How to Become a Paralegal

Paralegals work under the supervision of lawyers as essential and skilled participants of the legal team. They assist lawyers by performing detailed legal research, conducting client interviews, preparing statements, maintaining financial office records, and doing several other jobs of equal challenge.

Paralegal professionals come from different backgrounds. Education, certification and internship are paramount to advancement in this profession. These requirements vary widely, but are normally related to the duties of the position.

Paralegal programs include general education courses, law-related courses, and legal specialty courses. The specialty courses are core programs that introduce students to domestic relations, legal research and writing, wills and estate administration, business organizations, and litigation. The students are encouraged to study general education and law-related courses prior to enrolling in the specialty programs.

ABA (American Bar Association) accredited universities and colleges offer associate?s degree (usually 2 year programs), certificate programs, and a 4-year bachelor?s and/or master?s degrees in paralegal studies.

Paralegal internships are the integral part of many paralegal training programs. They offer the students practical experience by providing work experience in professional fields like law firms, attorney general?s offices, corporate legal departments, and government agencies. Paralegals are also given specialized training in some other fields. Individuals with naturalist experience often work in environmental law, while paralegals in personal injury or medical malpractice may have undergone medical training.

A paralegal education and law school education are entirely different. Therefore it is not possible for a person to become a lawyer after working as a legal assistant. Paralegal graduates lack the qualification and eligibility to obtain a bar license.

Paralegals work in private law firms, banks, insurance agencies, legal clinics, courts, government agencies, accounting and engineering firms, and legal aid offices. Their salaries differ, depending upon their education and experience, the type of employer, and the geographic location of the job. According to the National Association of Legal Assistants? reports, paralegals earned an average nationwide salary of $38,000 in 2000.

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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.

The Lawyer's Secret Weapon - Paralegals

Efficient management of caseloads and staff is required for lawyers to fully utilize the potential of their practice. Paralegals can play a significant role to ensure this goal. The Department of Labor is projecting that paralegals will be among the fastest-growing professions in the economy by the year 2008.

Below are some of the benefits that attorneys and clients can experience from the employ of a good paralegal:

Benefits to Attorneys

Most legal firms are not streamlined in order to make optimum use of staff. Many lawyers are doing the same work that paralegals do. By allotting work to a paralegal, your own time can be utilized by handling those tasks that require your expertise. Instead of handling every last detail of each case (can you say micro-manage?), set up time each week/day to meet with your paralegal, so that they can bring you up to speed on each case they?re handling for you. The payoff? Increased income from the ability to handle more cases, and more time off, as your presence at the office isn?t required to get everything done.

Benefits to Your Clients

According to a study conducted by American Bar Association, 70% of people choose not to seek help from lawyers for their legal needs. Why? The high cost of legal services and the headaches of dealing with lawyers.

Why not use this information to your advantage by offering every client the services of your excellent paralegal staff?

Clients who retain you are seeking to rely on you and your staff. Clients are aware that your availability to them is costly. So delegate. When dealing with a paralegal, clients see up close how the appropriate time and attention has been given to their case. This helps clients feel confident about your firm?s legal services, and also helps to form a strong relationship between the client and your firm. Moreover, the paralegal?s close interaction with the client can help you understand all aspects of the case better. Without such personal attention, clients may feel overlooked and apprehensive about seeking your help with additional matters.

Benefits to the Paralegal

Paralegals, as evidenced by their choice of profession, enjoy challenging jobs. With increased interaction with you, a paralegal will be able to perform varied tasks, and decrease your workload substantially. According to a recent study by National Association of Legal Assistants, the tasks of assisting clients, drafting correspondence and pleadings, research, case management and document analysis are the aspects of the legal profession preferred by paralegals. Again, delegation makes sense, so that your expertise can be utilized for revenue production.

By taking advantage of the suggested benefits listed above, you can not only streamline your office, but you will also find that you have the time (and energy) required to look for new avenues of growth.

Jack McDonough is a Colorado CPA, speaker, coach, author, and consultant to professionals in the legal and accounting industries who desire to make more money while working less hours. Jack is President of Wealthy Professionals LLC. WealthyProfessionals.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.

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Tips On Choosing The Best Online Paralegal School

Although the demand for many professional fields seem to be diminishing, the outlook for paralegals continues to be very bright. There is an ever increasing need for qualified individuals to help lawyers and corporations by indexing and filing the large amounts of paperwork that are involved in legal proceedings. Paralegals also may be used to interview witnesses and hold hearings as well. And a paralegal career is often a stepping stone to even greater involvement in the legal and governmental field.

So obviously, advanced training will be necessary in order to become a qualified paralegal. And here are some tips to help you choose the best paralegal school for your needs.

1. The very first and most important consideration regarding education in almost any field is to make sure that the school and the courses you will take are fully accredited by a recognized accreditation agency. This is important because in recent times there has been an increase in education scams, commonly referred to as diploma mills, that seem to offer quality training courses at bargain prices, whereas in reality the education received is of very little value in the workplace.

So when considering an online paralegal school, the first step is to make sure that their education program has been reviewed and accredited by educational peers who validate or verify that the education received is of high quality according to accepted educational standards. And you also will want to be sure that the program is approved by the American Bar Association.

