Paralegal and Paralegal Certificate

Paralegal or legal assistant is a distinguishable person who assists attorneys in the delivery of legal services. Through formal education, training and experience, legal assistant has knowledge and expertise regarding the legal system and substantive and procedural law which qualify them to do work of a legal nature under the supervision of an attorney.

In the United States, there are more than 120,000 paralegals that have received paralegal certificates that do tasks and become vital members of the legal community. Paralegal are either hired by lawyers, law firms, corporations, governmental agency, or other groups of the same manner.

Paralegals, as a legal assistant have limited task. They could mot represent a client in court not give legal advice. They cannot set fee or accept a case. In short paralegals cannot assume the duties that are set for legal officers only.

However, paralegals can perform tasks under the supervision of the attorney. These can be, but not limited to, conducting client interview without bridging the gap between paralegal and attorney. Paralegals can also conduct survey, investigations, and research whether statistical or documentary. Paralegals can also summarize depositions, interrogatories and testimony. They can also attend hearings and trial with the attorney. And with legal assistance, paralegals can author and sign correspondence but does not include legal opinions.

But becoming must have a formal education about the profession. The Associate Degree Programs, Bachelor Degree Programs, and Masters Degree Program are some of this. There is also what we can the Certificate Program that is offered to various educational institutions that can be between 16-60 semester units.

Some educational institutions accept student and afterward award paralegal certificates to those who finished at least three semesters in college or 36 units credits. There are also eight courses in legal studies to finish before a paralegal certificate can be given. These are Business Law, Family Law, Introduction to Civil Procedures, Introduction to Criminal Law, Bankruptcy, Real Estate Law, Legal Research and Writing, and Legal Ethics.

Upon completion of the course, but before the awarding of paralegal certificate, the individual is not yet to be called paralegal, because the paralegal certificate can be obtained by standards set by the American Bar Association. The standard requires completion of the Certified Legal Assistant certifying (CLA) examination of the National Association of Legal Assistants. The school that award paralegal certificate should have American Bar Association approved program of study for legal assistants. The candidate should first graduate from a course of study for legal assistants which is institutionally accredited but not ABA approved, and which requires not less than the equivalent of 60 semester hours of classroom study.

In addition, a paralegal certificate can be obtained he the candidate graduated from a course of study for legal assistants, other than those set forth in (2) and (3) above, plus not less than six months of in-house training as a legal assistant. He or she should also have an attained baccalaureate degree in any field with an "in-house training as a legal assistant" not lower than six months. Achieving all these, paralegal certificate is ready to be given.

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Paralegal Studies to Counter Increasing Demands for Legal Assistants

An attorney, judge, prosecutor, or any public defender cannot assume full responsibility over whole phase of legal work. Even with their outstanding and brilliant minds, they still cannot carry on without any assistant. With their hectic and extremely tight schedules, preparation for their legal duties must be given attention by an assistant before they can proceed with the formal proceedings. This is where paralegals come into the scene. And who are these paralegal assistants? These are the persons who had backgrounds in paralegal profession.

First, what is paralegal and who are these paralegal persons? Paralegal is called a profession, which endures most interesting aspects of legal activities like variety of tasks of legal community. Within the bounds of paralegal profession encompasses diverse range of responsibilities, projects, environments, and functions in legal industry. A paralegal may not assume the legal work of the lawyers, however they carry in their own hands tasks such as whole segment of trial preparation or case management. Their key duties include: analyses of documents and data in relation to legal proceedings of the cases, compiling, organizing, then presenting the newfound information to the lawyer. Presentation is carefully condensed into an outline with case history, plan of actions plus relevant notes that will help construct any precedents, case, hearings, or laws matters.

Among countless agencies where a paralegal assistant will be found are: courts, state and government agencies, corporations, finance companies, banks, accounting firms, engineering firms, consumer organizations, legal aid offices. Some of the commercial firms where a paralegal can provide services are: entertainment production outfits, public relations agencies, advertising companies, insurance agencies, or real estate agencies. Flexibility of paralegal profession may also be seen in surroundings like civil rights and criminal law, civil litigation, health care, family laws, environmental protection, corporate law, immigration, and others.

