Paralegal Associations

Paralegal associations are considered one of the network tools that bind practicing paralegals, vendors, and students in the paralegal field. These serve as a means to know about paralegals and inspire one to start a career as a paralegal. These associations encourage paralegal education to a great extent. In addition, they work along with the bar and other law organizations in the region.

Paralegal associations offer services to law firms, paralegal training schools and colleges, legal departments, and even to individuals who work for other persons in legal fields. The associations make the members aware of the importance of pro bono activities and encourage them to offer such services.

There are a number of national, state, and local paralegal associations throughout the nation. The state and local associations are affiliated with any one of the national associations, in most cases. Some among the national associations are the International Paralegal Management Association, the National Association of Paralegals (NALA), and the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA). Among these NFPA is the largest association in the United States.

Paralegal associations have different types of membership based on the individual. The membership categories include pre-student, student, affiliate, associate, and regular. All those individuals enrolled as members have to follow certain standards and the ethnic codes of the affiliated association.

Paralegal associations benefit its members in a number of ways. They conduct educational programs, seminars, meetings, and other events to enhance knowledge in this field and to improve skills in this profession. They help individuals to maintain communication or interaction with various persons related to law. Many associations have publications to disseminate the current happenings and changes in the paralegal industry. With job data banks and referral services, these associations help individuals to know about paralegal openings in various firms and agencies.

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Paralegal Resources

Paralegal associations are one of the most important paralegal resources available. These associations maintain a database of paralegals who are members. These associations can be national, state or local. Most state and local associations are affiliate members of national associations. Some among the national associations are the American Association for Paralegal Education, the National Paralegal Association, the National Association of Legal Assistants, and the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (the largest paralegal association). State associations include the Illinois Paralegal Association, the Paralegal Association of Florida, and the Empire State Alliance of Paralegal Associations.

Bar associations are included in the category of paralegal resources. These associations are actually membership organizations aiming at uplifting legal profession standards and maintaining unity among legal professionals. Like paralegal associations, these vary from national to local ones. Every state features a bar association of its own. The American Bar Association is the largest such association in the nation. Other associations include the National Bar Association, the California Bar Association, the Ohio State Bar Association, and the Cleveland Bar Association.

Legal Assistant Today (LAT) is a large independent trade magazine that contains all necessary information for paralegals. This law journal provides technical information, career opportunities, current trends, and other informative details for readers.

Other resources include law firms and resource centers. Government sites such as the United States Department of State, the United States Department of Justice, Federal Government Resources (Civil Service), Office of the Attorney General, and the American Civil Liberties Union are associated with paralegal resources.

In addition, there are a number of books and publications that serve as educational paralegal resources. These resources are well suited for students, instructors, and professionals to know more about the subject. Some resources are published electronically. These publications may sometimes need subscription as members to make use of the facility. Once subscribed, members are given user name and password to enter the corresponding website.

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Paralegal Resumes

A well written paralegal resume represents the knowledge, experience and abilities of a paralegal. An entry level paralegal should give importance to the qualification part while preparing a resume. An experienced paralegal can at the same time highlight experience and achievements. Prepare different resumes for various paralegal positions. Prepare both chronological and functional resumes to emphasize different accomplishments.

In a paralegal resume, the first step is to prepare a list of skills. The list can include assignments done in the paralegal classes. A paralegal can also list the responsibilities and other details about the internship. The next step is to write down previous work experience. Work experience also includes legal as well as non legal work experience.

The important part of a paralegal resume is the summary or qualification part which is an overview of a paralegal?s educational background. If a paralegal has any legal experience, it should be specified in the first line of the summary part. Write down the most recent education first and then the earlier education. If a paralegal has completed any advanced paralegal education program, it can also be included in the education part. The summary part must include the strengths, other work experience and computer skills. A paralegal can also specify research or analytical skills and advanced skills in the summary part.

Paralegal resumes in functional format can include two or three headings. The headings can be legal, office management, organization skills, information management, writing skills and interpersonal skills. The details can be specified under these functional headings. Internship and skills, defense interviews, draft pleadings, analyzed court rules and reviewed case files can be included under legal skills. In functional format, write down the work experience at the end. It can include job title, employer and date.

There are some general points to be noted while preparing a paralegal resume. Your name should be in bold format and larger than the address. Generally 12 point type letter size is used in a paralegal resume. Accomplishments and achievements can be emphasized using bullet format.

