What is a Paralegal?
Paralegals or paralegals are the backbone of law firms and corporate law offices; They pretty much do the job of a lawyer, except for handshaking with clients and arguing in court. This article details a paralegal’s scope of work, compensation, and education and training options to begin a career in legal services.
Paralegal Job Description
Paralegal job duties include the following routine duties that are traditionally part of a lawyer’s responsibilities:
– Assist lawyers in the preparation of trials, hearings, closings, corporate meetings, etc.;
– Check the facts for verification and complete all the investigative work necessary to ensure the correctness and correctness of all the data that the lawyers use in their cases;
– Assist attorneys in preparing legal arguments, drafting motions and pleadings, and obtaining affidavits; – Assist lawyers in real court trials;
– And other administrative and office functions that the employer deems appropriate. This may include coordinating the activities of law firm employees, maintaining financial records, maintaining legal files and records, preparing tax returns, etc.
Paralegals basically perform many of the functions of a lawyer, but with certain limitations. Paralegals are prohibited by law from doing any of the following:
– Provision of legal advice to clients;
– Appear in court as a lawyer or present a case in court;
– Set legal fees, etc.
paralegal gains
The median salary for paralegals is currently set at $46,120 per year, according to the latest data from Occupational Employment Statistics, with the highest-earning paralegals earning as much as $73,450 a year. Differences in earnings are directly related to training and education, work experience, and the size and type of employer. Employment can be found in federal, state and local government offices, as well as law courts and insurance companies; according to OES data, law offices hire the most paralegals and hold 71% of job opportunities for trained paralegals.
Paralegal Training Options
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are currently 260 American Bar Association (ABA)-approved programs for paralegal studies. If you are seriously considering a career as a paralegal, here are some options you can take to get started on this path:
Associate Degree in Paralegal Studies
Look for community colleges that offer paralegal programs that can expand to an associate’s degree given that you have completed all the courses necessary for an associate’s degree certificate.
Bachelor of Paralegal Studies
You can take your associate’s degree a step further by enrolling in a bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies. If you have a bachelor’s degree in a different field and want to jump overboard, you can enroll in graduate studies in paralegal studies.
Paralegal On-the-Job Training
Yet another option is to look for a law firm that you would hire to train your own paralegal. Be sure to take advantage of paralegal programs while you’re on the job to ensure your knife is sharp and you can advance in this career.
To further advance your training, you can pursue paralegal certification through the National Association of Paralegals (NALA). Certified Paralegals or Certified Paralegals enjoy better employment opportunities and advancement in the paralegal career.