Rendering services for paralegal jobs does not really require a specific academic education. So, how does one become a paralegal? There are some who have only gone on-the-job-training. Many have formal education for paralegal studies like bachelors degree or two-year course for paralegal education while others have completed different paralegal certificates. Some paralegal certificates can be completed by merely a matter of months from a paralegal school. There is also a post-baccalaureate paralegal certificate offered by some paralegal education courses. Paralegal schools offer paralegal programs.

Paralegal studies are offered for students to bring them up into the rewarding careers of paralegal professionals. In paralegal training, each would be aided by lawyers in the legal industry. Paralegal courses will initially supply students with substantial knowledge so that they could be fully prepared to practical skills and meet high standards of industry in terms of proficiency, academic excellence, and professional integrity. Paralegal studies institutes are widely spread to meet solutions for the escalating demands of paralegal or legal assistants. Paralegal schools made it particularly practical and efficient by offering online paralegal studies for the students. If a student does not have the means to render much time to complete paralegal studies, he can opt for the online paralegal schools. Paralegal studies online are a flexible way to complete paralegal education such as paralegal certificates program, paralegal bachelors degree program, and paralegal post-bachelors certificates.

Responsibilities of paralegal positions have been increasing gradually that they are already running out of resources how to curtail the equally elevating workload of attorneys and lawyers. With this concern, paralegal schools now offer paralegal training courses in many paralegal certification programs. A student can search through online for the best paralegal schools that offer these courses.

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Paralegal Training Programs for Career Advancement Sara JenkinsWith the recent years significant increase in legal worlds activities, lawyers and attorneys are also equated with intensified workload that they cannot uphold these duties on their own anymore. With this matter, paralegals or legal assistants come into action. And this would also mean an additional task to their responsibilities that might require them for knowledge enhancement. But no worries as paralegal training programs are offered by paralegal schools to equip potential paralegal students with expertise in their fields. Paralegal schools prepare students for a rewarding career in paralegal world through their paralegal certification or paralegal education. The students are offered privileges to develop their skills and knowledge that supply them with efficiency to perform their duties as paralegals or legal assistants. Typically, paralegal training programs offer courses that would augment the students abilities to take up paralegal duties and responsibilities entitled to them under an attorney or lawyers supervision. Paralegal training would equip students with introduction from general duties of the paralegals including legal terminologies and the knowledge in court system. They are also taught to conduct legal research and interviews. After this level they are taught on how to analyze and compose this analysis into an effective legal document.

With the prevalence of expansion of the law firms duties, another field of career opportunities is now open for their advancement in their career. Once the students have completed general courses, they can elect to continue their paralegal studies with different specialized areas offered by paralegal training program. Specialized courses offer choices of elective courses leading towards specific fields of the study. This would allow students to gain additional expertise in a specific field and enable them to perform a number of tasks in paralegal exercises. By taking special paralegal courses, students will be provided with foundation on paralegal profession and render them more competence in the job market. With unpredicted changes in the legal market, it is deemed essential to prepare these students into more challenging areas of paralegal matters so that they can be more equipped with specialization which other matters lawyers are handling may be conveyed unto paralegals. Just like any education, all paralegal training programs come with subjects that train the students in areas of legal ethics and as well as professional responsibilities.

Paralegal training can be completed through traditional classroom system or the more flexible paralegal online classes. Paralegal training online offer the same quality as that of traditional system. But, there is more advantage in taking paralegal training through the internet as students can complete their training at their own pace of time. Distance learning programs for paralegal training also offer more flexibility and accessibility without sacrificing any of the course content of a traditional classroom system can offer. With the increase of the demands in paralegal education, paralegal schools are now tapping the services of the internet to offer students specifically those that cannot devote full time to accomplish paralegal training in a classroom. Over time, online paralegal classes are becoming a trend in the market because of its special advantages that guarantee students.

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The Role of the Paralegal or Legal Assistant in the Criminal Justice Field

Paralegal or Legal Assistant is an exciting profession in the Criminal Justice field. It is hard to imagine a law office without a paralegal. They can be described as the right hand of the lawyer. In this article I examine the role of the paralegal or legal assistant in the criminal justice field.

The legal assistant as the name suggests is there to assist the lawyer. It is vitally important to know that the paralegal cannot give legal advice or act as a lawyer. What the paralegal does must be under the supervision of a lawyer. The paralegal can do the following under the watchful eye of a lawyer:

1. The paralegal can conduct client interviews. They must identify themselves as paralegals to the client before starting the interview. In this instance, the legal assistant helps the lawyer ascertain the facts of a case by talking to the client. This saves the lawyer valuable time. The lawyer can use that time to work on strategies for the case.

