California Business and Professions Code

§ 6450

BPC § 6450 Effective Jan 1, 2007Div. 3 · Ch. 5.6

Statute text

(a)“Paralegal” means a person who holds himself or herself out to be a paralegal, who is qualified by education, training, or work experience, who either contracts with or is employed by an attorney, law firm, corporation, governmental agency, or other entity, and who performs substantial legal work under the direction and supervision of an active member of the State Bar of California, as defined in Section 6060, or an attorney practicing law in the federal courts of this state, that has been specifically delegated by the attorney to him or her. Tasks performed by a paralegal include, but are not limited to, case planning, development, and management; legal research; interviewing clients; fact gathering and retrieving information; drafting and analyzing legal documents; collecting, compiling, and utilizing technical information to make an independent decision and recommendation to the supervising attorney; and representing clients before a state or federal administrative agency if that representation is permitted by statute, court rule, or administrative rule or regulation.

(b)Notwithstanding subdivision (a), a paralegal shall not do the following:

(1)Provide legal advice.

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Legislative history

Amended by Stats. 2006, Ch. 567, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2007.