Is paralegal a good career option with a good salary?

VicSEO

The opportunities for a paralegal really depends on the specialty. The most in demand paralegals are those in the litigation field; followed by corporate paralegals who are responsible for maintaining corporate records, articles of incorporation, etc. While the "least" markeable [but the "highest" paid] paralegals are in the field of intellectual property [i.e., patents, trademarks] and immigration law. In conclusion, choose your paralegal courses accordingly, with emphasis on litigation preparation [discovery], docketing/calendaring of incoming pleadings [calendaring] and trial preparation [creating Exhibit tabs, Bajii jury instructions, etc.]. The "pro" side of a litigation paralegal is often "unlimited" overtime which can amount to a high salary range of $65,000 to $75,000 per year, while the "downside," being constantly pressured to meet a monthly client billable quota. And failing to meet that quota, often results in the paralegal's overnight dismissal. It's not a pretty picture. I just want to lay out what really happens in the real world of litigators and their relationship with subordinate paralegals.

Good luck!

Mildred S

Yes, it's a great career choice. You would want to be sure that you enroll in a program that is certified by the ABA American Bar Association. Generally, the paralegals with four year degrees make more money than the paralegals with associates degree. There is also a site called IPPIA , that is the internation association of paralegals that will have a lot of information. the need for paralegals is expected to grow as they basically do the same work lawyers do for less money. In the Chicago market , the salary would be about 75K plus for a paralegal with four year degree / ABA certification. You can do salary surveys for free on hot jobs, monster jobs, etc. good luck.

Fartbuster

working in a law office does pay more than a regular office. You can start in a law office as a receptionist or a file clerk without having to go to college. Although a degree is a good thing. If you live in San Diego, there are a million paralegals. You have to talk to secretaries in law offices in your area and find out if paralegals are needed or overabundent. Some times, the legal secretary or assistant does the paralegal work. I don't know where the person said above makes $65-75k a year. That's awfully high. I would love to know where they work if that's true. It sounds wayyyyyyyyy too high of a salary for a paralegal

ginalorean

paralegals in patent field makes as much as 90K/yr

adra

It is definitely in high demand as many law firms are looking to cut costs by hiring paralegals instead of lawyers. You will not have trouble finding a job if you do well in your classes and get internship experience. The salary is good after the first two years. Its a good choice, definitely.

S S

It depends where you live. If you live in a big city like Los Angeles, salaries are quite good and there's a lot of demand. Besides, you can freelance if you want to and even work from hone in some cases.

Ponds

The salary/remuneration for a particular job is the market value for a particular profession and designation at the city/town where the office is located. Job postings at websites like Monster, Yahoo HotJobs and Careerbuilder carry information about salaries. The Govt Dept of Labor, (www.bls.gov) Bureau of statistics has information about median salaries for different professions and details of additional compensation offered. Other online resources are salary.com and payscale. Your salary will also depend on your educational qualification and how you handle your career. More details and links to relevant websites available at http://7ys.info/

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