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Paralegals Practice Unparalleled Phone Propriety

Your mission, legal assistants, should you decide to accept it, is to handle many of your boss? phone calls. A good legal assistant continually strives to free up the attorney?s time for court appearances, meetings, and more in-depth legal research. After all, this is how an attorney earns his fees. But in order to have fees that can be earned, new work must materialize. The majority of new work for attorneys comes in the form of phone calls. Handle these phone calls wisely.

The ability to filter through types of phone calls and handle as much of the phone work as possible, with finesse, is an excellent skill to develop. A paralegal must be familiar with her boss? schedule, his caseload, his clients, and his particular style in order to filter the phone calls well. She must also be thoroughly familiar with the types of new cases her boss may accept. This includes understanding the office?s standard procedure for inquiries he is either unable to fulfill or too busy to fulfill.

Often new assignments are derived from repeat business - a client who has used your attorney?s services in the past. A paralegal should possess basic knowledge of these return clients, including how to get in touch with clients by mail, phone, fax, and e-mail. Utilize your office?s file management system to keep this information handy. (If your business has no file management system, I urge you to campaign for one as soon as possible.)

One of your duties may be to recall old matter files for a returning client. Many law offices utilize off-site storage for closed files. Depending on the situation, old files may contain valuable information that will assist your attorney in handling new matters.

Sometimes new clients are referred by your boss? colleagues, professional peers, friends and acquaintances. When referrals occur, make note of it so you can prepare a thank you letter from your boss. If this type of appreciation is not standard practice at your firm, discuss the benefits with your attorney. Once approved, do just that, automatically. Do not slack on the newly adopted nicety. Niceties often develop into more business referred your boss? way. In any event, it shows appreciation and is a highly professional touch.

There will also be ?cold callers? who are shopping through advertising resources: phone books, the internet, television advertising. Here is where the true colors of a paralegal come out ? having the ability to ferret which callers are just shopping for free advice over the phone. Some folks will be unable to afford your attorney?s services. For those types of calls, there may be organizations to which you can refer such a caller. Know your community so that you will be able to efficiently refer callers to appropriate help.

Other ?cold calls? may concern cases your boss will accept, but the potential client may need some selling tactics to win their business. Highlight your boss? skills and track record. In the process of doing so, you will also be highlighting your own skills. This makes hiring your boss doubly attractive because you are already establishing good rapport with the new client.

Never forget the importance of professional handling of phone calls. If phone etiquette is lacking, it can actually lose business for your attorney. Support him well by handling phone calls with tiptop professionalism.

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.

A Paralegal's Business Card Speaks Professionalism

A business card is a small "calling card" which advertises a business or service offered. Information found on a business card includes the business name, individual contact person, and various ways to contact the service provider, including address and telephone numbers. Today, business cards also include email addresses and web site information.

Paralegals communicate with many people. Often, an attorney's clients will stay in regular contact with his paralegal. This is because a legal assistant is generally more accessible than the attorney and can be depended on to route important information between the two.

When a paralegal meets with a new client to gather pertinent information it is usually the first contact that client has had with the firm and that employee. Handing them a business card at meeting's end is a professional touch. Clients appreciate having easy access to telephone numbers and even the paralegal's name. Often the circumstances that led them to an attorney's office are unsettling. They might not initially recall names easily, so a business card takes out the guess work. That business card is also a small, comforting link to the help they need.

I highly recommend that paralegals have their own business cards. These can be prepared by a printing company, or prepared on blank business cards and run through a laser printer. Another option if a boss would prefer their own business cards used by the paralegal ? prepare small mailing labels with the paralegal's name, direct phone extension and business email address, and affix the labels to the back of the firm cards. Typed information looks more professional than just writing it by hand.

A paralegal may have occasion during personal activities to hand out a business card or two. A friend or relative may need legal assistance. The firm employee may witness an accident. A conversation about needed services can crop up anywhere and any time. If a paralegal is equipped with business cards, professional networking is a breeze.

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....

http://www.paralegalsecretary.bravehost.com

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.

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 are 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.

NOTE: 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

Accredited Paralegal Schools

Two and half decades ago, paralegal education consists only of a handful of programs across the whole United States, with many legal offices, law firms, corporations, and government agencies providing only on the job trainings for prospective paralegals.

