ARe paralegal high in demand?

V.T.V.RAM

Employment of paralegals and legal assistants is projected to grow 22 percent between 2006 and 2016, much faster than the average for all occupations.Demand for paralegals also is expected to grow as an expanding population increasingly requires legal services, especially in areas such as intellectual property, health care, international law, elder issues, criminal law, and environmental law.

gettingby

They are needed in certain places, BUT the catch is that you will most likely not be hired until you get about 2 years of law firm experience. So, if you decide to go to school, you need to find an entry-level job (file clerk, secretary, etc.) while you are in school. A degree alone will not get you a job as a paralegal; you must have experience.

The next most important thing is where you go to school. Employers are starting to ask for formal education more these days, and they want ABA-approved schools. You can usually find these programs at community colleges. This is really important, and will make a difference in how many job opportunities you will have. I am seeing more and more ads asking for an approved education AND experience.

The salary you earn depends on where you work and where you live. No one can tell you for certain. However, experience brings the best in salary. Bigger firms will pay more than smaller ones. I have seen ads for jobs paying everywhere from 30,000 to 80,000. The high end comes with MANY years of experience.

I am in a paralegal program now. It is approved, and pretty involved. Lots of research and field work-not something that you can sleep through or breeze through. The exams are tough! I have a BA, so I am getting a certificate; most people in this program are getting an Associates. Several of them are paralegals who want to move on to other jobs one day-they have the experience, but no degree, so they are stuck because more employers want the formal education.

You need excellent writing and speaking skills. You need to be able to work very well with people, and you have to handle multiple tasks and deadlines. There are lots of places in which to work, but you have to be willing to work your way up. That is why I am looking for entry jobs now. School will last 2 years, so I don't want to graduate without experience.

Back to the ABA approved schools-here is where you can find one in your area:

http://www.abanet.org/legalservices/paralegals/directory/home.html

If you cannot find an approved program, then try to find an Associates program at a decent community college. Keep in mind that if you choose a program that is not approved, you will not have as many job opportunities. There are 3 paralegals in my class traveling a distance because the program is approved. They have told the class that they would have not chosen an unapproved school. Do not go for those certificate programs at tech schools-too much money and not worth it! Online and distance schools are not good, either.

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: