Paralegals, or legal assistants, perform essential tasks delegated to them by licensed attorneys that the attorneys would otherwise have to complete on their own. According to the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA), legal assistants obtain the knowledge and expertise of the legal system that qualifies them to do work of a legal nature “through formal education, training, and experience” (NALA, 2015). Paralegals fill a vital role throughout both civilian and military law practices. However, there are some important distinctions both between the scope of responsibilities and formal education required that exist between the two classes of paralegals. NALA is a professional organization formed in 1975 to increase the professional
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military. While their roles are generally similar to those of civilian paralegals and legal assistants, there are some important differences in their responsibilities and education requirements. For instance, paralegal specialists are required to also be familiar with military and international law in addition to civilian law. They may be called upon to interview witnesses, provide support to unit commanders and judges, and assume more of an active role in the legal process than their civilian counterparts (ParalegalEDU.org, 2015). Generally this more active role entails things like providing services for family law like drawing up wills, powers of attorney, and separation decrees (ParalegalEDU.org, …show more content…
Several terms are used for NJP proceedings in different branches of the military. The Army uses the term “Article 15,” the Navy and Marines call it “Captain’s Mast,” and the Air Force calls the procedure “Office Hours” (Karns, 2016). NJP proceedings are much different from civilian law procedures because unit commanders act as judge, jury, and executioner. Although the accused have the right to present their side of the case and retain counsel, ultimately it is up to their commander to determine guilt and mete out punishment, which they can choose to suspend based on mitigating circumstances (Karns, 2016). Should they choose to turn down NJP, service members have the right to demand a court-martial trial, another legal process different from anything in civilian
military. While their roles are generally similar to those of civilian paralegals and legal assistants, there are some important differences in their responsibilities and education requirements. For instance, paralegal specialists are required to also be familiar with military and international law in addition to civilian law. They may be called upon to interview witnesses, provide support to unit commanders and judges, and assume more of an active role in the legal process than their civilian counterparts (ParalegalEDU.org, 2015). Generally this more active role entails things like providing services for family law like drawing up wills, powers of attorney, and separation decrees (ParalegalEDU.org, …show more content…
Several terms are used for NJP proceedings in different branches of the military. The Army uses the term “Article 15,” the Navy and Marines call it “Captain’s Mast,” and the Air Force calls the procedure “Office Hours” (Karns, 2016). NJP proceedings are much different from civilian law procedures because unit commanders act as judge, jury, and executioner. Although the accused have the right to present their side of the case and retain counsel, ultimately it is up to their commander to determine guilt and mete out punishment, which they can choose to suspend based on mitigating circumstances (Karns, 2016). Should they choose to turn down NJP, service members have the right to demand a court-martial trial, another legal process different from anything in civilian