Please fill out the following form, then click the Submit Survey button to send the completed survey.
I. GENERAL INFORMATION
Name of Firm (Optional):
Name of Person Completing Survey:
Type of Firm:
Number of Attorneys in Firm:
Number of Paralegals in Firm:
II. QUALIFICATIONS FOR PARALEGALS
What are your requirements in hiring paralegals? (Select all that apply.)
Education: High School Associate's Degree Bachelor's Degree Certificate
Skills: Writing Ability Organizational Skills Professional Demeanor
Experience: Legal Office Medical
Other: (Please list.)
III. FIRM NEEDS
What do you most value in your paralegals in terms of skills that might be developed through a paralegal studies program? (Select all that apply.)
In which areas of legal practice do you most need paralegals? (Please list.)
IV. TREATMENT OF PARALEGALS
Yes No - Does your firm have a paralegal manager or supervisor?
Yes No - Does your firm have a paralegal committee?
Yes No - Does your firm have an annual retreat for paralegals?
Yes No - Does your firm have a career path for paralegals?
Yes No - Does your firm have monthly paralegal meetings?
Yes No - Do your paralegals have private offices?
Yes No - Do your paralegals have their own secretaries?
Yes No - Does your firm pay your paralegals' continuing education?
What job title do you use for your paralegals? Paralegal Legal Assistant Secretary
V. INTERNSHIPS
Yes No - Does your firm use paralegals as interns?
Yes No - Are you interested in trying an intern?
If yes, please provide contact information:
VI. PARALEGAL RECRUITMENT
How does your firm recruit paralegals? Employment Agency Advertisement Paralegal Association Local Paralegal Programs Bar Association
VII. JOB FUNCTIONS
Using the following scale, how frequently do the paralegals in your firm perform the following functions? 0 = Never; 1 = Occasionally; 2 = Frequently
0 1 2 - Obtain information from client.
0 1 2 - Obtain information from witness.
0 1 2 - Obtain information from third parties.
0 1 2 - Obtain information from public records.
0 1 2 - Draft discovery documents.
0 1 2 - Prepare summaries/chronologies.
0 1 2 - Organize/index files.
0 1 2 - Prepare/draft pleadings/documents.
0 1 2 - Set up depositions.
0 1 2 - Summarize depositions.
0 1 2 - Prepare trial/settlement notebook.
0 1 2 - Write court briefs/memos.
0 1 2 - Prepare and/or organize trial exhibits.
Other: (Please specify.)
B. REAL ESTATE RELATED TASKS:
0 1 2 - Perform title updates.
0 1 2 - Perform full title searches.
0 1 2 - Prepare deed, legal description.
0 1 2 - Coordinate information for closing.
0 1 2 - Prepare closing documents.
0 1 2 - Prepare abstract of title.
0 1 2 - Draft preliminary title opinion.
0 1 2 - Conduct closing.
C. BUSINESS/TRANSACTION TASKS:
0 1 2 - Draft/file organizational documents.
0 1 2 - Prepare/update minute books.
0 1 2 - Obtain business licenses.
0 1 2 - Draft annual meeting documents.
0 1 2 - Prepare notes, financing statements.
0 1 2 - Perform UCC searches.
0 1 2 - Prepare annual reports.
0 1 2 - Prepare merger documents.
D. LEGAL RESEARCH AND WRITING TASKS:
0 1 2 - Locate primary law.
0 1 2 - Brief/summarize relevant law.
0 1 2 - Write office memorandum.
E. TRUSTS AND ESTATES/PROBATE TASKS:
0 1 2 - Collect and organize data.
0 1 2 - Draft preliminary will and/or trust.
0 1 2 - Prepare estate inventory.
0 1 2 - Help locate and collect assets.
0 1 2 - Draft administration documents.
0 1 2 - Maintain records of claims.
0 1 2 - Draft preliminary tax returns.
VIII. Other Comments:
THE REMAINDER OF THIS SURVEY IS TO BE COMPLETED BY EMPLOYERS OF PELLISSIPPI STATE PARALEGAL GRADUATES. If you do not employ a Pellissippi State graduate, please click Submit Survey at the bottom of this form.
IX. EVALUATION OF PELLISSIPPI STATE'S PARALEGAL STUDIES PROGRAM
Using the scale below, please evaluate Pellissippi State's graduate with respect to the tasks listed. 0 = Poor: unacceptable, even for an entry-level paralegal; 1 = Fair: below expectations for an entry-level paralegal; 2 = Good: meets expectations for an entry-level paralegal; 3 = Excellent: exceeds expectations for an entry-level paralegal.
0 1 2 3 - Obtain information from client.
0 1 2 3 - Obtain information from witness.
0 1 2 3 - Obtain information from third parties.
0 1 2 3 - Obtain information from public records.
0 1 2 3 - Draft discovery documents.
0 1 2 3 - Prepare summaries/chronologies.
0 1 2 3 - Organize/index files.
0 1 2 3 - Prepare/draft pleadings/documents.
0 1 2 3 - Set up depositions.
0 1 2 3 - Summarize depositions.
0 1 2 3 - Prepare trial/settlement notebook.
0 1 2 3 - Write court briefs/memos.
0 1 2 3 - Prepare and/or organize trial exhibits.
0 1 2 3 - Perform title updates.
0 1 2 3 - Perform full title searches.
0 1 2 3 - Prepare deed, legal description.
0 1 2 3 - Coordinate information for closing.
0 1 2 3 - Prepare closing documents.
0 1 2 3 - Prepare abstract of title.
0 1 2 3 - Draft preliminary title opinion.
0 1 2 3 - Conduct closing.
0 1 2 3 - Draft/file organizational documents.
0 1 2 3 - Prepare/update minute books.
0 1 2 3 - Obtain business licenses.
0 1 2 3 - Draft annual meeting documents.
0 1 2 3 - Prepare notes, financing statements.
0 1 2 3 - Perform UCC searches.
0 1 2 3 - Prepare annual reports.
0 1 2 3 - Prepare merger documents.
0 1 2 3 - Locate primary law.
0 1 2 3 - Brief/summarize relevant law.
0 1 2 3 - Write office memorandum.
0 1 2 3 - Collect and organize data.
0 1 2 3 - Draft preliminary will and/or trust.
0 1 2 3 - Prepare estate inventory.
0 1 2 3 - Help locate and collect assets.
0 1 2 3 - Draft administration documents.
0 1 2 3 - Maintain records of claims.
0 1 2 3 - Draft preliminary tax returns.
F. OVERALL PERFORMANCE:
0 1 2 3
Please comment on specific areas of strength in our graduate's preparation for work:
Please comment on specific areas of weakness in our graduate's preparation for work:
X. EVALUATION OF PELLISSIPPI STATE'S PLACEMENT SERVICE
Using the scale below, please evaluate Pellissippi State's Placement service. 0 = Do not use; 1 = Not helpful; 2 = Helpful; 3 = Very helpful.
0 1 2 3 - Promptness.
0 1 2 3 - Accuracy in meeting requests.
0 1 2 3 - Overall quality of candidates' resumes and interviews.
Other comments about Placement:
XI. OTHER COMMENTS ON PELLISSIPPI STATE'S PARALEGAL STUDIES PROGRAM: