THESE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OF PROGRAMS WERE STUDIED: CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS, LEGAL AID OFFICES PROGRAMS, DISTRICT ATTORNEYS' PROGRAMS, LEGAL ASSISTANT ASSOCIATIONS, GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY PROGRAMS, AND PROPRIETARY SCHOOLS. QUESTIONNAIRES WERE SENT TO 562 OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS. THE SURVEY RESPONSE INDICATES THAT THERE IS A VAST AMOUNT OF ACTIVITY IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF NONDEGREE LEGAL ASSISTANT PROGRAMS IN THE U.S. TO TRAIN LEGAL WORKERS IN A VARIETY OF SUBSTANTIVE AREAS OF LAW AND TRAIN LAWYERS IN USING LEGAL ASSISTANTS. CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS RANGE FROM 1-DAY SEMINARS TO 20-WEEK COURSES AND TRAINING SESSIONS FOR LEGAL AID AND DISTRICT ATTORNEY PROGRAMS ARE INHOUSE OFTEN CONTINOUS PROCESSES. ALL CONCENTRATE ON TEACHING SKILLS SUCH AS WRITING, INTERVIEWING, NEGOTIATION, LEGAL RESEARCH, SCREENING, PROTECTION OF EVIDENCE, WITNESS CONTACT PREPARATION, AND PREPARATION OF ROUTINE PLEADINGS, DOCUMENTS AND SUMMARIES. LEGAL ASSISTANT ASSOCIATIONS SPAN THE U.S. AND INCLUDE LOCAL GROUPS AND NATIONAL PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS. SOME OF THE ASSOCIATIONS ARE DIRECTED TOWARD SHARING INFORMATION AMONG MEMBERS, PROVIDING AN ORGANIZED VOICE FOR LEGAL ASSISTANTS, AND ADOPTING A NATIONAL CERTIFICATION PROCEDURE WHILE OTHERS OFFER TRAINING PROGRAMS IN AREAS SUCH AS FAMILY LAW, PARALEGAL PROFESSIONALISM, AND BASIC RESEARCH. GOVERNMENT AND LAW FIRM PARALEGALS RECEIVE INHOUSE, ON-THE-JOB TRAINING ON AN INFORMAL BASIS. PROPRIETARY SCHOOLS REQUIRE ENROLLEES TO TAKE ENTRANCE EXAMINATION, USE TRAINING LECTURES AND WORKSHOPS, AND OFFER INTERNSHIPS. COURSES RANGE FROM 13 WEEKS TO 11 MONTHS. THE SURVEY INSTRUMENT AND A SELECTION OF RESPONSES ARE PROVIDED. (DAG)