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

If you are considering attending a paralegal school, it is important to be aware of the diverse areas of criminal justice that you could specialize in as a paralegal. Your duties as a legal assistant will vary dependent upon the specific law firm that eventually employs you as a paralegal.

In a law firm that services a wide variety of clientele, your duties as a paralegal will depend upon the particular needs of the clients on any given day. A general law firm will service clients with an extensive range of needs, and the paralegal school that you attend will educate you regarding different paralegal duties.

There are also specialized law firms that usually work within a small framework, and only service clients seeking that specific type of legal representation, such as corporate or tax law. In a specialized legal firm, the paralegals concentrate exclusively in that area of expertise. If your career interests as a paralegal include a more singular focus, pursue additional courses on the subject at the paralegal school that you attend. The following list represents some of the most common areas of a paralegal career:

Probate – Estate planning paralegals assist clients in creating documents that determine who will be granted their possessions upon their death. If someone dies without making prior legal arrangements, any residual property or finances are distributed through a probate court. Paralegals with a concentration in probate work to create legal documents regarding guardianships for any surviving legal minors. If this area of criminal justice appeals to you, be sure to check with your paralegal school regarding any additional coursework on estate planning or probate. Legal assistants working for a law firm with this concentration typically perform the following paralegal duties:

• Creating and filing tax returns
• Administering estate accounts
• Drafting wills

Corporate – A corporate paralegal assists in the creation of business partnerships and oversees the implementation of business transactions like corporate mergers or stock options. Corporate law also includes the protection of intellectual property, such as patents and copyright protections. There are often elective course in trademarks or patents offered at your chosen paralegal school. A paralegal working for a corporate law firm may perform a variety the following duties:

• Drafting partnership documents
• Conducting due diligence for business transactions
• Verifying patents and trademarks

Labor – Paralegals that specialize in employment law help out with issues concerning relationships between employers and employees. Employment-law paralegals work closely with human resource issues; such as hiring, firing, unemployment claims, and any potential discrimination allegations. Paralegals in a firm that specializes in labor laws may perform some of the following duties:

• Creating policy and procedures handbooks
• Drafting affidavits for disputes
• Investigating wrongful termination claims

Real Estate – Paralegals in real estate firm handle the purchase, or sale of both commercial and residential properties. As a real estate paralegal, you may also draft documents for the legal transfer of property such as titles and deeds. Contract law is typically a course included in a paralegal degree program. A real estate paralegal may also perform the following duties:

• Creating documents for a real estate transfer
• Coordinating an escrow closing
• Verifying title and clearing liens