Today, on the job trainings still remain an important element in developing successful paralegals, but the roles are shifting. More and more employers are setting requirements for hiring, including higher education and/or formal training in paralegal studies.

But when it comes to paralegal education, or any education for that matter, it is not enough that you enroll in some obscure program provided by an equally obscure school or institution.

Accreditation is your assurance of a program quality and accreditation is your ticket to increasing your chances of getting hired to do paralegal work in a prominent law office or government agency.

Thus, if you are considering a paralegal career, then be sure to enroll in a program provided by an accredited paralegal school. Fortunately, the current trend in paralegal education is accreditation, perhaps in an effort to compensate for the general lack of educational standards in paralegal profession. As such, many of the programs for paralegal studies available today are from accredited paralegal schools.

What are the types of accredited paralegal schools?

The types of accreditation given to paralegal schools are the following:

* Regional Accreditation A regionally accredited paralegal school becomes such only after a regional accrediting body grants accreditation to its paralegal programs. For the accreditation to be valid, the regional accrediting body must have jurisdiction over the accredited paralegal school. In addition, the regional accrediting body must also go through a recognition process with the federal government before it could exercise its accreditation powers.

* American Bar Association (ABA) Approval The ABA has approved over 250 paralegal or legal assistant training programs nationwide. In order for a school to receive accreditation from the ABA, they must comply with the guidelines laid down by the Association. The only ABA accredited paralegal schools in the country are those that offer programs that are not distance learning or correspondence courses.

The guidelines set forth by the ABA for accredited paralegal schools provide important information when evaluating programs. Even so, schools are not compelled to comply with these guidelines. In fact, it is quite possible for a school to be considered as on par with an ABA- accredited paralegal school even though it has no ABA approval yet, so long as it is in substantial compliance with the ABA guidelines. This compliance, of course, is subjective. In short, it means that the accredited paralegal school program for paralegal studies already complies with the guidelines but, for some reason, has not sought ABA approval yet.

Read More On Paralegal Schools

Franchisor Trademarks and Display of Name Issues

Most franchising companies spend millions of dollars on promoting their brand-name. To insure that the brand-name use used correctly throughout the franchise system, the franchisor must specify to each and every franchised outlet how it must be used. Most franchisors discuss this issue at length during the initial franchise training and have large sections with the rules of the trademarks use in the confidential operations manual.

In our franchise company we took it one step further in that we decided to put in a clause in our franchise agreements prior to the commencement of the opening of the franchise and prior to the signing of the franchise agreements, all franchisees understood exactly how serious we were about this particular issue. I designed this clause, which I put into all of our franchise agreements below;

3.11.2 Display of Name

At the times during the term of this Agreement, Franchisee will use the Marks, in a form and manner approved by Franchisor, in all advertising promotions and communications involving the Franchised Business, including telephone yellow pages listings, Websites, signs, banners, business cards, stationary, promotional and advertising materials, forms, contracts and all other materials which identify the Franchised Business. Except as provided in this Agreement, Franchisee will not use or give others permission to use the Service Marks, or any colorable imitation of them, combined with any other words or phrases. Franchisee and their shareholders, officers, agents, partners, members or managers will not form or participate in the formation of any company, firm, corporation, or other entity having a name containing the words of the Service Marks. Franchisee may not combine or associate with any name or symbol of the Service Marks with any other name or word in any advertising or sign. The Service Marks must be used in exact conformity with specifications Franchisor sets in the Confidential Operations Manual.

All uses of the Marks by Franchisee must be prominently displayed and must clearly state that Franchisee is independently owned and operated. In the event that Franchisee is expressly permitted by Section 3.3 to own any business(es) other than the Franchised Business unless such business is also a franchise offered by Franchisor, neither Franchisee nor the personnel engaged in such other business(es) may conduct the same under any of the Marks or color schemes of the Franchised Business, or operate in any manner so as to cause confusion of origin or sponsorship between The Car Wash Guys related services and products and the services or products offered or rendered by such other business(es).

In doing so I insured the proper use of my federal trademark. It is advisable for all franchisors to consider an additional clause in their franchise agreements to address this issue also. Therefore you should talk with a competent franchise attorney on this specific issue. I hope you will consider this in 2006.

Lance Winslow, a retired entrepreneur, adventurer, modern day philosopher and perpetual tourist.

What Is An Online Paralegal Bachelor's Degree Actually Worth?