2. The legal assistant can locate and interview witnesses. If you watched the movie Erin Brockovich, you saw Julia Roberts play the role of a paralegal that locates and interviews clients. In one of the scenes, she clearly states that she is not a lawyer. This underlines the point above that paralegals cannot give legal advice. It also underlines the point that they identify themselves as such.

3. Legal assistants can research and prepare legal documents. Paralegals do acquire the training and experience necessary to prepare legal documents. All the lawyer has to do is double check the work to make sure it meets the legal requirements that such document requires. Again, I don’t have to tell what a valuable timesaver this is to a lawyer.

4. The paralegal can attend court trials. In this case, they help the lawyer with the case files. This way the lawyer is not fumbling in court looking for files or evidence. The paralegal is there to keep him or her organized.

I can write more volume on the role of the legal assistant or paralegal in the criminal justice field, but you get the point. It is indeed an exciting profession. Think of all the intriguing things that can be involved in a legal case. As a paralegal, you can be in the middle of it all.Criminal Justice Schools and Degrees. Get free scholarship report and learn to become a Paralegal by visiting.
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What Can You Expect If You Land A Paralegal Job

Paralegals work in a wide variety of areas – from law firms to government offices, from trade unions to the armed forces, construction companies, accounting and engineering firms – in fact, anywhere that law-related work is performed, paralegals will almost certainly be employed. Paralegals working in the private sector are commonly employed by law firms and corporations. In large commercial law firms, a paralegal will assist with legal transaction or litigation cases, where they are responsible for organizing, copying, and tracking legal documents. Paralegals may be involved in specialized areas of the law, such as conveyancing, probate, matrimonial law or family law. A paralegal working in commerce may work in a variety of fields such as in the financial sector, banks, building societies or insurance companies. In the public sector, paralegals are employed by non-profit public law firms, government departments, local authorities, health care authorities, and the Police or Social Services. The duties of the paralegal will vary according to where they work. For example, in public sector, paralegals are more likely to be called upon to give advice to the public or work with clients in some fashion.

No matter where a paralegal works, there are several qualities and skills which a good paralegal will have. A paralegal should have excellent language, organizational and time management skills, with the ability to work concurrently on a variety of tasks. They should be able to work accurately and attentively, be able to work independently, and have the ability to work under pressure to meet tight deadlines. Good technical knowledge is also a must, as the use of computers, software packages and databases have become central to the storage and organization of legal documents. Paralegals may be required to organize information in databases, use software to track time billed to clients, or use software packages to compute financial information. A good paralegal will also be courteous, professional, and discreet, and have high ethical standards.

At the moment, the profession of paralegal is unregulated in the UK, and there is no commonly accepted or recognized way in which you can become a paralegal. Strictly speaking, you don’t need any formal qualifications, but of course they do help, especially if you don’t have much work experience. Many young Law graduates work as paralegals for a time, to gain some experience, with the hope of being offered a training contract. Alternatively, some paralegals working in specific law fields have other specialist education – for example, a paralegal working in commerce may have been educated as an accountant or have previously worked in tax preparation before becoming a paralegal.

Robert Proctor is part of Legal Week Jobs, a website specialising in legal jobs and recruitment including gradute, legal secretary, solicitor & paralegal jobs.

For more information please visit http://www.legalweekjobs.com

Consider a Career as a Paralegal – The Various Positions and Education Needed

A career as a paralegal is definitely worthy of consideration. Young ladies and gentlemen soon entering the job market are wise to select paths of opportunity and advancement. Becoming a paralegal fits the bill in many ways.

Wherever there are people, laws are necessary to settle disputes and protect against crime. There are many areas of law in which paralegals can work, including corporate, estate planning, tax, bankruptcy, family and domestic, criminal, environmental protection, personal injury, civil litigation, trademark, international, intellectual property, and real estate. All these areas of law create a variety of work areas, and an abundance of learning opportunity. Taking advantage of learning opportunities creates more earning opportunities.

The U.S. Department Labor reports that paralegal careers are on the rise, and expected to grow much faster than average for all occupations through the year 2014. The median for paralegal salaries range between $31,040 and $49,950. In bigger metropolitan areas, large law firms pay upwards of $60,000. Many paralegals receive bonuses. Benefits for these positions tend to be attractively competitive.

