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Paralegal Regulation Sorely Needed

Yesterday's news that a paralegal posed as a lawyer to represent a client in court illustrates the need to regulate paralegals. As it stands now, Larissa Sufaru, the paralegal in question, can resume her work as a paralegal without any fines or sanctions. She can be charged criminally, however. According to New Jersey law, Sufaru can be charged with a disorderly persons offense or with a fourth-degree crime (N.J.S. 2C:21-22.)

Sufaru faces no professional sanctions, nor are safeguards in place to screen paralegals and ensure that they are fully aware of the ethics involved in the unauthorized practice of law. With mandatory licensure, Sufaru would face sanctions, including suspension or revocation of her license. Licensure would require specific paralegal training, including ethics, and would require continuing education with a component in ethics.

By the way, this isn't the first time Sufaru has represented herself as a lawyer. As a board member of Women Helping Women, she is listed as Larissa Sufaru, Esq.

Full post as published by A Paralegal's Blog on December 30, 2008 (boomark / email).