A paralegal degree can give you the edge you need in a struggling economy. Despite the fact that many industries have been laying off countless employees, statistics have shown that number of available positions for a paralegal will continue to grow. Nevertheless, there are more hopefuls than there are positions, which is why a degree may be just what you need.
Someone with a paralegal degree will do all the background work that must be done but isn’t often done by the lawyer. Either it isn’t a financially sound use of their time, or they simply don’t have the time to do it. A paralegal will prepare legal briefs, find case laws, and investigate case facts, draft pleadings, motions, affidavits, and anything else the lawyer requires.
A paralegal degree does not, however, allow you to give legal advice, set legal fees, or present cases in court. A paralegal may be required to lend assistance in a courtroom setting, but they are strictly prohibited from all those tasks that would be considered the practice of law.
There are a number of jobs that a paralegal degree can prepare a person for. Although the vast majority of paralegals are employed in a law firm, your degree can be used in a range of other occupations. You could, for example, work in a corporate legal department, a local, state, or federal agency, banks, or in legal aid societies.
Many of these positions require a specific emphasis in your education, and there are online classes that offer these specialized areas of study. Common areas that people focus on include civil law, injury, criminal, corporate, and immigration law. When you have this kind of extra education you will be more appealing to potential employers.
Not all paralegals get a degree. Many companies feel that a high school diploma is enough to get started with some on-the-job training, though most require certification of some kind. There are courses that offer associate’s degrees or bachelor’s degrees, and others that offer paralegal certification (which is a good option for people who already have a bachelor’s degree in another field).
Even though more and more companies are expecting paralegals to have a solid legal background even for an entry level position, there aren’t a lot of programs that are approved by the American Bar Association. That’s why a number of prospective paralegals are turning to online coursework to get certified and get a job in the field.
A paralegal degree can take up to a few years to obtain, depending on which method you choose. Certification, on the other hand, can take as little as three to six months. Whatever method you pursue, make sure that the program will suit your individual circumstances so you can get the best job possible.
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