The educational and work experience requirements for paralegal positions vary depending on employer and position requirements. These days, a four-year degree is highly advisable in general. Employers often consider applicants with a bachelor’s degree and no work experience.

A four-year degree is not necessarily required for all paralegal positions. Another applicant with a two-year degree and more specialized concentration in paralegal studies and no work experience may be equally considered. Many employers also consider the work experience of legal assistants or secretaries who have had no college training.

Online degrees are gaining popularity and are being considered positively by employers. There are several online courses designed for paralegal training. People can earn online degrees while working full-time in the convenience of their own schedules at home. Such flexibility of training makes learning easier, and opens doors for paralegal job opportunities.

There are several other steps one can take to prepare for a career as a paralegal. Many of these steps are surprisingly easy, and will open interview doors wider. I will discuss the steps in upcoming articles.

In addition to various opportunities and advancement, positions as a skilled paralegal can maintain one happily through their entire work career, yet have the flexibility of being a stepping stone into other positions. Such other positions, to name a few, could be in law enforcement, becoming an attorney, or working in top level positions of other businesses, like becoming a successful realtor. Consider a career as a paralegal, it just might be right up your alley.

Are you fascinated by trials? Do you like helping people? A career as a Paralegal is challenging, rewarding, and NEVER boring. Sign up for free newsletters that show you how to step into this exciting career. Adventures await you....

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Laura McDonald is a paralegal. She is a member of NFPA (National Federation of Paralegal Associations). Laura is experienced in the areas of personal injury, civil litigation, family, environmental and corporate law, estate planning and bankruptcy. She works for Michael L. Hawkins & Associates, P.L.L.C., located in Frankfort, Kentucky. The firm's website is http://www.mlhlawky.com

How To Choose ABA Approved Online Paralegal Degree Programs - Part I

Paralegal Studies institutions approved by ABA (American Bar Association) all have the following characteristics...

Curriculum for Paralegals is usually ABA curriculum tailored towards providing you, after a successful completion of paralegal studies, the skills and opportunities of working as a lawyer's assistant in research, document preparation, client interviews and drafting of legal documents. As a qualified paralegal your services are also required in the legal departments of corporations, firms and organizations.

Another aspect of ABA approved Paralegal program is the pre-law specialization that prepares you for the law school proper.

ABA approved Paralegal institutions offer Associate of Applied Science, Post Degree Certificate, (only those who have already obtained a bachelor or associate degree are qualified). Bachelor of Science degree on Paralegal Studies and Certificate in Legal Nurse Consulting are two other programs offered by ABA approved paralegal study institutions.

ABA approved Paralegal institution’s minimum course duration is 1 - 2 academic years and internship is mandatory in most schools.

If you are looking for ABA approved Paralegal Education Program, then the Standing Committee on Paralegals Directory of ABA approved Paralegal Education Programs is where to look.

Some work experience is usually beneficial for an intending paralegal student like you. Courses, depending on the type of institution, can run for between 2 (for community and junior colleges) to 4 years in a University. Aside from the general requirements above, the ABA Standing Committee Directory listing carry varying standard requirements for different instructions in terms of duration of course, course content and admission requirements.

Therefore, you should consider the factors favourable to you while choosing any particular school or institution.

More than 1000 institutions are offering Paralegal degree and certificate programs in the United States of America, but the ABA approved Paralegal institutions can be found at the ABA standing committee Directory of Paralegal schools.ABA approval for Paralegal schools or instructions is not mandatory by law so it is not a measure of the quality of or reputability of an institution that it is ABA approved, yet institutions have found it necessary to get ABA approval by meeting the ABA requirement in order to, I suppose, bluster their image. My advise is that you should go for ABA approved institutions for your paralegal studies.

Online institutions like their offline counterparts are of different categories and as such offer different qualities of course content programs. You should as a matter of fact take a critical look at the institution offering the Paralegal Degree Online program you chose. Carry out your investigation with the information below to ensure that such institution is an ABA approved paralegal degree online program.