Many people who choose to get online degrees as paralegals may be wondering how much they are worth in the job market. Most online colleges allow you to study for your Bachelor's degree as a paralegal. How much will the degree be worth when you graduate?

The employment of paralegals is expected to increase over the next eight years. Many law firms and other agencies want to reduce the costs of their services by hiring paralegals to assist them. Much of the work lawyers do is now carried out by paralegals. Competition for these types of jobs will continue and those who have formal training will have the best opportunities for quality employment.

Because of this, getting a Bachelor's degree from an online college will put students in high demand for employment. The amount that you will earn as a paralegal is dependent upon your education, and where you choose to work.

A student with a Bachelor's degree as a paralegal working in a large city or for the federal government can expect to earn as much as sixty thousand dollars a year. This is over half the income that the average American makes, and is above average.

Private law firms are the largest employers of paralegals. Despite this, more banks, corporations, insurance companies, and real estate firms are beginning to hire paralegals as well. This creates a large amount of employment opportunities for those who choose to pursue this type of career.

Paralegals who choose to specialize in areas such as bankruptcy or product liability will also have enormous employment opportunities. More corporations have begun setting up their own legal departments in order to save money. The market for paralegals will grow as large agencies and corporations assign paralegals larger and more important tasks.

People who choose to get degrees, as paralegals do not have to worry about such things as outsourcing, which primarily affects IT jobs. Being employed as a paralegal is stable in the sense that corporations and agencies will want paralegals working inhouse, and will not look overseas for this type of work.

However, paralegals maybe somewhat effected by recessions. Once business cycles decline, some paralegal services such as estate planning and other things maybe in less demand. Some paralegals maybe laid off or have their hours reduced during a recession. At the same time, the number of bankruptcies and other problems will increase, and this will give paralegals good employment opportunities even during a recession.

Despite this, the field of paralegals is expected to expand into the public as well as private sector. Community legal services, which help the poor, or elderly, will look to cut their costs by hiring paralegals. This presents even more employment opportunities for those who wish to pursue this field.

Getting an online Bachelor's degree as a paralegal is worth it, and an excellent investment in your future. It is a field, which is expected to grow for the next decade, and more and more different types of businesses will need paralegals. It is a field, which is protected from outsourcing and only moderately affected during a recession.

Mansi gupta recommends that you visit Online Paralegal Bachelor's Degree for more information.

How Does An Online Paralegal School Work?

When choosing to pursue a career as a paralegal online, it is important to understand how online paralegal schools work. In this article I will go over this in detail.

There are few prerequisites needed for admission to an online paralegal school. You will need to have at least a highschool diploma or an equivalent, and having work experience or other training will help, but is not necessary.

Some schools will require potential students to list their work experience and education so they can better provide them with classes that are varied. Paralegal schools will not reject applications if you do not have enough work experience or education requirements other than those listed above.

Some online paralegal schools will give students trial class options in which they are allowed to take the first course as a trial. By taking this course, you will get a fundamental understanding of what it means to be a paralegal and the type of work you will have to do in this field.

You will also get a feel for the learning environment of the online program. Once you have tried this course, you can then decide if the program is good for you and if you wish to continue. If you feel after this that online learning is not for you, you are free to cancel.

Most online paralegal programs will give you credits for this course if you complete it and wish to continue. At this point you may be enrolled in the paralegal certificate program, in which you can become certified as a paralegal in as little as seven to ten months, depending on the program.

Some intensive online programs allow you to become certified as a paralegal in as little as six weeks. Those who want to further their education and specialize in specific areas can choose to take even more classes. To apply for a paralegal program, you will probably have to fill out online forms and submit it to the program administrator, or you will need to simply call.

In order to graduate, some programs will require you to take what is called the Certified Legal Assistant Exam. To be allowed to take this exam you may be required to have a certain number of hours of education and training. Upon completion of this exam you will be qualified to become employed as a paralegal.

After applying for an online paralegal program, you will be mailed or emailed a letter of acceptance or denial. It will provide you with instructions on how to enroll in your classes, and how to make payments. A student coordinator will assist you with payment processing. Once you have made your payments, your books will be sent to you, and you can begin your classes.

Mansi gupta recommends that you visit online paralegal school for more information.

Legal Assistants And Paralegals - The Future Is Bright

One of most common ways to become a legal assistant or paralegal is through a community college program that leads to an associate's degree. Another common route; primarily for those who already have a college degree, is through a program that leads to a certification in paralegal studies.

