A paralegal alone is not a law firm

What paralegals can and can't do

A paralegal working for a licensed attorney can research cases, draft documents for the lawyer to review and sign, and communicate with clients about non-legal matters. That's it. Independently — without a supervising attorney — they cannot:

• Take you on as a client.
• Give legal advice.
• Sign or file legal documents on their own.
• Set fees for legal work.
• Appear in court or negotiate on your behalf.

Common patterns we see

• Ex-firm paralegals hanging out a shingle as "Legal Services LLC."
• A former attorney's office that keeps operating under a paralegal after the attorney retires, dies, or is disbarred.
• "Legal help" storefronts in shopping centers where the person in the room isn't a lawyer.
• Online "case managers" who never disclose that no licensed attorney is actually reviewing your matter.

What you can recover

• Refund of fees paid to the paralegal or their business.
• Damages caused by relying on their non-legal "advice."
• Bar complaint against any real attorney who let their license be used as cover.