INSIGHT INTO ABA ONLINE PARALEGAL DEGREE PROGRAMS

Paralegal degree programs prepares you for employment as a paralegal or legal assistant in a private law office and even both the public and the private sectors such as banking, insurance, real estate etc. Care must, however, be taken to ensure that a chosen school or online paralegal degree program is approved by the American Bar Association in conjunction with the institution being an institutional member of the American Association for Paralegal education (AAFPE) and other relevant regulatory bodies for Paralegal studies.

Concluding Part II will be on this same category soon.

Neshah, a retired paralegal, writes for your success - get free paralegal information and resources at http://online-paralegal-degree.fateback.com

Paralegal Schools Can Prepare You for an Exciting Career

Paralegal Schools, colleges, and universities prepare students for an exciting career assisting lawyers in a wide variety of duties. A paralegal's job depends on the type of organization for which they were hired, and many find work as court clerks and judicial assistants.

Paralegals in large law firms, government agencies, and corporations, might choose to specialize in one aspect of law, such as tax, child custody, or real estate. On the other hand, small law firms may expect paralegals to take on a variety of duties that require a general knowledge of law practices.

Paralegals in law firms may assist in preparing for hearings, trials, and meetings; they may investigate case facts and relevant information; or they may determine laws applicable to judicial decisions. Writing reports to help determine case management, preparing arguments, drafting pleadings and motions, assisting in courtroom proceedings, and preparing and organizing materials for lawyers are all common tasks of a well-trained paralegal.

Paralegal Certificate (PC) programs and Associate of Arts - Paralegal (AA-P)degree programs are often available at two-year community colleges. Some four-year paralegal colleges and universities, and some business schools also offer four-year Associate of Arts degrees in paralegal programs. Bachelor of Arts - Paralegal (BA-P) and Bachelor of Science - Paralegal (BS-P) degrees at four-year paralegal universities and colleges provide a solid foundation in the liberal arts and sciences to round out the educational experience. Paralegal School Bachelor degree programs can provide majors, minors, and concentrations in paralegal studies within another major, such as medicine or business. Bachelor degrees in paralegal studies are in-depth programs for students seeking entry-level positions in law firms, or for career advancement in current occupations.

Master of Arts - Paralegal (MA-P) and Master of Science - Paralegal (MS-P) degree programs at graduate colleges and universities provide advanced degree studies in law-related subjects of legal administration and legal studies.

Paralegal School degrees prepare graduates for drafting papers, researching cases, investigation, record-keeping, and administrative functions. While lawyers assume ultimate responsibility for legal work, they often delegate many of their tasks to their assistants. Paralegals are assuming more legal duties in legal offices, and often perform many of the same tasks as lawyers.

Paralegal School studies will entail computer use and technical knowledge that is essential to performance of work necessary in a law firm. Legal work often requires use of specialized software and research on the Internet.

If you are interested in learning more about Paralegal Schools, or Online Paralegal Schools, please search our site for more information and resources.

DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERAL OVERVIEW and may or may not reflect specific practices, courses and/or services associated with ANY ONE particular school(s) that is or is not advertised on SchoolsGalore.com.

Michael Bustamante is a staff writer for Media Positive Communications, Inc. Find Paralegal Training from Colleges, Universities, Online Schools, and Vocational Schools at SchoolsGalore.com.

Online Paralegal Degree Preparing You For Employment

In an era when professional opportunities are diminishing, one area where opportunities are certainly expanding is in the field of paralegal work. Consequently, as the practice of law expands, and the need for professional paralegals grows, many argue that there has never been a better time to enter the field of paralegal work. To cater for this growing need for paralegals, a number of nationally accredited online paralegal degree programs have been developed.

Most nationally accredited online paralegal degree programs begin with a Foundation Course, setting out the legal concepts and practical legal techniques that you'll be expected to know and comprehend when the times comes for you to start looking for paralegal work. You'll also be taught how to undertake legal research, conduct interviews of clients and witnesses, and draft documents. But, an online paralegal degree is much more than this. Specially developed Advance Course follow the Foundation Course on which you'll have the chance to hone your online study skills by electing to specialize in key specialty subjects; such as, litigation, real estate, estate and wills, trusts, and corporate law.

With all the added benefits found on all online degree programs, such as (a) convenience to take the course at your own pace; (b) flexibility to complete work within your own time; (c) benefit of not having to live on-campus or commute to the campus; (d) and pay fees as and when you decide to study that module, completing an online paralegal degree course allows you the chance to find new employment opportunities either in the private sector or government sector as most legal employer will know that you are getting all the training needed to ready you for the daily tasks faced in the legal profession!

