Becoming A Paralegal - What You Need To Know About Legal Executive Jobs

hat Paralegals Do: While they may not be fully qualified solicitors, people in Paralegal jobs often are far more involved in the day to day details of legal cases. Their responsibilities can include preparing legal documents for solicitors and clients. Much of a Paralegal?s time will be spent carrying out research on cases which often includes interviewing clients and witnesses, as well as looking into similar legal cases.

Paralegals also spend a significant proportion of their time monitoring and attending court. As a right hand person to a solicitor they have the responsibility of helping them with the case and dealing with clients queries. The help and advice for clients can take place both in and outside court.

On top of these glamorous aspects of the job, Paralegals are often expected to carry out a wide range of and administrative and clerical responsibilities. Those who have the skills to combine the legal aspects of the job with a strong understanding of administration do really well as Paralegals.

What Skills Do Paralegals Need: Excellent written and spoken communication is vital if you want a Paralegal job. Like many other roles the ability to easily and clearly get your message a across over the phone, in person and via email is at a premium. Similarly the ability to deal with clients and colleagues patiently and with tact is valued highly.

As anyone who has dealt with legal cases will understand, anyone working in a legal job has to be able to take on board and understand complicated information. This is more difficult than it sounds though a systematic organized person should be okay.

Also the ability to work to tight deadlines and under pressure can often come in handy for any aspiring Paralegals.

What Qualifications Does a Paralegal Need: Anyone thinking of applying for a paralegal job will need some relevant law experience. Often Law Graduates apply for paralegal jobs after graduating from university. Similarly the job often appeals for those qualified with an HNC or HND in Law or Legal Studies. However a lack of an education in law needn?t prevent you from applying. If you have had some relevant law experience you maybe able to apply and study for a paralegal qualification from the Institute of Legal Executives (ILEX) Paralegal Programmes, or the National Association of Licensed Paralegals.

The job of a paralegal has great prospects and opportunities for a driven individual with a good understanding of the law with a disciplined attitude to organization. So if you fit the bill it?s work tracking a Paralegal job down.

Robert Proctor is part of Legal Week Jobs, a website specialising in jobs in law including gradute, legal secretary, solicitor & paralegal jobshttp://www.legalweek.com/jobs

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Christmas: Should a Paralegal Buy Gifts for Co-workers?

With Christmas peeking around the corner, it?s time for paralegals to start thinking about their shopping list for office gifts. Bigger law firms may adopt the Secret Santa method. Names of participants are written on strips of paper and dropped in a hat. Each person draws one name and shops for that lucky recipient. Typically a spending limit is set. This method may cut down on how many people are on your gift list. A word of advice, if you participate in a Secret Santa drawing, do everyone a favor by adhering to the spending limit. There?s nothing more irritating than one or two people getting awesome, expensive gifts while others who followed the rules sit there feeling oddly embarrassed that they DID follow the rules.

That said, yes, you should buy gifts for your attorney, secretary, other paralegals, and most especially support staff ? the receptionist and clerks whose help is oh-so-necessary.

You do not have to spend an arm and a leg to show your yuletide appreciation for co-workers. If you have an inside track on types of things those on your list would like, great. If you don?t, this list may be helpful.

1. Baked goods (homemade or store bought)
2. Bath and body products
3. A paperweight
4. Gift certificate (to a restaurant, mall or movie theater)
5. Pen set
6. Lapel pin
7. Scarf
8. Chocolates
9. Plant
10. Gloves
11. Potpourri
12. Candles
13. Ornament
14. Stress ball
15. Photo frame
16. Coffee cup warmer

To cover bigger groups likes clerks/runners, your best bet is baked goods. Prepare the goodies on a festive plate and wrap with red or green cellophane. Finish with a ribbon.

Gifts for your boss ? do not choose gifts that are too personal. It is inappropriate particularly if your boss is of the opposite sex. However, if you are aware of a hobby or pastime that your boss enjoys, you can find something that compliments it.

Gaily wrapped packaging makes a ?small? gift more special. Take time to attractively wrap and beribbon your office gifts.

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, employed by Michael L. Hawkins & Associates, P.L.L.C. 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.

The Picture of In-House Paralegals

Inhouse paralegals are type of paralegals who often work with the legalities of a corporation. They are common in cities where many corporations are headquartered. Corporations have long used inhouse counsel to take charge on their legal needs. And now other legal staff have been added to the corporate legal team they are the inhouse paralegals.

Paralegals are quite different in terms of the job nature compared to that of paralegals working in law firms, since inhouse paralegals clients are primarily corporations. Unlike in law firms, paralegals work is not assigned by attorneys, instead, caseloads are dictated by litigation that comes into the company and falls under the corporations insurance policies. Also, paralegals no matter what department, do a lot more of their own daily work without administrative assistance, as such inhouse paralegals are often trained in both the professional and clerical tasks of their trade.

According to Marge Dover, Executive Director of the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA), more and more corporations of today employ inhouse paralegals. Insurance companies, financial institutions, medical corporations and research firms are just a few areas that increasingly prefer to hire inhouse paralegals instead outsourcing legal tasks. Companies are becoming very creative about using the skills of the paralegals.

Multi tasking and being able to handle complex projects are just some of the paralegal skills that are being utilized by the corporations. Paralegals often perform copious diverse tasks and communicate with different people every day. A paralegal may have little supervision, however they may report to more than one supervisor, such as the corporations inhouse counsel and the department head.

