More Information About Paralegal

What should I know when considering a degree in Paralegal ?

A degree in paralegal studies provides students with the training they need to compete for jobs in their chosen field. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, those paralegals with formal training can expect to have better employment prospects than those without. Furthermore, today's paralegals often perform tasks that used to fall in the domain of lawyers, such as researching and analyzing cases. With this development, formal training is more critical than ever. Some law firms may pay for continuing education in paralegal studies. Potential students who are already employed should investigate this possibility.

Types of Paralegal Degrees

Paralegal studies degrees may be either an associate's degree or a bachelor's degree combined with a specialized certificate. Some schools also offer a master's degree. Paralegal training can include courses in legal research, ethics, communication, legal procedure, and survey courses that deal with various branches of law such as business law, contracts, real estate, property law, family law, criminal justice, tax law, patents, and copyright law. Students in paralegal degree programs may also learn to use software programs, databases, and research tools that are central in the legal field (such as Westlaw and Lexis/Nexis). Some degree programs offer hands-on internship experience which is a fantastic introduction to the daily work of a paralegal. Internships may be with a law firm, a community organization, or in a corporate legal department. Some universities may also have student legal aid services that are partially staffed by interns.

Paralegal Studies Accreditation

Not all paralegal training programs are accredited by the American Bar Association. While it may not be necessary to attend an ABA-accredited school, some employers do require it. Attending an ABA-accredited program can improve career options for prospective paralegals. Admission requirement for paralegal degree programs themselves vary. Some require only a high school degree, while some certificate programs demand a bachelor's degree.

Paralegal Careers

Paralegals may work for law firms, banks, insurance companies, corporate legal divisions, or the government. Some paralegals choose to freelance, offering their services to smaller practices on an as-needed basis. As a paralegal advances in the field, he or she may specialize in an area of law. Specialties could include business law, legal advocacy, or criminal justice. Although paralegals do not appear in court and are not qualified to provide legal advice, they handle many other aspects of case preparation: research, document collection, analysis, and organizing files for later reference to name a few. Organizational ability, analytical skills, and attention to detail are essential in this line of work.

Paralegal Salaries

Salaries for paralegals vary. The median income in 2006 was $43,040, with the top 10% of earners making over $67,540. Those employed by the federal government were among the best compensated. Paralegals at large law firms or corporations can also expect competitive salaries. Those who work for community organizations or in advocacy may earn less, but might enjoy a high degree of personal investment and fulfillment in the services they provide.

Entry into the paralegal profession will be easiest for those with formal training. That said, the field offers stable employment opportunities as law firms and companies turn more responsibilities over to paralegals instead of lawyers as a cost-cutting measure.

Article Resources:

The U.S. Department of Labor
http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos114.htm

San Francisco State University
http://www.cel.sfsu.edu/paralegal/

Fairleigh Dickinson University
http://view.fdu.edu/default.aspx?id=1369

What are the leading schools offering programs in Paralegal ?

• Concord Law School Concord Law School is the first institution to offer a Juris Doctor (JD) degree earned wholly online via state-of-the-art technology. Concord provides a rigorous and comprehensive legal education with a personalized curriculum and study program leading to a Juris Doctor (JD) degree or an Executive JDSM. ( More Info )
• The George Washington University Established in 1821, The George Washington University provides Master Degree specialization in Paralegal, Public Relations, and Political Management as well as dedicated career training to prepare students for immediate entry-level and administrative positions. Graduates develop business and communication skills relevant to their industry from the convenience of home via online learning. ( More Info )
• Westwood College - Online Campus Westwood College - Online Campus is a leading provider of career education, offering bachelors and associate degree programs in Information Technology, Graphic & Multimedia Design and Criminal Justice. ( More Info )
• Penn Foster Career School - Business Penn Foster Career School is the world's largest and most respected distance learning institution offers Career Diploma programs in the fields of Business, Healthcare, Education, Paralegal, Technology, Mechanics and more. ( More Info )