STATE OF NEW YORK 
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER 
Proclamation

Whereas, the Empire State recognizes members of the legal community who share a common professional affiliation and high degree of dedication to their work through which they contribute to the integrity of our judicial system, and we join to acknowledge the significant role that paralegals, also called legal assistants, serve within this state; and

Whereas, of vital importance to the attorneys they assist and under whose supervision they work, paralegals are generally responsible for researching, analyzing, and managing the daily tasks for legal cases; and

Whereas, paralegals perform nearly all the functions of lawyers, except for those strictly constituting the practice of law, and they assist lawyers with virtually all aspects of legal work – including specialized areas of law, such as family law, corporate law, real estate, government, estate planning, litigation and criminal trials; and

Whereas, the duties of paralegals primarily involve researching and writing reports about pertinent sections of statutes or cases to help lawyers prepare for legal proceedings, as well as drafting documents for litigation; and

Whereas, paralegals also help lawyers speak with clients to uncover all the facts of a case by obtaining affidavits and assisting with depositions and other materials relevant to cases; and

Whereas, many paralegals work in government maintaining reference files, analyzing material for internal use and preparing informational guides on the law, and other paralegals work in community legal services helping disadvantaged people obtain legal advice and aid, while yet others work for corporations where they help draw up employee benefit plans, shareholder agreements and stock options; and

Whereas, in whatever capacity they work, paralegals are an important component of any legal team, and, not only is their work invaluable to lawyers, but also to the public which benefits from their efforts that promote the efficiency and effectiveness of the judicial process, and it is fitting that New Yorkers join to recognize this hardworking and dedicated community of professionals;

Now, Therefore, I, David A. Paterson, Governor of the State of New York, do hereby proclaim July 20, 2009 as

PARALEGAL DAY

in the Empire State.

G i v e n under my hand and the Privy Seal of the State at the Capitol in the City of Albany this third day of June in the year two thousand nine.

David A. Paterson
Governor