Great Career Opportunities For Paralegals

Are you interested in legal work, but not law school? Many people want to a career in law, but not everyone is interested in committing to numerous years in school. Paralegals, also known as legal assistants are one of the fastest growing careers in the legal field.

The American Bar Association (ABA) defines the role of a paralegal or legal assistant as an individual that is capable by education, training or work experience who is employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental agency or other entity who performs specifically delegated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible.

What do Paralegals Do?
Paralegals help lawyers prepare for cases, trials and meetings. They assist attorneys by analyzing and organizing information, investigate facts, and even prepare written reports. Their duties can also include researching legal documents, finding witnesses, getting affidavits, and tracking case files. In addition, paralegals also draft legal documents and contracts.

Paralegal Facts

? Approximately 70% of paralegals work for law firms. Others work in corporate legal departments and government agencies.
? Most paralegals have at least an associate?s degree in paralegal studies, or a bachelor?s degree coupled with a certificate in paralegal studies.
? The Bureau of Labor Statistics project that this field will grow faster than average, as employers try to reduce costs by hiring paralegals to perform tasks formerly carried out by lawyers.
? Formally trained paralegals will have the best employment opportunities.

Nearly all paralegals have earned an associate's or bachelor's degree. The most common paralegal programs are associate?s degree programs offered at community colleges or specialized schools. These programs are usually completed in 2 years. There are also certificate programs and online paralegal programs. Another common method of entry to this field for those who already have a college degree is through a program that leads to a certification in paralegal studies.

Financial Rewards of a Paralegal Career
Paralegals earn an average of 39,130 per year. The middle 50 percent earned between $31,040 and $49,950. The top 10 percent earned more than $61,390. Paralegals working for the federal government earned some of the higher salaries.

Mary Hart has been writing about legal degrees online since 2004. Click here to find out more information about how to earn your paralegal degree online.