The job outlook for paralegals is promising for anyone who is willing to investigate this fascinating career. It is fun, fast-paced, and boasts of a faster than expected growth rate projected until 2018. Still, depending on location, some paralegal jobs will remain competitive for the foreseeable future.
Most people entering the profession have an associate’s degree in paralegal studies. There are some people who even hold a bachelor’s degree, and/or a certificate from an accredited paralegal study program. A degree is not required, but some type of formal training is necessary.
The vast majority of paralegals work for law firms. Law firm needs will vary from location to location. It is important to note that many law firms specialize in areas such as foreclosures, bankruptcies, and estate planning.
While lawyers are ultimately responsible for the legal work of a firm, paralegals help with much of the work. In many ways the paralegal is the backbone of the legal profession. Paralegals help lawyers prepare for closings, meetings, trials, and hearings. They will often prepare written statements so an attorney can determine how to best handle a case. Paralegals help attorneys free up valuable time, in efforts to be more productive.
Some other functions of a paralegal consist of preparing papers to set up trust funds, planning estates, and preparing various financial statements. Paralegals will often know more about a case or client that the lawyer who is supposed to be handling it. The paralegal’s insight is critical to ensuring client needs are fully met.
Paralegals serve many important functions. One of the areas of concentration are corporate paralegals. Corporate paralegals often help attorneys prepare contracts for employees or companies. Many of these paralegals have an area of expertise. Some prepare data for annual financial meetings, and still others even monitor changes in laws and other government regulations.
People are often drawn to the field of law because they watch a TV show like Law and Order, or Perry Mason. In order for an attorney to go to court, they must be prepared with the case. Behind the scenes, there are paralegals who are preparing that case for court. Litigation paralegals often prepare documents for trial. They often file forms, conduct research, and prepare documents.
There are over 1000 different programs that help prepare people as a paralegal. Choice is a good thing. Choosing the right training school is not something to be taken for granted. It is definitely not a one size fits all situation. The quality of these programs vary greatly. So students must perform their due diligence to make sure they select the program that best fits their needs. Once training is completed, a paralegal can advance in a particular line of business. When paralegal training is completed, a competent student should expect to be employed by a firm. The Bureau of Labor Statistics suggests that there will be a net gain of nearly 73,000 paralegal openings between now and the year 2018.
In terms of wages, the top 10% of paralegals earn over $73,000 a year. There are also other fringe benefits to be considered like healthcare, 401K plans, stock options, and vacation time. Most of all, it is a great opportunity to make a difference by helping people. Paralegals are a precious resource within the legal community.