National Paralegal Day Date in the current year: October 23, 2024

Paralegals, also referred to as legal assistants, are legal professionals who perform tasks that do not require the full expertise of a lawyer and work under the direct supervision of a lawyer. Paralegals are supposed to have enough knowledge of legal concepts in order to draft routine legal documentation, perform legal research and analysis, analyze and summarize depositions, and perform other day-to-day tasks.

In the United States, the concept of paralegal was officially endorsed by the American Bar Association (ABA) in 1967. The ABA established its first committee of legal assistants the following year. The first major professional organization for paralegals, the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA), was established in 1976. Exactly two decades later, the National Federation of Paralegal Assistants (NFPA) was created.

In the United States, paralegals aren’t licensed by any kind of government agency. Instead, they can pass professional certification exams offered by the NALA or the NFPA. However, there are no legal requirements for licensure or certification for paralegals in the United States. Standards and requirements for paralegals vary by employer.

As we’ve already mentioned above, paralegals can perform a wide range of tasks that require legal knowledge. However, in the United States, there are acts that only licensed attorneys are allowed to perform. They include establishing the attorney-client relationship, giving legal advice, signing legal papers, appearing in court on their client’s behalf, and setting and collecting legal service fees. If a paralegal attempts to perform any of these acts, they can be charged with unauthorized practice of law.

In many countries, paralegals are essential to the success of law firms because they lift the burden of routine tasks from lawyers. So it is not surprising that there is a professional holiday celebrating paralegals. However, it should be noted that National Paralegal Day isn’t “truly” national because it hasn’t been officially proclaimed by the United States Congress.

Several state governments have independently designated Paralegal Day in their respective states, and its date may vary from state to state. They include California, Connecticut, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, and Utah. The most common date for the unofficial celebration of National Paralegal Day is October 23; it coincides with Paralegal Day in Texas.

How can you join the celebration of National Paralegal Day? If you know a paralegal, send them a greeting card to show that their work is much appreciated. If you’re a paralegal yourself, give a shout-out to your colleagues across the country on social media and spread the word about the holiday with the hashtag #NationalParalegalDay.