A Paralegal

Is an individual 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. Paralegals perform tasks requiring knowledge of the law and legal procedures.

A Paralegal is not a lawyer but is typically employed by a law office or internal legal department of a company.

Paralegals operate under a form of independent legal ethics and, with few exceptions, must also conduct their work under the formal supervision of an attorney.

Paralegals can conduct their own business and are called LDAs [in other States, called Law Agents], providing services such as settlements, court filings, legal rese auxiliary other auxiliary legal services; these tasks often have instructions from a solicitor attached.