2. Before choosing any online paralegal training program, it's good to ask a few questions of the school to determine how effective their training really is. For instance, you can ask them how many of the enrolled students actually finish or complete the courses provided? Also, how many other former students have gone on to find meaningful employment in the paralegal field? The more success that their former students have had, the more likelihood that you can enjoy the same kind of results yourself.

3. Next you should also consider the costs associated with any particular online paralegal training program. Bear in mind that you will be saving the cost of having to stay on campus or travel back and forth as you would normally do at an off line school. Also, many online colleges that offer paralegal training have financial aid programs to help students out who cannot afford to pay all of their class tuition. So whichever school seems to appeal to you, be sure to contact them and ask about aid and assistance for meeting the costs of paralegal courses to find out what is available to you.

Choosing a career in the paralegal field is very timely as there is a tremendous need and demand for qualified paralegals in the workplace. And there are several high quality online schools that specialize in paralegal training to help fill that need. So if you use the suggestions are provided above to find an online paralegal training school, most likely you will be able to enjoy an exciting career in the legal field for many years to come.

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What Is An Online Paralegal Associates Degree Actually Worth?

Students who are considering getting an online Associates Degree as a paralegal may be wondering how much it is worth, or how much they will earn upon graduation. In this article I want to go over this, and other issues related to being a paralegal.

While attorneys assume the primary responsibility over their legal work, they often choose to hire paralegals to assist them. The paralegal field is growing at an astonishing rate, and more law firms are in need of paralegals in order to assist them. While paralegals perform many of the functions of lawyers, they are not allowed by law to perform certain duties such as setting fees or giving any legal advice.

This is very good news for students who are considering getting an online degree or certificate as a paralegal. One of the most important tasks a paralegal will learn is how to assist attorneys in preparing for trials and meetings. Paralegals investigate cases and make sure that all relevant facts have been considered.

Paralegals prepare reports, and help prepare documents important to the lawyers they assist. Paralegals may also assist in planning estates and preparing tax forms and documents. The vast majority of paralegals work with law firms, while a smaller number work for government agencies and corporations. Most paralegals work long hours, and are rewarded by the firm with extra time off and bonuses.

An Associates Degree as a paralegal is worth it when you look at the demand for this type of work. Students who choose to become paralegals will find that there are many jobs available, in both large and small cities.

The amount paralegal students will earn upon graduation varies. The salary you can expect to earn will depend on your level of education and location. Paralegals working in large cities for big law firms will earn more than those who work in smaller cities for small firms.

Students can expect to earn between $25,000.00 to $59,000.00 a year as a paralegal. Most earn between these two amounts. Paralegals working for the federal government can expect to earn the most, while those who choose to work for the state government of law firms may earn the least.

Paralegals who work for law firms will receive bonuses, and this will increase their income. While most paralegals work forty hours per week, some only work temporarily. Law firms will hire paralegals during busy seasons, and release them once things have slowed down.

The paralegal field is expected to grow much faster than normal, and will continue to increase for the next eight years. This presents an excellent opportunity for those ready to take online classes. Students have plenty of time to gain the skills necessary to be employed in this field.

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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.

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Paralegal How to Get Certified

In today's economy everyone is looking for a way to get the advantage over other job seekers, looking for a career that is almost recession proof. Fortunately, there is one profession that is never going to fade away, and that is lawyers. While the though of going to school and becoming a lawyer may not thrill you, becoming a paralegal might.

A paralegal does work that is delegated to them by a lawyer that they are working with. They can do some of the same tasks that a lawyer can do, but may not have time for. They cannot however, present a case in court or give any legal advice of any type. What paralegals are able to do is, to help the lawyer prepare for trials, hearings, closings and meetings.

They help by investigating any facts that are pertinent to a case and making sure that the lawyer has any information that is needed as a case is prepared. This type of work includes gathering information regarding laws, judgments or other such materials that the lawyer might need to do try a case effectively. They make sure that the lawyer has every bit of information with in hands reach.

Paralegal education is generally the completion of an associates degree from either a local school or an online paralegal course. While most paralegal education will stop after the associates degree is accomplished, there are some institutions that offer a bachelors and even a masters degree in this field.

If you are in the process of deciding which course to take to become a paralegal, it is wise to pick a program that is endorsed by the American Bar Association (ABA). The ABA endorses approximately 250 of the more than 600 programs that exist to train people in the paralegal profession.

Many programs have internships available; it would be wise to take advantage of this program. This will allow you to get a hands on feel for the work that a paralegal does along side a lawyer. Look, too for a program that offers job placement, this shows that they believe in their graduates and stand behind their knowledge.

After the paralegal studies are completed and you have your paralegal certificate, it would be a good idea to pursue certification from the National Association of Legal Assistants. Most employers will not require this; it will make you stand out from other applicants. The Association has a set of standards that have been established for the 2-day course that tells potential employers that you are indeed a professional.

As with any profession that you are considering, it is important to do extensive research before starting the course of study to become a paralegal. Talk to people in the position and ask lots of questions. However, if you choose this path for yourself, you have the chance to accomplish two things. One, you will have a positon that will always be in demand and you will be able to put your knowledge of the law to use helping people. Good luck.

Linda Moore writes on a variety of subjects including family matters,personal enrichment, becoming a Paralegal and Project Management as a profession