Internship

In this project, students will:

a) perform research using bar association resources, case law and applicable

statutes (both in New York as well as in other states) in order to gain an

understanding of the conce

pt of unauthorized practice of law by paralegals in New

York;

b) evaluate the effectiveness of current regulations/sanctions re: the unauthorized

practice of law in New York; and

c) propose additional regulations/sanctions for submission to the various N

ew York

Bar Associations as well as to the Office of the Attorney General of the State of New

York; and

d)

research the Internet (websites and social media) for examples of unauthorized

practice of law committed by paralegals (or people who call themselve

s paralegals)

and create a list of these websites/names. For

example, the table/document would

read:

Company name/web address/social media information/example and attach

this

table to the 5

-

7 page paper.

The final project will be in the form of a 5

-

7 page

paper which will incorporate the

information gathered and compiled for a), b), c) and d) above.

Citations will be in

MLA format.

In performing research on the topic, it is evident that there is not even uniform

authority on the unauthorized practice of la

w for attorneys:

“(

A)t present, there is no

single place to turn in New York state for a definition of the practice of law and what may

constitute the unauthorized practice of law in New York state. However, attorneys are

referred to the provisions of art

icle 15 of the Judiciary Law (especially §§ 478 and 484).

Investigation and prosecution of allegations of unauthorized practice are handled by the

Attorney General’s office (Judiciary Law §§ 476

-

a to 476

-

c). Unauthorized practice may

subject the violator t

o misdemeanor prosecution (Judiciary Law § 485) or contempt of

court (Judiciary Law § 750[b]). (See, also, Judiciary Law §§ 16, 250).

”

www

.

nysba

.

org

NOTE: