The document describes the field of paralegalism in terms of what tasks paralegals, or legal assistants, have performed. The contents are based on surveys (seven specifically identified), journals, internal memoranda, and personal contact through the staff of the National Paralegal Institute. Specific tasks performed by paralegals are listed in separate sections of the document dealing with the following areas of legal practice: Law Office Administration, Change of Name Law, Law of Children, Community Work, Consumer Law, Corporate Law, Criminal Law, Divorce Law, Draft Law, Education Law, Employment Law, Health Law, Immigration and Naturalization Law, Investigation, Landlord-Tenant Law, Litigation, Military Law, Motor Vehicle Law, Petroleum Land Law, Post-Conviction Remedies and Corrections Law, Real Estate Law, Tax Law, Tribal Courts, Trust and Estates Law, Unemployment Insurance Law, Welfare Law, and Workmen's Compensation Law. Each task is assigned a rating on a scale of three for the characteristics of: frequency (how commonly the task is being performed by paralegals in the country today), skill (how much skill is needed to perform the task), and supervision (how much lawyer supervision has been needed to assist the paralegal to perform the task). Appended is information on the parajudge and a 16-item selected bibliography. (Author/MS)