If you are looking for a rewarding job in the legal field, you should consider becoming a paralegal. As a paralegal, also known as a legal assistant, your tasks will vary and include everything from doing research and clerical work to interviewing clients. Paralegals can work in any area of the law including criminal, tax, estate, and family law among others. You do not need formal education or training to become a paralegal, but it is useful and can give you a competitive edge when looking for employment.

These paralegal training programs differ widely in length. You can attain an associate’s degree from colleges and universities. It usually takes two years to earn an associate’s degree if you attend full time. Most paralegals earn an associate’s degree, but you can also earn a bachelor’s degree or even an advanced degree in the field. You can further your career as a paralegal if you already have an associate’s or bachelor’s degree by enrolling in a certificate program that develops your skills in a specific area. An alternative to attending a traditional college is to go through an accredited online program, which allows you to train at home. Make sure the program you choose is accredited. With the variety of programs offered, you can find the one that best suits your lifestyle. Some people who have worked in other fields such as criminal justice or tax preparation get the rest of their training on the job.

The job growth opportunities for paralegals are also believed to be excellent as paralegals take on more of the duties traditionally performed by lawyers. The majority of paralegals work at private law firms, but there are also positions available in the public sector for both the government and non-profit organizations. Many people are choosing to become paralegals because of the potential and job growth opportunities.

Paralegals also called legal assistants are a vital part of most law firms. They are educated and trained to work under the guidance of an attorney or lawyer. Some Paralegals have associate’s degrees that focus on law, while others may have obtained their Bachelor’s of Science or Bachelor’s of Arts degree. Many paralegals acquire learning by means of on-the-job- training or by taking courses in the private sector. A variety of organizations test and give certification to individuals who desire a profession in the field of paralegal. Individual who have passed competency exams that is offered by the four associations that represent paralegals and college graduates are given preference for employment in law firms.

Finding a Paralegal Program

There are several avenues in the pursuit of a paralegal career and some include attending a four-year college, a community college, online schools, universities and private schools. With a four-year program, a graduate is given more options when seeking employment in the paralegal field. Some student find online school convenient if the have a family or if they work. Many community colleges and colleges have programs in paralegal with the bonus of lower tuition rates. In addition, open enrollment gives the student the opportunity to study at his or her own pace.

Becoming a Paralegal Educational Requirements

A formal education is not required to work as a paralegal but many law firms prefer it. There are currently over 600 proprietary schools and colleges that offer formal programs in the paralegal field. There are four typically accepted for forms of training/educations such as:

• Associate degree programs
• Bachelor’s degree programs
• Master’s degree programs
• Certificate programs

Some Voluntary Certification Programs:

• Certified Legal Assistant
• Registered Paralegal

Although these are not required programs, they give individuals an advantage in the competitive career field of a legal assistant.

The qualifications for becoming a certified legal assistant include:

• Complete the requirements assigned by the National Association of Legal Assistants
• Must pass a two-day exam that is given by the Certifying Board of Legal Assistants

This certification should be renewed every five years. To keep this certification current an individual must have proof of completing 50 hours of credits in the area of continuing legal education that has been approved within a duration of five years.

To become a registered paralegal, an individual must pass the PACE also known as the Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam that is administered by the NFPA also known as the National Federation of Paralegal Associations. This certification can be renewed every two years after finishing twelve CLE credits that are approved in that period.

Anyone who is interested in becoming a paralegal needs to find the best way to do it. It is important for those who have the ambition to become paralegals to learn about the qualifications needed and they options they have for receiving them.

To obtain work as a paralegal, students have to obtain the minimum of an associate’s degree in paralegal studies. Fortunately, there are many options for people interested in becoming a paralegal as far as schooling. It is possible to become a paralegal by attending trade schools or community colleges in brick-and-mortar institutions. It is also possible to receive a paralegal degree through online schooling.

A degree in paralegal studies is especially suited to online study. The reason for this is because it requires little hands-on training and mostly requires reading and researching. There is little need for the student to meet with the instructor face-to-face; therefore, it is one of the best possible degrees for people who want to study online to choose.

