ne of most common ways to administration for personal
become a legal assistant or injury practice.
paralegal is through a
community college program that With 250+ paralegal programs
leads to an associate's degree. approved by the American Bar
Another common route; primarily Association (ABA) and an
for those who already have a estimated 1,000 colleges and
college degree, is through a universities, law schools and
program that leads to a proprietary schools offering
certification in paralegal formal paralegal training
studies. programs - the field is highly
represented. Although many
Many legal assistants and programs don't require ABA
paralegals have associate degrees approval, graduating from an
in paralegal studies or a ABA-approved program can enhance
bachelor's degree paired with a one's employment opportunities -
certificate in paralegal studies. it's a credibility thing for some
Currently, a small number of employers.
schools offer bachelors' or
masters' degrees in paralegal Program admission requirements
studies. A few employers train vary greatly - from a few college
paralegals on the job, hiring credits or courses to a
college graduates with no legal bachelor's degree for others, to
experience or promoting high school graduates, those with
experienced legal secretaries. legal experience, passing a
Others have gained experience in standardized test, to simply
a technical field useful to law having a favorable personal
firms, like tax preparation for interview.
tax and estate planning, criminal
justice, nursing or health Many legal assistant and
paralegal programs include 2-year for several months in the real
associate degree programs, 4-year world. Internships could be with
bachelor degree programs and a private law firm, the office of
certificate programs that can a public defender or attorney
take as little as a few months to general, a bank, a corporate
complete. Most certificate legal department, a legal aid
programs provide intensive and organization or a government
specialized paralegal training agency. Clearly, the experience
for individuals who already hold gained is an asset when one is
college degrees. On the other seeking a job after graduation
hand, associate and bachelor and for many can lead to a job
degree programs usually combine with the company they interned
paralegal training with courses with.
in other academic subjects.
Most employers don't require
Obviously, the quality of certification but earning a
paralegal training programs can voluntary certificate from a
vary with the higher quality professional society does have
programs usually including job its advantages when it comes to
placement services. finding a job. The National
Association of Legal Assistants
Courses range from introducing (NALA) has established standards
students to the legal for certification that requires
applications of computers, various combinations of education
including how to perform legal and experience. Paralegals who
research on the Internet to more meet their standards are eligible
and more paralegal training to take a 2-day examination,
programs offering internships to offered three times a year at one
assist students in gaining of several regional testing
practical experience by working centers. Those who pass can then
use the Certified Legal Assistant The most common way many legal
(CLA) designation. NALA also assistants and paralegals expand
offers an advanced paralegal their knowledge is by
certification for those who want participating in continuing legal
to specialize in specific areas education seminars.
of the law.
Because legal assistants and
The Paralegal Advanced Competency paralegals deal with the public
Exam offers professional on an ongoing basis they need to
recognition to legal assistants be "shining examples" of ethical
and paralegals that have earned a standards for the legal
bachelor's degree and have at profession. The National
least 2 years of experience. Once Association of Legal Assistants,
they pass this test they can use the National Federation of
the Registered Paralegal (RP) Paralegal Associations and a few
designation. States have established ethical
guidelines for them to follow.
Legal assistants and paralegals
must have the ability to document Employment Outlook
and present their findings and Legal assistants and paralegals
opinions to their supervising held about 224,000 jobs in 2004
attorneys. They also need to with about 70% being employed by
understand legal terminology, private law firms; most of the
have good research and remainder worked for corporate
investigative skills and be able legal departments and various
to do legal research using a levels of government. Within the
computer and the internet. They Federal Government, the U.S.
also need to stay abreast of new Department of Justice is the
developments in the laws that largest employer, followed by the
affect their area of expertise. Social Security Administration
and the U.S. Department of the As in all fields, compensation
Treasury. A small number of varies greatly due to the high
paralegals own their own number of variables but in
businesses and work as freelance general, salaries depend on
legal assistants, contracting education, training, experience,
their services to attorneys or the type and size of employer and
corporate legal departments. the geographic location of the
job. As a whole, legal assistants
As a whole, employment in this and paralegals who work for large
field is projected to grow much law firms or in large
faster than average. The current metropolitan areas earn more than
trend of employers trying to those who work for smaller firms
reduce costs by hiring paralegals or in less populated regions. In
to perform duties formerly addition to salary, many also
carried out by lawyers is receive bonuses. In mid 2004, the
expected to continue into the average salary for all legal
foreseeable future. As a result, assistants or paralegal was a tad
employment opportunities are over $39,000 per year.
projected to grow much faster
than average for the next 10 This article may be reproduced
years or so. only in its entirety.
About the Author:
Kevin Erickson is an entrepreneur and writer. For other articles he's written visit: Paralegal Schools | Travel Nursing | Medical Transcription
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