28 CFR § 543.16 - Other paralegals, clerks, and legal assistants.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t28/s543.16"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "28 CFR § 543.16 - Other paralegals, clerks, and legal assistants."
title_number: 28
title_name: "Judicial Administration"
section_number: "543.16"
section_name: "Other paralegals, clerks, and legal assistants."
chapter_name: "BUREAU OF PRISONS, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE"
subchapter_number: "C"
subchapter_name: "INSTITUTIONAL MANAGEMENT"
part_number: "543"
part_name: "LEGAL MATTERS"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "5 U.S.C. 301; 18 U.S.C. 3621, 3622, 3624, 4001, 4042, 4081, 4082 (Repealed in part as to offenses committed on or after November 1, 1987), 5006-5024 (Repealed October 12, 1984 as to Offenses committed after that date), 5039; 28 U.S.C. 509, 510, 1346(b), 2671-80; 28 CFR 0.95-0.99, 0.172, 14.1-11."
cfr_part: "543"
---


# 543.16 Other paralegals, clerks, and legal assistants.

(a) The Bureau of Prisons recognizes the use of assistants by attorneys to perform legal tasks and, with proper controls and exceptions enumerated in this section and in part 540 of this chapter, accords such assistants the same status as attorneys with respect to visiting and correspondence.

(b) The attorney who employs an assistant and who wishes the assistant to visit or correspond with an inmate on legal matters shall provide the Warden with a signed statement including:

(1) Certification of the assistant's ability to perform in this role and awareness of the responsibility of this position;

(2) A pledge to supervise the assistant's activities; and

(3) Acceptance of personal and professional responsibility for all acts of the assistant which may affect the institution, its inmates, and staff. The Warden may require each assistant to fill out and sign a personal history statement and a pledge to abide by Bureau regulations and institution guidelines. If necessary to maintain security or good order in the institution, the Warden may prohibit a legal assistant from visiting or corresponding with an inmate.