House paralegals may either perform the majority of the corporations legal work or specialize in one particular field. Some of the areas that hired inhouse paralegals participate in are contract compliance, litigation and intellectual property law. Inhouse paralegals may also work for the human resources department. Daily tasks of paralegals may include writing reports to corporate clients, corresponding with other corporations, attorneys, and clients, docketing and file maintenance and inhouse training of employees. Inhouse paralegals also serve as liaison between legal department and the rest of the company. The other duties of inhouse paralegals include: * Filings of company profiles. * Creating and distributing company board books. * Maintaining legal department files. * Maintaining company and subsidiaries corporate minute books. * Maintaining and coordinating files for employees personal trading files and * The general paralegal duties such as filing, having agreements signed and distributing to appropriate parties.

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Taking Online Paralegal Courses To New Heights

A paralegal is an assistant to an attorney. This person participates in a number of activities that involve legal cases including researching case law, prepare pleadings, and assist in arguments. Becoming a paralegal is a highly lucrative position. Most paralegals work in law firms and are very well paid. It is also a great stepping stone if you are interested in becoming a lawyer. In order to be a paralegal, you must have an associated degree in paralegal studies. Online paralegal courses can help you attain that degree.

Many people who are already in the work force can not afford the time it takes to go to traditional colleges. Opting for online paralegal courses, though, will help resolve that problem by allowing you to work from the comfort of your own home and set your own schedule. This is a very convenient option for working parents or those who already have professional obligations. Anyone who has time restrictions will benefit from this.

Online paralegal courses will give a basis in understanding the law and the functions of a law office. Courses may include contract law, litigation, real estate law, research and criminal law. These courses will give the student the basis to be able to successfully work in and participate in a law firm or legal division within a company. Paralegals are highly valued employees who do a lot of the legal work in a case. With today?s increasingly litigious society, the need for paralegals is on the rise. As cases increase, so does the need for attorneys and assistants. Paralegals earn on average, $40,000 per year and can increase with experience. Therefore, getting a paralegal degree is a valuable investment into your future.

Taking online paralegal courses does not need to be expensive. Generally, you only pay for the classes as you take them. Online paralegal courses are also less expensive than traditional courses because there is no need for a formal classroom setting or dedicated teacher with student to teacher ratio restrictions. The savings for this is passed through to the student. Also, because it is only necessary to have an associate?s degree to become a paralegal, the degree can be obtained faster and cheaper than a bachelor?s degree. If you still have budget concerns, most programs will offer financial aid. This can be in the form of student loans that do not have to be paid until the degree is completed or grants that never need to be paid off. Check with your school?s financial assistance department for options.

The need for paralegals is on the rise. It is a great time to get into this field as there are many available jobs that pay well. The average salary of a paralegal is high and the additional earning potential is also high. It is estimated that this particular filed will grow at an above average rate over the next several years. Getting a degree will give you an advantage over the competition and help you land a very lucrative job. The convenience of online paralegal courses will help you attain your goal quickly and affordably.
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Enrolling in a Paralegal School

Paralegal jobs in the United States have steadily been on the rise these past few years. The US Department of Labor also projects that in the next several years, paralegal job opportunities will continue to increase. As law firms continue to expand and new ones are being established, paralegals are progressively more in demand than ever before.

Some paralegal positions do not require extensive training and provide it on-the-job. However, most employers prefer applicants who have had formal training in a paralegal school. These law firms need paralegals who already demonstrate proficiency. On-the-job training calls for a commitment of more resources and time, which may not be cost effective for the firm.

Because of the increasing demand for paralegals that specialize in particular fields, paralegal training courses and paralegal schools have also gained popularity. For those considering a career in this field, enrolling in a paralegal school is a good decision. A paralegal school will provide extensive training on the duties and functions of a paralegal. The training that a paralegal school provides is very advantageous to the student compared to on-the-job-training. In a paralegal school, future paralegals can complete paralegal training programs and even proceed to taking additional classes in a specialized area of study.

General paralegal training in a paralegal school usually consist of special courses that cover key areas of importance. Paralegal training programs in paralegal schools include classes in legal terminology as well as the operation of the US Justice System. Paralegal schools also train students on the basics of conducting an investigation and interviews. Some other key courses that paralegal schools offer include legal writing and conducting legal research. Students will also learn about legal ethics and professional responsibility. Paralegal schools are excellent training ground for future legal professionals. Some paralegal schools provide affiliate programs with law schools, universities and colleges that could further improve the skills and knowledge of its students.

Paralegal schools also offer elective course that are geared towards specific areas of study. Today's paralegal schools have introduced new courses and classes that cover the newfound duties of paralegals. As demand for paralegals increase the duties that a paralegal performs also increases. Many law firms expect paralegals to perform duties that only lawyers used to do. These duties are offered as training courses in most paralegal schools. Thus, enrolling in a paralegal school greatly benefits the future paralegal. By completing the advanced courses that accredited paralegal schools offer, the future paralegal can acquire skills and knowledge that will give him the edge when applying for a legal professional job. Paralegal schools can also open the opportunity of specialization that will further improve the chances of employment as more law firms favor applicants with specialized skills.

The internet revolution also offers a new, more convenient way for potential paralegals to obtain formal training and instruction. Online paralegal schools now offer distance learning courses that students can take in their own homes and at their own pace. Students can now take paralegal courses at their most convenient time. This further enhances the rising popularity and demand for paralegals in the country.
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