e-Portfolios for legal professionals
Author
Faculty Advisor
Date
2024
Keywords
eportfolios, hiring, legal professionals
Abstract (summary)
This study explores whether including an e-portfolio in the hiring process is effective in obtaining entry-level employment for legal assistants and/or paralegals ("non-lawyer legal professionals") by surveying perspectives from current legal professionals and MacEwan University students in the Paralegal Studies and Office Assistant - Legal Major programs where it was further factored into primary and secondary means. Primarily, this research study explored whether e-portfolio implementation within the hiring process would be effective for legal assistants and/or paralegals to gain entry-level employment in the legal industry. The study secondarily explored the impact of generative artificial intelligence (AI) on this demographic of those entering the legal profession. We hypothesize that an e-portfolio will be received favourably by employers and students where the purpose will be to analyze an e-portfolio’s value for non-lawyer legal professionals, including MacEwan legal students, to showcase their skills for entry-level employment in an ever-evolving general AI landscape. As a result of this study, we conclude that further research is warranted to analyze this objective, given the sample size in the initial survey and whether AI will affect responses in the future, which may impact participant behaviours and responses over time. This recommendation will advance our understanding of the benefit of e-portfolios and provide insight into the complex relationship of generative AI concerning non-lawyer legal professionals.
Publication Information
DOI
Notes
Presented on April 19, 2024 at Student Research Day held at MacEwan University in Edmonton, Alberta.
Item Type
Student Presentation
Language
Rights
All Rights Reserved