Today's online paralegal degree programs also offer students the option to study a Bachelor of Science in Management/Applied Management with a Law Office Management Emphasis, preparing you for an entry-level legal management position, or an Associate of Applied Science in Paralegal Studies program for those looking to undertake employment in a legal environment.

No matter which online paralegal degree program you elect to take however, the fun, joy and benefits of an online paralegal degree program are available for all to enjoy!

Amba is the owner of http://www.on-line--education.com a website that contains all the latest resources and information relating to on-line degrees. Visit http://www.on-line--education.com

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Training for a Paralegal Job in the Legal Profession

 

Many paralegals work in the offices of solicitors and barristers, where they are responsible for preparing and managing legal cases under the oversight of a fully qualified solicitor. Other paralegals work in private firms and companies, where they oversee the legal standings of that firm’s contracts, review the legalities of company pension plans, prepare and file annual reports and maintain the minute reports and financial records for the company.

There are some recognized courses of instruction for those wishing to find jobs in the legal profession as paralegal, but there is no specific educational requirement. A paralegal should have a thorough understanding of at least a specialized area of the law pertaining to the position they wish to pursue. Most firms that hire paralegals will have their own in-house or on-the-job training. You can increase your chances of landing a job as a paralegal by fitting appropriate continuing education courses into your schedule.

While there is currently no prescribed course for paralegal training, the Scottish Paralegal Association offers the following guidelines for training as a paralegal.

A paralegal should have instruction in professional ethics, legal research and analysis of legal materials. They should know how to draft legal documents, and understand the administrative process of filing pleadings with a court. They should have substantial knowledge of the law and understand the workings of major research tools for legal matters. In addition, they should have demonstrated a facility with written and oral communications.

There are many universities and training institutions that offer courses and certifications for one interested in a career in the legal profession. These include bachelors and postgraduate degrees with concentrations in legal studies, associates’ degrees in legal studies and a certificate for completion of a course in paralegal studies.

Upon completion of training can expect his/her salary to be in the range of £20,000 and £40,000 annually. The job schedule is generally regular office hours (Monday-Friday, 9 to 5).

Robert Proctor is part of Legal Week Jobs, a website specialising in legal jobs and recruitment including gradute, legal secretary, solicitor & paralegal jobs.

For more legal jobs visit Legal Week Jobs

Locating the Best Online Paralegal Degree

 

There are many aspects to keep in mind when deciding on the best online paralegal degree for you. What are your main goals to earning your degree; are you looking for a program that fits into your busy schedule or is affordability your main concern? What type of degree are you looking for? Are you flexible with relocation or do you plan on searching for employment in a specific area? What will your future employers be looking for from your education with an Online Paralegal Degree?

While lawyers assume ultimate responsibility for legal work they often delegate many of their tasks to Paralegals. Since Paralegals continue to assume a growing range of responsibilities and perform many of the same tasks as a lawyer the demand for qualified Paralegals is continuously increasing. With the increased demand for paralegals you will need to ask yourself what your goals are when it comes to earning an online paralegal degree, and keep those goals in mind to help guide your decisions.

Many online paralegal degrees offer incredible convenience and flexibility. You can complete your assignments essentially anywhere there is a computer with Internet access. Some programs may require you to perform cooperative assignments that will require you to schedule some time away from your computer. So if a busy schedule does not afford you the luxury of attending a session in court during business hours, you may want to consider a program that offers alternatives.

The affordability of a paralegal degree may be your top concern when investing your options. Online degree programs typically cost less per course than traditional campus-based learning, and have been known to be on average up to $100 to $150 less per credit hour. You can earn a paralegal degree through online learning that will save you money, and at the same time is able to facilitate a substantial growth in your income.

There are two types of online paralegal degrees you can earn: an Associate’s Degree and a Bachelor’s Degree. The type of associate or bachelor degree you receive will depend upon the online school you have chosen to earn you degree from. One of the most practical ways to determine what degree that will be required is to contact the employers in your area and inquire what their paralegal degree requirements are.

