Free resources for choosing the right Criminal Justice & Law Enforcement career

If you are fascinated with the legal system but do not want to devote years to attend law school, a career as a paralegal may be right for you. As one of the fastest growing careers in the US, you will find numerous entry-level paralegal jobs in every state in the country.

While attorneys carry the ultimate responsibility for their legal cases, paralegals lend a hand in virtually every aspect of their work. Once you become a paralegal, the only services that you cannot perform are trying cases, giving legal advice and setting monetary legal fees. This leaves a wide spectrum of legal services that you can perform in a paralegal career, including assisting lawyers, preparing paperwork, conducting research and preparing for trials. Depending upon where you become a paralegal, your legal assistant duties can include the following:

• Preparing legal documents
• Drafting contracts
• Preparing legal briefs or arguments
• Investigation and research
• Trail assistance
• Filing and organizing documents

As the demand for paralegals continues to rise, trained paralegals will qualify for a numerous job opportunities and additional options for professional growth. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the paralegals represent one of the fastest growing fields in the US. It is estimated that the clear majority of private law firms employed ¾ of the paralegals, with the remaining percent of legal assistants working in corporate or movement settings.

Paralegal educational programs regularly include courses that familiarize the students to law and legal research practice. In addition you may choose study a specialized legal area, such as tax or real estate law. Private employers may prefer applicants with this type of specialized paralegal training, since their law firm may represent a particular legal niche.

There are numerous options available for you to study when pursuing a paralegal career. An associate’s degree or certificate programs in paralegals studies are often offered through private and community colleges. Associate’s degree programs as a paralegal normally last two years and paralegal certification programs can span three to 24 months. Some law firms train paralegals directly on the job, but this practice is much less prevalent as the paralegal career has evolved and paralegals have taken on an increasingly complex set of responsibilities.

Paralegal certification is completely voluntary, but many employers may view certified paralegals more favorably. There are three professional agencies that grant paralegal certifications:

• National Association of Legal Assistants
• National Federation of Paralegal Associations
• American Alliance of Paralegals

Demand for paralegals will only intensify as law firms strive to reduce costs and improve efficiency by hiring paralegals and legal assistants to carry out tasks previously carried out by younger lawyers. As this demand for legal assistants grows, well educated paralegals will enjoy the best opportunities and earn higher incomes in their paralegal career.