PLEA NEGOTIATIONS, PREPARING SENTENCING RECOMMENDATIONS, AND APPEALS AND COLLATERAL ATTACKS - THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS PROVIDED: THE PARALEGALS' DUTIES, POTENTIALS FOR UPGRADING, SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS OF THE JOB, AND A LIST OF DEFENDER ORGANIZATIONS KNOWN TO HAVE PARALEGALS PERFORMING THIS KIND OF WORK. PARALEGAL SERVICES FOR SENTENCED INMATES ARE THEN EXAMINED. THE POSSIBLE ROLE OF THE PARALEGAL IN GENERAL CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES IS FIRST DISCUSSED. PARALEGAL USE IN PROVISION OF SPECIALIZED SERVICES SUCH AS DISCIPLINARY HEARINGS, CLASSIFICATION AND TRANSFER HEARINGS, LIFTING ENCUMBRANCES, AND PAROLE HEARINGS IS EXPLORED AS WELL. FINALLY, POSSIBLE USES FOR PARALEGALS IN CRIMINAL REPRESENTATION AND IN PROMOTING CORRECTIONAL LAW REFORM ARE INVESTIGATED. GUIDELINES ON PREPARING A PARALEGAL PROGRAM, RECRUITMENT OF PARALEGALS, DESIGNING AND GIVING AN ORIENTATION PROGRAM FOR THE NEW PARALEGAL, ON-THE-JOB TRAINING, AND IN-SERVICE TRAINING ARE ALSO INCLUDED. (SNI ABSTRACT)