How To Become A Paralegal Online – Understanding that paralegals are more than legal assistants. These professionals are well trained in the legal field and are an integral part of the legal team. Lawyers could not do their jobs without hard working lawyers by their side!
The world of laws and courtrooms has always fascinated you. Becoming a lawyer will take a lot of time and money. But how long does it take to become a paralegal? This legal career is just as attractive to you and requires less training than becoming a lawyer.
How To Become A Paralegal Online
We are here to answer all your paralegal career questions, “What does a paralegal do all day?” “How do you become a paralegal?” Read on to find out if this legal career is right for you!
Is Earning A Paralegal Certificate Worth It?
First, let’s explore more about what it’s like to have a legal career. Paralegals are the best professionals in the legal field. They are responsible for administrative tasks such as arranging meetings with clients and witnesses, research-based tasks such as researching relevant laws and writing projects such as drafting legal correspondence or reports.
A lawyer’s day-to-day work depends largely on the type of employer they work for. Most paralegals work for law firms, but there are many types of law that a firm can specialize in. You can work with families as they explore contract law, prepare for a criminal trial, or go through divorce and custody proceedings. .
Some corporate lawyers may work for an in-house legal team within a company rather than serving multiple clients at a law firm. State and local governments also hire paralegals to work on their legal teams. Regardless of the type of employer they work for, most paralegals can expect to perform their duties in an office or sometimes in court, all while meeting deadlines and communicating with clients and attorneys.
There are several steps you can take to give yourself a strong start to a legal career. We spoke with attorney Jason Savarese of Savarese & Associates, PLLC to learn more about how to become a successful paralegal.
Everything You Need To Know About Paralegal Education
Succeeding as a paralegal requires more than technical legal knowledge and research skills. They also need certain soft skills to do their job well. These are qualities and characteristics you may already have in your arsenal!
Even if these traits don’t describe you to a T, there’s no reason you shouldn’t start improving them before you officially enter the field. If you aspire to become a paralegal, brushing up on these skills now can give you a head start in the field later.
Paralegals have the option of pursuing two different educational paths at the college: an Associate’s degree or a Certificate program. Which one you choose will depend on the level of education you already have under your belt. Although none of these educational paths are technically required to work as a paralegal, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shares that most paralegals have at least an Associate’s degree.
The College’s Paralegal Associate degree will prepare students to work in the legal field and complement their studies with enhanced skills in writing, research and critical thinking. It is designed for students who do not already have a degree in another field and can be completed in up to 18 months.
How Long Does It Take To Get A Paralegal Certification?
The College Paralegal Certificate program, on the other hand, is designed for students who already have an Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree. Even if your current education is not related to the legal field, this program will bring you up to speed with the specific legal skills you will need in eight months.
He has a lot of practical knowledge in law. While education is important to fully prepare you for this career path, there are some things that must be learned on the job. “Get a job at a law office as a part-time secretary, runner or whatever,” advises Savarese, even before you graduate. This will give you experience of working in a law firm and learn about the working process of a paralegal.
If you can’t find an entry-level legal position, try volunteering at a law firm or ask to shadow an attorney for a few days. Savarese adds that shadowing at different law firms can also give you perspectives on the different ways businesses are run, which can be helpful when applying for your first law job.
Earning the Paralegal Professional Certificate – not to be confused with the Paralegal Certificate Program – is an optional step that shows employers at a glance that you have achieved a high level of competence in the field. It’s not a requirement, but you can choose to take the certification exam after graduation so you can say you’re a “certified” lawyer and make your resume stand out among employers.
How To Be A Paralegal
The Certified Paralegal exam is administered by the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) and consists of two parts: a knowledge exam and a skills exam. The College’s Paralegal Studies curriculum is designed to prepare students academically to take this exam, so you’ll be able to approach it with confidence.
Now you have some answers to your questions about becoming a paralegal. Achieving a career as a paralegal will take some effort, but you may find that this legal career is not as daunting as you once thought.
What are you waiting for? The sooner you start your education, the sooner you can start working as a paralegal. Learn more about your options through the College’s Online Paralegal Certificate or Online Paralegal Associate degree programs.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor, Occupational fact sheet, [accessed August, 2020] www.bls.gov/ooh/. The data reflect national averages for the occupations listed and include workers of all education and experience levels. This data does not reflect starting salary. Terms and conditions may vary in your area.
How To Become A Paralegal?
The completion time depends on the number of transfer points and the number of courses completed each semester.
The College will pay the application fee for each first attempt at all industry certification exams that you are eligible to take. If you need to resit the exam more than once to get a passing result, you will be charged for all subsequent resits.
Ashley is a freelance writer for Collegis Education, writing student-focused articles on behalf of the university. She believes in the power of words and knowledge and enjoys using both to encourage others on their learning journeys
This advertising content is created by the University to support its educational programs. The University cannot prepare students for all the positions listed in this content. For a list of programs offered, refer to /degrees. External links are for reference only. The University does not specifically warrant, approve, control or endorse the information or products available on the linked sites and is not endorsed by the site owners, authors and/or referenced organizations. The university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the US Department of Education. CINCINNATI, OH () – Legal careers are fast-paced, challenging and demanding. Growing faster than many other occupations, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts that employment of paralegals will increase by 15 percent over the next decade.
How To Become A Paralegal With No Experience
A vital part of our legal system, paralegals perform a variety of tasks to support attorneys, including conducting legal research, preparing legal documents, filing motions, and interviewing clients.
As one of the hottest non-legal jobs in the industry, it’s easy to see why so many are drawn to a career in law. Working as a paralegal has many advantages, including:
Salary Increase – As paralegals take on a wider range of duties, their earnings continue to increase. These duties include investigating the case, gathering and organizing evidence, writing reports in preparation for trial, and preparing correspondence and legal documents. According to the BLS, the average attorney salary in 2017 was $50,410. Bonuses and overtime can add a significant boost to a paralegal’s salary.
Growing Employment Prospects – Paralegals are taking on more responsibilities than ever before. As law firms become more efficient, they hire more lawyers to help with their growing workloads. Although law firms remain the largest employers of paralegals, many government agencies and large corporations, including financial and insurance companies, consulting firms, and healthcare providers, hire paralegals for their in-house legal departments.
Best Online Paralegal Associate Degree Programs For 2024
Easy career entry – You can become a paralegal in a fraction of the time it takes to become a lawyer. Although the strict training requirements for paralegals are not fully defined, successful paralegals are highly organized and reliable, know how to deal with people in a variety of situations, handle pressure well, and exercise discretion and sound judgment. The legal community has set high standards for paralegals, and those with a high school or bachelor’s degree have a distinct advantage.
Rising Prestige – Paralegals assist attorneys in almost every area of the legal profession. Over the years, paralegals have become respected members
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