Paralegal Degree

The American Bar Association (ABA) defines the role of a paralegal or legal assistant as �a person qualified by education, training or work experience who is employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental agency or other entity who performs specifically delegated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible.�Courses offered in the paralegal program are designed to provide an introduction to law and legal research methods.Students in the paralegal program have the option to study the broad spectrum of law, or focus on a specialized legal area, like stock market and finance.Some private practice employers may prefer someone who is specialized in their particular field.There are several degree programs available to those seeking a career as a paralegal.The 2-year associates degree paralegal programs offered at junior or community colleges are the most common.An associates degree is not required by all employers, however.Certificate programs are also popular, and only take a few months for completion. This program is designed for those who are not seeking a college degree, or who already hold one in another field. Lastly, a small number of schools offer a 4-year or master�s program in paralegal studies.

Skills of a Paralegal

The amount of work a paralegal is responsible for continues to increase, and could easily be described as everything a lawyer does, except presenting cases in a court, giving legal advice, setting fees and accepting cases.One of the most pertinent tasks of a paralegal is helping lawyers prepare for closings, hearings, trials and corporate meetings.Paralegals examine and report on all facts in a case and ensure that all information is organized and relevant. In the case of a law suit, paralegals will help to prepare the legal arguments and draft pleadings, obtain affidavits, and assist attorneys during trials. They are also responsible for organizing and tracking all files pertinent to the case.Some specific duties include trial assisting in the courtroom, drafting contracts, mortgages, separation agreements and trust instruments, assisting in the preparation of tax returns and planning estates, coordinating and managing the activities of other law office employees, locating witnesses, maintaining financial office records and researching legal documents. Skilled paralegals will have a decent technical knowledge of computers and software packages, which store legal literature and research.

Careers

The legal assistant profession is projected to grow by 33% during the first 10 years of 2000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Office of Employment Projections. Compared with other professions, this is an above average growth rate.Paralegals are found in all types of organizations, but are mostly employed by law firms, corporate legal departments and various government offices. Increasingly, insurance companies, real estate firms, title companies and banks are likely to have a paralegal on staff as well.They may choose to work in a variety of areas within these organizations including litigation, personal injury, corporate law, criminal law, employee benefits, intellectual property, labor law, bankruptcy, immigration, family law, and real estate.In recent years, skilled paralegals are taking on more of a supervisory role with responsibilities such as overseeing team projects and serving as the liaison between the team and the corporation. The income of paralegals and legal assistants varies depending on their level of education, training, experience, type of employer and location of job.

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