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The Florida Registered Paralegal Program is now available to the public. There has already been a respectable amount of interest from hundreds of people and there is an expectation of several others to download the application today via the Internet at the Florida Bar’s Web site.

At the time you submit an application you are required to submit a $150 application fee. You can expect to receive a certificate and welcome pack in the post 2 weeks after applying if you are accepted. The program establishes two levels for paralegals, and a disciplinary system and Code of Ethics and Responsibility.

The first tier paralegals have an education, or have training or work experience and are watched by the attorney in which they work under and receive tasks delegated to them, which the lawyers are responsible for.

Tier two paralegals have to meet education and work experience requirements or be certified by the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) or the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA).

Furthermore, it is required that the paralegals show that they have worked in the profession extensively to be grandfathered into being titled as a Florida Registered Paralegal, for the first three years.

Any persons that earn the title will have their name listed on The Florida Bar Web site.

Florida Registered Paralegals are required to renew their title by completing a mandatory 30 hours every three years. Five of the thirty hours must be professionalism or ethics courses.

Currently it is the attorneys that employ the paralegal that is responsible for the work performed by the paralegal, for all states, not just Florida.

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Nowadays, its essential for you to pursue formal academic training in order to be successful in the paralegal career. There are over 600 programs in the US that are specifically designed to train people to become paralegals. Needless to say, paralegal study varies widely from one institution to another.

A multitude of both public and private learning facilities offer degree programs in the field of paralegal studies. Programs for paralegal studies come in many diverse lengths and formats:

Paralegal Associate degrees: This degree is offered by many community colleges as well as at a few select four year universities and business schools. Earning it requires the student to complete 60 to 70 semester units. The curriculum is usually a combination of paralegal courses and general courses, with the areas usually being split in half.

Baccalaureate Degree Programs: These can often be found at four year colleges and universities that offer a paralegal studies major, minor, or concentration within a major. Typically the program will require the student to complete 120 to 130 semester units, with 30 to 60 of these to be in paralegal and related studies.

Certificate Programs: Numerous schools will offer a paralegal certificate program. These usually take 18 to 60 semester units to earn. The longer programs will often include general education courses to be completed in conjunction with the paralegal ones.

Master’s Degree Program: Some colleges and universities that offer their students undergraduate degrees in paralegal studies are now offering them a more advanced education in the form of master’s degree programs.

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A back injury can result in a serious impairment. However, it is not necessarily “disabling.” Social Security has a strict set of guidelines regarding back injuries. Social Security will consider your remaining functional capacity for work after your injury.

1. Your “age” can be a very important factor. If you are under age 50 and can still do some form of work such as clerical work then your back injury will probably not entitle you to benefits.

2. Your “age” can work in your favor. If you are over 55 with only a high school education and a past history of manual labor, then you would have a very good case for disability if your back injury now prevents you from doing manual labor.

3. Your “past work experience” is an important factor. As noted above, a past history of only manual labor can make your case for disability much easier.

4. Conversely, a past history of only “clerical work” may mean you can easily return to that type of work despite your back injury.

5. The “skill level” of your past work is also important. As a general rule the more skills you possess the more difficult it is going to be to obtain disability benefits. This is so because a skilled worker can transfer his/her skills to many different occupations many of which may be light enough to do even after a serious back injury.

6. Conversely, if you have “no skills” or have only done “unskilled” work then it will be easier to prove a case for disability.

7. Your “educational level” is also important. As a general rule the more education you have the harder it is going to be to win your disability case.

8. When it comes to a back injury, a “doctor’s opinion” from a an orthopaedist, a pain management doctor, or a rehabilitation doctor regarding one ’s functional abilities can be decisive in a disability case. But a simple statement that one is “disabled” is not enough. It is better if the physician prepares a comprehensive statement describing how one’s abilities to lift, walk, sit, etc. are compromised by the patient’ back injury. In my cases I almost always have a Lumbar Spine Functional Evaluation completed by the treating back specialist or if one is not available then the claimant’s primary treating physician.

9. The back injury listing can be found at Section 1.00 of Social Security’s Schedule of Muscoloskeletal Impairments. If a back injury specialist says your impairment meets or equals one of these back stings then your case for disability will be very strong.

10. If you are denied on your initial application, you should consult an attorney who specializes in Social Security Disability. You can review my other article on How to Find the Best Virginia Social Disability Lawyer for some tips on finding an experienced Social Security Disability attorney.

This may be considered AN ADVERTISEMENT or Advertising Material under the Rules of Professional Conduct governing lawyers in Virginia. This note is designed for general information only. The information presented in this note should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship.

Jerry Lutkenhaus is a practitioner of Social Security Disability law in the Richmond, Virginia area for over 30 years. He was given an “AV” rating by Martindale Hubbell in 2003. Lexis Nexis listed him in the 2005 Bar Register of Preeminent Attorneys. For more information, see http://www.geraldlutkenhaus.com and http://www.virginiadisabilitylawyer.com

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