The New York Paralegal

Robert A. Sarachan is a Professor and the Director of the Paralegal Program at Tompkins Cortland Community College, which is part of the State University of New York. He is also an Adjunct Professor at Cornell Law School. He has authored accounting textbooks and has taught various accounting, and law courses at Indiana University, IUPUI, Syracuse University and Ithaca College. Mr. Sarachan has a BA from Harpur College (Music, Economics), a BS from Binghamton University (Accounting), an MS from Syracuse University (Accounting), and an MBA and JD (Juris Doctorate) from Indiana University. William Statsky has been is a member of the ethics committee and the advisory council for the National Federation of Paralegal Associations and a member of the Certifying Board of the National Association of Legal Assistants. He has taught at Columbia Law School, UCLA School of Law, Antioch School of Law and Thomas Edison State College and is the author of numerous groundbreaking legal textbooks for paralegals. He was a member of the transition team for then-President-Elect Ronald Reagan. Mr. Statsky holds a master of law degree (LL.M.) in urban affairs as well as a juris doctorate degree (J.D.).

Part 1: Paralegal Profession
1. Overview of New York Paralegals.
2. Paralegal Associations and Related Groups in New York.
3. Sources of CLE for Paralegals.
Appendix A: Paralegals in Court Opinions.
Appendix B. Becoming an Attorney in New York.
Part 2: Paralegal Employment.
1. Resources for Finding Employment in New York.
2. Sample Paralegal Job Descriptions in State Government.
3. Sample Paralegal Job Description in a Federal Agency Located in New York.
4. Pro Bono Opportunities for Paralegals.
5. Becoming a Notary Public.
6. An Employee or an Independent Contractor?.
7. Overtime Pay under Federal Law and State Law.
8. Laid-Off Paralegals and Unemployment Compensation.
9. Injured Paralegals and Workers' Compensation.
Appendix A: Deductibility of the Cost of Paralegal Education or Training.
Part 3: Ethics, Paralegals, and Attorneys.
1. Defining the Practice of Law and the Unauthorized Practice of Law (UPL) in New York.
2. New York Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct (DRPC).
3. Ethical Opinions on Paralegals and other Nonattorneys.
4. New York Bar Associations (including Paralegal Membership Categories).
Appendix A: Timeline: Disciplinary Proceedings against an Attorney.
Part 4: Legal System.
1. Introduction to the State Government of New York.
2. State Courts in New York.
3. Federal Courts in New York.
4. State Legislation: How a Bill Becomes a New York Statute.
5. State Agencies, Offices, and Boards.
6. Counties and Cities: Selected Useful Law-Related Sites.
Part 5: Legal Research and Records Research.
1. New York State Legal Research.
2. Citation Examples: Some Comparisons.
3. Abbreviations in Citations: Some Comparisons.
4. Abbreviations for Notetaking.
5. Research Starters for __ Major New York Topics.
6. Self-Help Resources.
7. Public Records Research.
8. Finding Law Libraries in Your Area.
9. Hotline Resources and Complaint Directories.
Part 6: Procedure: Some Basics.
1. Timeline: A Civil Case in the New York State Courts.
2. Venue, Process, Pleadings, and Discovery: 45 Rules Even Non-Litigation Paralegals Should Know.
3. State and Federal Civil Litigation in New York: Some Comparisons.
4. Timeline: A Criminal Case in the New York State Courts.
Part 7: Sample Documents.
1. Sample Petition Action Filed in a New York State Court.
2. Sample Civil Complaint Filed in a Federal District Court in New York.
3. Sample Legal Memorandum Applying New York Law.
4. Sample Appellate Brief Filed in the New York Court of Appeals.
5. Sample Indictment Filed in a New York State Court.
Part 8: Comprehensive Legal Dictionary.