NOTE: Due to licensing restrictions, the CD that accompanies this book is not available for loan.

Successful law firms know that using qualified paralegals helps them deliver better service and more value while increasing their profits. Now more than ever, the paralegal is a necessary component in the successful and profitable delivery of legal services. Paralegals help you improve your client service, lower client costs and improve your bottom line. This guidebook will show you how to effectively integrate paralegals into your practice and expand their roles to ensure your firm is successful in the next decade.

Learn why you need paralegals and how to create a paralegal model for use in your firm-no matter what the size or structure. You'll learn how to recruit and hire top-notch paralegals the first time. If you are already currently using paralegals, you'll learn how to make sure your paralegal program is structured properly, runs effectively, and continually contributes to your bottom line.

The book explains the ethical issues involved in working with paralegals, and you'll find valuable information on how to handle other important concerns like conflicts of interest, supervision, timekeeping, compensation, billing, and much more. The appendices provide resources, job descriptions, model guidelines, sample confidentiality agreements, sample performance evaluations, and performance appraisals, also included on the accompanying CD-ROM for ease in implementation.