What exactly is a Paralegal? What can i do with an associates or bachelors degree in paralegal studies?

[BUMP] Coming July '09

As a previous poster said, do not attend an online paralegal program. The only programs worth your time and money are those approved by the American Bar Association (ABA). I did a 2 year associates degree program and found it very, very rewarding.

Paralegal job duties vary depending on the size of the firm and the type of law. In small law firms paralegals tend to also bear the duties of a legal secretary, office manager, and sometimes cleaning crew. I once worked for a sole practitioner and had to do everything from cleaning her office, making coffee and answering phones to writing legal briefs and researching case law.

In a mid size firm, where there is a legal secretary, the paralegals just work their cases and assist their attorneys. This can include duties such as scheduling appointments/consultations, maintaining attorney calendars, correspondence with clients, performing legal research, drafting pleadings, court filings, case tracking, and much more.

However, a paralegal education, even an associates degree, does not qualify nor prepare one to work as a paralegal. Like a previous poster said, many have to start entry level as a clerk or secretary and work their way up. With 2 years law office experience and a 2 year paralegal degree you should be ready to work as a paralegal.

If you have any more questions e-mail me.

gettingby

A paralegal is someone who performs legal work under the supervision of an attorney. They can be found in law firms, legal depts., gov't. agencies, and more.

You should not go to an online school. They are not ABA-approved. Yes, you can get a job, maybe, but it will limit your options. The approval is important. You should also avoid short-term courses that last months or weeks.

You should be aware that no matter where you go to school, you have to have experience. So, unless you get very lucky or into a very small firm, you will have to start out entry-level and work your way up. Every ad I see wants experience, so you have to know that going into it.

I just started a program at a community college, it is approved and offers an internship. The approval was the reason I picked this program. There are people in my class driving a bit of a distance because it was the closest approved program.

There is room for advancement as a para. You could become an office manager or a senior paralegal, depending on where you work and what jobs are available in your area.

I have a BA in a liberal arts area, so my program is for a para certificate. The school also offers an Associate's degree. I am not sure if a BA in Para Studies is a good idea or not. I guess if you are certain that you want to be a para or go into law, it would be a great idea.

I hoped this help a bit.

LORI

A paralegal is basically someone who assists lawyers. There are a lot of different things that paralegals do because there are so many different types of law (ie criminal, corporate, tax, real estate, etc) and also different sizes of law firms will need different types of assistance.
This link has a pretty good explanation of the job.
http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos114.htm

In terms of advancement, I guess it probably depends what type of firm you want to work for, also maybe the area of law you specialize in (if you have a specific one). Larger firms with more paralegals probably have more opportunities like becoming manager of other paralegals or something.
I don't know about which online degree programs are best sorry. Hope that helps a little.

norvel.lewis

A paralegal is a person with legal training and/or knowledge who works under the direct supervision of a lawyer. They are found in all areas where lawyers are--in criminal trials, in real estate, in government, in estate planning. Paralegals and legal document assistants(LDAs) are often mistaken for one another; however, in most jurisdictions, paralegals are not permitted to contract directly with consumers for preparation of legal documents.

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" marketable [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!

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