Lawyers, Non-Lawyers Personnel and Paralegal Training Program   

This study aims to establish a specialized training program for Non-Lawyers in PNP particularly those assigned with the PNP Legal Service through a customized Paralegal Training Program, identify the challenges in the implementation and recommended measures that can be instituted, as well as plans of action. This paper intends to delve into skill and competencies of the non-Lawyers personnel of the PNP Legal Service, whether skill and competencies complement those possessed by our lawyers and support the accomplishment of the functional mandate of the PNP Legal Service. The source of the data were the lawyer and non-lawyer personnel of the PNP Legal Service and the tools of measurement were the primary data through survey questionnaire, conduct of interview and focus group discussion with select officers and men of the PNP Legal Service. The secondary source of data was obtained from documentary analysis. For the quantitative part of the study, utilization of Concordance Analysis as a statistical treatment seemed appropriate, whereas the researcher employed a unique instrumental in assessing their respondent’s opinion. Moreover, a modified Likert Scale was utilized in this study. Content Analysis was also taken consideration to supplement the quantitative nature of the statistical data.

The particular study is the first of its kind for the PNP Legal Service that addresses a gap in the skill and competencies of the non-lawyer personnel and for this purpose seeks the establishment of a paralegal training program which familiarize the non-lawyer personnel with, among other the fundamentals of substantive law and develop skill in particular procedure before courts and Administrative agencies. The program will help provide competent and qualified technical staff support for PNP Legal Officers, PNP LS and other units with similar needs. This study also seeks to provide the financial and logistical requirements and dedicated personnel needed for the program.