What Is a Paralegal?
Paralegals work with lawyers in order to help them prepare for trials, hearings, closings and client meetings. Paralegals do not work with clients or argue cases, but they can oftentimes be very involved with building a lawyer’s case. Paralegals help to build research and litigation for use by lawyers in their work. They may be assigned to collect data to build a case for a particular client, or they may be assigned to research one broad topic for use in several different cases.
They identify applicable laws, judicial rulings, legal documents and other factual materials that may help build a case. They organize and analyze the information and prepare documents detailing the results they have found. Paralegals help to prepare legal documents, draft motions to be filed, get affidavits and assist during the trial.
In order to succeed as a paralegal, an individual must be organized, be efficient, and have excellent research abilities and written communication skills.
How to Become a Paralegal
In order to become a paralegal, an individual must have at least an associate degree in paralegal studies. Many employers require candidates to hold a bachelor’s paralegal degree. Many online and traditional universities offer associates and bachelor’s degrees in paralegal studies. These programs usually consist of paralegal training combined with academic study.
Although most employers do not require candidates to be certified paralegals in order to qualify, it does help to increase an individual’s hiring and salary potential. There are many different programs offering paralegal certificates. For people who already have a bachelor’s degree in a different field, a paralegal certificate will allow them to apply for work as a paralegal.
Paralegals who do wish to become certified should seek a program that is approved by the American Bar Association (ABA). Certification programs can vary greatly, and there are many programs that are accelerated or built around working schedules.
Paralegal Career Outlook & Salary
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of paralegals and legal assistants is estimated to be very good for the decade from 2008 to 2018. Employment is projected to to increase by 28% within that decade, which is a much faster rate than all occupations in the United States. Private law firms employ the largest amounts of paralegals and legal assistants, but their skills will be increasingly needed in other industries, such as insurance, real-estate and banks.
In 2008, full-time paralegals made an average of $46,120 annually. The middle 50% of salaries were between $36,080 and $59,310. The lowest 10% earned less than $29,260, and the top 10% made over $73,450 per year. Median annual wages of paralegals working for the Federal Executive Branch were $58,540.
Paralegals in management of companies and enterprises were paid $55,910 annually, paralegals working for insurance carriers made $52,200, paralegals in employment services made $50,050, and paralegals in legal services made $44,480.