Career Opportunities for Online Paralegal Degree Graduates

With an online paralegal degree you have the opportunity to search for employment in a variety of industries including:

• Private law firms
• Title companies
• Local, state, and federal government agencies
• Corporate law departments
• Law enforcement agencies
• Banks
• Prosecutors
• Private and Corporate Business
• Community Agencies

When registering for an online paralegal degree program you must ensure that the school you have chosen has Specialized Accreditation status. In order to assure future employers that your degree can comply with the most current guidelines for professional conduct they will require that the online school where you earned your paralegal degree has been accredited by the American Bar Association (http://www.abanet.org/index.cfm). So make sure you do your research and investigate multiple programs and schools.

 

To obtain a list of programs and schools to research, go to http://www.OnlineDegreeReviews.org and click on Paralegal, under the Law and Criminal Justice section of the homepage. You also have the ability to research Online Paralegal Degrees by reading reviews and talking to former students in the online forums.

Steve Rawlinson is the founder of Online Degree Reviews, a website where students review online degrees.

Paralegal Certification - Pros and Cons

Paralegals and Legal Assistants (the terms are interchangeable) back in 60's and 70's received much of their training on the job via real world experience. However, since that time things have changed and now most paralegals enter the field by going through the certification process. Although certification is not required to get a job, in fact it's still not a licensed profession, a paralegal that's been certified is generally considered to be a better trained, more qualified candidate than a paralegal that hasn't been certified.

The certification process for paralegals is a bit like becoming an attorney; it requires an individual to pass a test from a qualified paralegal organization. Just like gradating from law school doesn't make someone a lawyer - they must first pass the bar exam, and with paralegals, completing a certified training program doesn't make them a certified paralegal; they must first pass the exam in order to earn certification.

Even after certification many paralegals choose to continue their training by specializing in particular niches of the law like: estate planning, criminal law, commercial law and so on.

There is a wide array of certification programs out there so when searching for the best program for you to either further your education and training or to begin your paralegal career, you will have to spend a little time and weed out those programs that don't fit your situation.

Some organizations claim that they've been approved or that they are compliant with the American Bar Association but the only way to verify their claims is to check with your state bar association.

Explain to your state bar association representative that you are looking for reliable information about either entering the paralegal field or that you are seeking continuing educational training. While most states don't require paralegal certification, your states bar association should be able to connect you with the top certification and training organizations and programs in your area that they feel are reputable.

You can check with your states better business bureau or attorney generals office if you are looking into online certification or correspondence courses, to see if any complaints have been filed about the companies offering the courses.

Although, the paralegal certification selection process will take a bit of time and research, a positive off-shoot of the whole thing is that it will probably pay off down the road by helping to ensure that you find the best possible certification training available in your area or online. It should also help you avoid the time, expense and frustration of choosing the wrong training program; perhaps one that isn't recognized and then having to deal with the realization that you having nothing to show for your efforts.

In addition, the whole research process will prepare you for the type of research you will be required to do as a certified paralegal.

If the allure of a paralegal career is calling you, check out the links below.

Visit paralegal schools or paralegal career or paralegal training for more information on a Paralegal Career.

Know The Necessity Of Paralegal Education

 

If you're seriously interested in knowing about paralegal education for paralegal jobs, you need to think beyond the basics. For Colleges where you can earn your Paralegal degree online or throughout the U.S. talk to an Admissions Advisor or google-search paralegal information online today and take the first step in becoming a paralegal.

The paralegal person is very important in the day to day running of legal firms and the legal departments of both Government and Private Organizations. Paralegal training equips Paralegals to have the same insightful knowledge about legal matters as lawyers so that they can be able to organize the efficient function of the law firms and legal departments.

The job of a Paralegal will among other things include preparing case files, indexing documents, interviewing witness, writing legal documents and conducting hearings. The one thing that makes the difference between a lawyer and a paralegal person is court appearance, which a paralegal does not do.

To be able to function effectively in the above capacity, a beginner paralegal should be a holder of a bachelor degree as stipulated by the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA)

This precondition is not nationally consistent, there is about 50% adherences; with about 30% other paralegals who are making do with associates degrees. The other 20% are people who have learned on the job and working without adequate qualifications.

You know that adequate training and qualification as a paralegal will help you make progress in your paralegal job. If you learned anything new about paralegal education for paralegal jobs in this article, you should go about becoming a paralegal armed with the necessary information you can easily find online.

Recommended: Online Paralegal Degree Success or Online Paralegal Degree Blog for more information and resources before you embark on online a Paralegal course