Online paralegal degrees offer students the convenience of being able to attend virtual classes at home. This is an ideal learning situation for busy professionals who have to juggle careers and families and who don’t have time to travel to outside classes. These online programs allow students to not only learn from either live or recorded online lectures, but to submit homework, take exams, and ask questions online. Most working professionals will be able to access these lectures after they return home from work.

Users who seek online paralegal degrees also have the option of being able to pace themselves with their work. This is an important feature of a degree program for people who have many other responsibilities. The self-pacing aspect of online paralegal degrees means that students will be able to learn from the lectures late at night or very early in the morning if that is what their schedule allows.

Students who want to work as paralegals need to be sure to choose an accredited provider for their degrees that can work around their schedules. There are plenty of online degree programs that can provide this convenience and quality education. As long as students do their research before enrolling in an online program, they are sure to find a program that suits their needs. Since paralegal programs are one of the easiest to complete online, these kinds of degrees are legitimate options for serious paralegal students.

The paralegal profession is a fast growing industry with over 120,000 paralegals in the United States. They do legal work in law offices, public arenas, corporations and government. There are many schools that have a paralegal curriculum, but there is no state requirement for licensing, so there are no standard educational criteria for employment. When researching paralegal schools the first thing you should consider is if they are approved by the American Bar Association (ABA) or the American Association for Paralegal Education (AAFPE). The choice of school will determine how valuable you are to employers.

When you have a list of paralegal schools near you that are recognized by the ABA or AAFPE, you should carefully look at each of their programs. Some schools offer a certificate, some offer Bachelor’s degrees and Master’s degrees and some offer both. You will find a recognized school that offers the level of education you want in your area.

The facilities for a good paralegal school will include computer labs, a legal research library, facilities for students with disabilities, a curriculum that includes a good balance between legal theory and practical job skills, general education courses, a good faculty, the opportunity for internships and practical application.
The type of law you would like to work in will make a difference in the paralegal school you chose. It would be good to know in advance if you want to specialize in corporate law, immigration law, tax law or environmental law to name a few.

When you have compared the programs offered on your short list, you need to decide your budget. There will be different costs and fees for different programs. Expensive fees don’t necessarily mean the paralegal program is the best. Also, inexpensive fees do not necessarily mean a school has lower quality. If you are clear about what level of paralegal education you want, you will be able to find a recognized school that is within your budget.

If you are considering an online paralegal program, take note of the flexibility allowed in the program. Often, they are not as flexible as some other online programs and require attendance at discussions and lectures via webcam with a microphone for voice interaction. They may also require assignments to be turned in on a regular basis.

For a government job, a Bachelor’s degree or an Associate degree will give a better advantage. A large prestigious law firm will also more likely choose an employee with a college degree. If a legal assistant has a degree, they can demand a higher salary.

A paralegal is considered to be a person that has the necessary education, training, and work experience to perform substantive legal work by being an integral part of a legal team. A paralegal shares many duties with a lawyer, yet do not practice law, cannot offer legal advice, try a case in court, or accept any legal fees. A paralegal will work closely with a lawyer helping prepare for trial by unearthing all facts related to a case, find relevant case laws, obtain affidavits, and help with depositions.

A good portion of paralegal work involves writing reports and creating other necessary documents used in litigation. Once all the necessary facts have been gathered, a paralegal will prepare reports about the best way to go about taking a claim to court.

Paralegals do not have to work in litigation, and can find work in patent and copyright law, real estate and corporate law, as well as helping draft contracts, mortgages, and documents used in estate planning and separation agreements. Paralegals can also work for various government agencies maintaining reference files, analyzing materials being used internally, and preparing informative guides relating to different laws. Many paralegals choose to involve themselves with community sponsored legal services which helps people who cannot afford legal aid. While working for community sponsored legal services, a paralegal will spend time preparing and filing documents, as well as doing research.

To begin a career as a paralegal, a person must either complete an American Bar Association (ABA) approved set of college courses or training programs. The other option is for a person to be trained on the job, which is becoming more and more popular for many students finishing college with a liberal arts degree. Many colleges are also beginning to offer four year degree programs, as opposed to many of the programs that take two years to complete. Although the field is competitive, students should have a strong understanding of the basic computer programs, experience gained from internships, and be familiar with legal terminology. By graduating with a four year degree, a person will not only have a better chance of finding a job, they will always have the option of returning to school and studying to become a lawyer.