It is unlawful for a paralegal to perform any services for a consumer except as performed under the direction and supervision of the attorney, law firm, corporation, government agency, or other entity that employs or contracts with the paralegal. Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit a paralegal who is employed by an attorney, law firm, governmental agency, or other entity from providing services to a consumer served by one of these entities if those services are specifically allowed by statute, case law, court rule, or federal or state administrative rule or regulation. “Consumer” means a natural person, firm, association, organization, partnership, business trust, corporation, or public entity.

(Amended by Stats. 2001, Ch. 311, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2002.)

Terms Used In California Business and Professions Code 6451

  • Case law: The law as laid down in cases that have been decided in the decisions of the courts.
  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
  • State: means the State of California, unless applied to the different parts of the United States. See California Business and Professions Code 21
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
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