Paralegals serve as the backbone of thriving law practices. Successful attorneys realize that having a well-trained paralegal on staff can save hours and hours of time the attorney would otherwise have to spend doing legal research and preparing legal documents. Paralegals free up the attorney, allowing him or her to spend more time in direct client interaction as well as the courtroom. Paralegals are an invaluable component of any successful law firm.
The term 'legal assistant' is generally used to mean the same job as a paralegal. The American Bar Association draws no distinction between the two positions; neither does the NALA (National Association of Legal Assistants). The two are deemed to be synonymous, and both refer to the same job. The term 'legal assistant' could be construed to include other staff that assist an attorney, such as a legal secretary or a file clerk, but in general, the term is used to refer to a paralegal.
On a typical day a paralegal may make telephone calls to relay information to clients from the attorney, and then spend hours doing legal research on the computer. They may have to draft documents for the attorney or organize files and documents for the attorney's upcoming trial appearance. A paralegal's job is interesting and varied, and anyone interested in being involved in the legal system may want to consider this occupation.
Generally someone interested in pursuing a career as a paralegal plans to work in a law office setting. There are job opportunities outside the law office setting, however, that a paralegal may want to consider. These include working as a claims adjuster for an insurance company, working as a title examiner with a real estate business, or even conducting legal research for oil and petroleum company or a software company.
Many paralegals have obtained education in various areas of legal study. Although there are currently no certification requirements for paralegals, paralegals that choose to not obtain post-high school education may obtain a certificate of completion from a paralegal certification program. In some cases a school may call the program a legal assistant certification program. In general, employers prefer to hire paralegals or legal assistants who have obtained a degree from a university.
There are three different paths that someone interested in becoming a legal assistant or paralegal should consider. The first involves attending a trade school offering certification in paralegal studies. The second is seeking an Associate's degree in paralegal studies. The third is obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree in paralegal studies.
Accreditation
The American Bar Association has developed a set of standards in regards to paralegal programs in order to ensure that paralegals enrolled at those institutions are trained by qualified professionals and that the students are taught based upon a high-quality curriculum. Employers may expect prospective employees to have received their education through one of these ABA-approved programs, although that depends upon the individual employer.
Paralegal Certification or Legal Assistant Certification Program
There are numerous trade schools that offer paralegal certificates. These refer to verification that the student has completed some basic classes through the trade school and may be considered adequately trained to begin work as a legal assistant. Someone enrolling in a certification program may be able to finish the program in a 10 week period. Some of the skills the student will be trained in include:
- Using libraries as well as computers to conduct legal research
- How to prepare documents summarizing the legal research for the attorney
- Learn legal definitions and terminology
- Learn basic courtroom procedure
- Preparation of basic documents
Associate Degree in Paralegal Studies
An individual interested in obtaining more education than the certificate programs offer may decide to pursue an associate's degree. This degree prepares the student for working within the legal system as a legal assistant or paralegal. In order to enroll in an associate's program, the student must meet the individual school's requirements for admission, which will include having a high school diploma or equivalent. Typical associate programs take 2 years to complete. Some of the coursework a paralegal studies' student may be required to take include courses such as:
- Introduction to Legal Technology
- The Paralegal Professional
- Civil Litigation
- Introduction to Legal Research
- Introduction to Legal Analysis and Writing
- Legal Ethics
- Real Property Law
- Trusts and Estates
- Family Law
Bachelor Science Paralegal studies
For someone interested in obtaining a bachelor's degree in connection with their legal studies, pursuing a BS in Paralegal Studies could be the solution. Obtaining a bachelor's degree will take approximately 4 years to complete. The student must meet the admissions requirements of the individual college or university, which may include having a high school diploma or equivalent, presenting high school transcripts that reflect a minimum grade point average, and minimum standardized testing scores.
The student will need to complete the regular requirements for a bachelor's degree, which usually include courses in English, Mathematics, Science, Computer Science, History and others. In addition, the student will take legal studies courses such as:
- The Paralegal Professional
- Civil Litigation
- Introduction to Legal Research
- Introduction to Legal Analysis and Writing
- Legal Ethics
- Real Estate Law
- Tort Law
- Advanced Legal Writing
- Introduction to Criminal Justice
- Cyber law
- Principles of Criminal Investigation
- Introduction to Forensic Science
Professional Certification For Post-Graduates
Once a paralegal or legal assistant has entered the market, there is an opportunity for a certified legal assistant credential. The National Association of Legal Assistants offers an examination that tests basic paralegal knowledge. Upon successfully passing the exam, the candidate will be issued certification. Obtaining this certification provides a great deal of credibility to a paralegal and enhances their consideration for job placement, advancement in the field and pay increases.
Pursuing a legal career as a legal assistant is challenging and potentially very lucrative. A paralegal who has been trained in some of the newest areas of legal controversy, such as cyber law, will be a valuable asset to a law practice, business or governmental office.
We found 608 schools offering paralegal degree programs in the U.S.
>> See all 608 Paralegal / Legal Assistant Colleges in the U.S.