Study Programs and Employment Prospects for Paralegal Studies

Paralegal Studies for Every Soon-to-be Paralegal

The American Bar Association defines a paralegal as an individual who is qualified through education, work experience or training; to assist lawyers, law offices, corporations or Government agencies in performing specifically directed legal duties, for which an attorney is ultimately responsible. This broad definition focuses on three main points of reference with regard to the career:

• Specialized paralegal studies through formal education programs.
• A number of years experience working under the supervision of an attorney.
• Performance of substantive non-clerical legal work for an organization.

The term paralegal is synonymous with legal assistants.

Nature Of Paralegal Work

According to the law, attorneys are ultimately liable for legal work assigned to them by their organizations. More often than not, lawyers delegate some tasks to the legal assistant. Thus, paralegals perform different legal duties for their organizations under the general guidance and supervision of attorneys. Nevertheless, the law forbids them from performing any duties that fall under the scope of legal practice, for example setting of legal fees, giving legal advice or presenting cases in court.

One of the main duties paralegals undertake is assisting lawyers in preparing for meetings, hearings, trials and closings. They investigate the facts of a case to verify that lawyers consider all relevant information. Additionally, they research on specific laws, court decisions, legal articles and other materials, which are pertinent to cases assigned to them. After analyzing this data, legal assistants organize reports for lawyers to use for preparing cases. During lawsuit proceedings, they assist in the preparation of legal arguments and may draft pleadings and motions for filing in court. Legal assistants also obtain affidavits and assist lawyers to organize and track files for major cases during court proceedings.

Paralegal studies equip students with the relevant skill sets to be able to perform in their designated careers. Students who complete their studies successfully are able to work in law firms, corporate legal departments, and government agencies where they practice different facets of law including litigation, criminal law, family law, personal injury, immigration, employee benefits, corporate law, labor laws, real estate or bankruptcy. In large organizations with multiple departments, paralegals may concentrate and specialize in one area. However, in small firms, they usually perform generalized work according to the terms of their employment.

Paralegal Studies Programs

According to the National Association of Legal Assistants, roughly 600 paralegal studies programs are available in the US, which are offered by different learning institutions such as Community Colleges, Business Colleges, private and public Universities and proprietary institutions, in different formats and time frames. Hence, individuals from diverse backgrounds may join the profession at whatever level they deem appropriate. Legal assistant programs in the US include:

Associate Degree Programs

You can get an associate degree in paralegal studies from community colleges, major universities and business schools. Students earn the degree after successful completion of sixty to seventy semester units. The units usually consist of combined paralegal and general studies. Before you choose this program, it is advisable to consider whether you might wish to progress with a four-year program at another college. Make inquiries about the transferability of credits from this course to other ones.

Bachelors Degree Programs

Many four-year universities and colleges offer baccalaureate degrees in paralegal studies. Students can major in legal assistant programs or concentrate on related studies. Bachelor’s degree programs usually run for 120-130 semester units, with 30-60 units dedicated to paralegal courses directly.

Certificate Programs

Certificate programs usually run 30-60 semester units, and include general education and paralegal coursework. Certificate programs are mainly suited for individuals with associate or baccalaureate degrees already.

Masters Degree Programs

The masters degree program in paralegal studies is fairly new and only available in select institutions of higher learning. Apart from the advanced degree, you may also opt for advanced programs in related fields such as legal administration or legal studies from major colleges or universities.

Employment Prospects For Specialists In Paralegal Studies

Private law firms employ over 70 percent of legal assistants in the US, and the rest are absorbed by corporate legal departments or the federal government. Within the Government, the Department of Justice has the most paralegals, followed by the Social Security Administration of the Department of Treasury respectively. A few paralegals operate freelance and offer their expertise to private attorneys and companies.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, job prospects for this career are projected to grow by 28 percent between 2008 and 2018. This is the highest average growth estimate among all other careers. The reason behind this tremendous growth is that organizations are opting for paralegals to perform minor legal duties rather than having lawyers perform them. The need for legal representation in healthcare, immigration, intellectual property, criminal and international law, is also partly responsible for this positive outlook.

Paralegal salary earnings vary greatly across the board. This disparity is brought about due to different academic qualifications and training, relevant work experience, and the employer. Those who work in big law firms and organizations situated in large cities earn more than those who work in smaller firms located in smaller cities.

The top 10 percent of paralegals may earn more than $70,000 annually; while the least paid pocket an average of $29,000 yearly. However, this does not include bonuses, extra hours, vacations, sick leave, life insurance or other benefits that also vary among companies.

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