Paralegal

What a Paralegal Does

A paralegal is essentially a lawyer but without the authorization to give any legal advice or speak in court. Lawyers often handle several cases at once, which means that there is always a great amount of research that needs to be done. In order to ensure that each case goes smoothly and that none of the cases end up neglected, paralegals take on many of the research and preparation tasks for lawyers. They assist lawyers in looking over the facts of a case and making sure that all of the relevant information has been accounted for and noted. They also organize all of that information and may give the lawyer notes on what should be highlighted during the trial and what points should be made. Some even write up drafts for the case pleadings and motions. Other duties that paralegals take part in include drafting contracts, preparing separation agreements and other legal documents. Many paralegals also act as office managers, ensuring that everyone working in the law office have something to do and are keeping up with their individual word.

How to Become a Paralegal

Paralegals have numerous responsibilities that could greatly affect how a case turns out. For this reason, all paralegals must have a higher education. Most paralegals have an associate degree in paralegal studies, which takes about two years to earn. However, for greater career mobility, students should consider earning a bachelor's degree in a criminal justice field. All students should take courses in legal studies, constitutional law, and other topics that will help them to better understand the legal field and the criminal justice system. Research and communication skills are also important to the profession. Many employers train paralegals on the job about how that particular law firm operates, however, having some professional working experience through internships will greatly increase a graduate's chances of finding a job in a timely fashion. Voluntary certification is available through organizations like the National Association of Legal Assistants. Certification titles include Certified Legal Assistant (CLA) and Certified Paralegal (CP). Those who earned a bachelor's degree in a field other than paralegal studies should seek certification in order to prove to employers that they possess the necessary knowledge and skills for the job.

Career Outlook for Paralegals

Hiring a lawyer can be expensive, so now many businesses hire paralegals instead to do most of the legal research and preparation because paralegals are less costly, yet do essentially the same work. For example, paralegals may assist businesses and individuals in preparing tax returns, drafting a contract, and organizing a separation agreement. As long as the job does not require any actual legal advice, a paralegal can perform it. Employment opportunities for paralegals are projected to increase 28 percent during the 2008-18 decade, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This will increase the 2008 employment numbers of 263,800 paralegals to 337,900 paralegals by 2018, adding approximately 74,100 new jobs into the market. This is not including any positions that may open up due to career advancement or retirement. With such a prosperous job climate, prospective paralegals have many positive aspects to look forward to. The profession is well paid, too. Paralegals earned a median annual salary of $46,120 in May 2008, the most recent information available from the BLS. However, the top ten percent of paralegals earned more than $73,450 per year. The particular salary a paralegal earns depends on his or her employer.