Many legal assistants and paralegals have associate degrees in paralegal studies or a bachelor's degree paired with a certificate in paralegal studies. Currently, a small number of schools offer bachelors' or masters' degrees in paralegal studies. A few employers train paralegals on the job, hiring college graduates with no legal experience or promoting experienced legal secretaries. Others have gained experience in a technical field useful to law firms, like tax preparation for tax and estate planning, criminal justice, nursing or health administration for personal injury practice.

With 250+ paralegal programs approved by the American Bar Association (ABA) and an estimated 1,000 colleges and universities, law schools and proprietary schools offering formal paralegal training programs - the field is highly represented. Although many programs don't require ABA approval, graduating from an ABA-approved program can enhance one's employment opportunities - it's a credibility thing for some employers.

Program admission requirements vary greatly - from a few college credits or courses to a bachelor's degree for others, to high school graduates, those with legal experience, passing a standardized test, to simply having a favorable personal interview.

Many legal assistant and paralegal programs include 2-year associate degree programs, 4-year bachelor degree programs and certificate programs that can take as little as a few months to complete. Most certificate programs provide intensive and specialized paralegal training for individuals who already hold college degrees. On the other hand, associate and bachelor degree programs usually combine paralegal training with courses in other academic subjects.

Obviously, the quality of paralegal training programs can vary with the higher quality programs usually including job placement services.

Courses range from introducing students to the legal applications of computers, including how to perform legal research on the Internet to more and more paralegal training programs offering internships to assist students in gaining practical experience by working for several months in the real world. Internships could be with a private law firm, the office of a public defender or attorney general, a bank, a corporate legal department, a legal aid organization or a government agency. Clearly, the experience gained is an asset when one is seeking a job after graduation and for many can lead to a job with the company they interned with.

Most employers don't require certification but earning a voluntary certificate from a professional society does have its advantages when it comes to finding a job. The National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) has established standards for certification that requires various combinations of education and experience. Paralegals who meet their standards are eligible to take a 2-day examination, offered three times a year at one of several regional testing centers. Those who pass can then use the Certified Legal Assistant (CLA) designation. NALA also offers an advanced paralegal certification for those who want to specialize in specific areas of the law.

The Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam offers professional recognition to legal assistants and paralegals that have earned a bachelor's degree and have at least 2 years of experience. Once they pass this test they can use the Registered Paralegal (RP) designation.

Legal assistants and paralegals must have the ability to document and present their findings and opinions to their supervising attorneys. They also need to understand legal terminology, have good research and investigative skills and be able to do legal research using a computer and the internet. They also need to stay abreast of new developments in the laws that affect their area of expertise. The most common way many legal assistants and paralegals expand their knowledge is by participating in continuing legal education seminars.

Because legal assistants and paralegals deal with the public on an ongoing basis they need to be "shining examples" of ethical standards for the legal profession. The National Association of Legal Assistants, the National Federation of Paralegal Associations and a few States have established ethical guidelines for them to follow.

Employment Outlook
Legal assistants and paralegals held about 224,000 jobs in 2004 with about 70% being employed by private law firms; most of the remainder worked for corporate legal departments and various levels of government. Within the Federal Government, the U.S. Department of Justice is the largest employer, followed by the Social Security Administration and the U.S. Department of the Treasury. A small number of paralegals own their own businesses and work as freelance legal assistants, contracting their services to attorneys or corporate legal departments.

As a whole, employment in this field is projected to grow much faster than average. The current trend of employers trying to reduce costs by hiring paralegals to perform duties formerly carried out by lawyers is expected to continue into the foreseeable future. As a result, employment opportunities are projected to grow much faster than average for the next 10 years or so.

As in all fields, compensation varies greatly due to the high number of variables but in general, salaries depend on education, training, experience, the type and size of employer and the geographic location of the job. As a whole, legal assistants and paralegals who work for large law firms or in large metropolitan areas earn more than those who work for smaller firms or in less populated regions. In addition to salary, many also receive bonuses. In mid 2004, the average salary for all legal assistants or paralegal was a tad over $39,000 per year.

This article may be reproduced only in its entirety. Kevin Erickson is an entrepreneur and writer. For other articles he's written visit: Paralegal Schools | Travel Nursing | Medical Transcription

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.