What exactly is a paralegal, and what is the education required (yrs)?

[BUMP] Coming July '09

You can find the answer to all your questions at the link below...

http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos114.htm

Basically, to become a paralegal you need experience and/or a paralegal degree. There are certificate programs but they are a waste and don't impress any potential employers. A strong candidate for a paralegal position will have atleast their associates degree in paralegal studies from an American Bar Association accredited institution (http://www.abanet.org) and some law office experience. There are practically no openings for paralegals with no experience, even if you have a degree. It is pretty challenging to begin your career in this field. The best way is to start at a law office as a legal secretary and get your degree at the same time. After you have a degree and law office experience, such a plus!

Paralegals find employment in the private or government sector. From sole practitioners to huge corporate law firms to state agencies (like the attorney general's office), they all use paralegals. The salaray depends on experience. Once you have 5+ years working as a paralegal, you can make some pretty decent money.

Please look at the link I provided, it has information regarding all the questions you asked and much more.

steyr

They pretty much do all the work(paperwork) and run errands answer phones, associate degree usually required (2 yrs.) Go to Occupational Outlook Handbook online to find out about different careers, training, employment and wages

Vbonics

A paralegal is also known as a legal assistant. Their basic role is to assist the lawyer that they're working for. The tasks may include but are certainly not limited to, typing interoffice memos, doing legal research, interviewing clients, and drafting contracts. The average education required is a 2 year associates degree, however some paralegals have 4 year degrees. You can work in many places as a paralegal, law firms, hospitals, and major corporations just to name a few. The salary range varies depending on where you live but you can google averages for your city and state. Good luck!!

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!

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