If anyone asked a little kid who had inclinations towards the legal field if he/she wanted to become a lawyer or a paralegal, you could bet your last dollar that the child would choose the former option. But, if the kid was really smart and aware of the situation that exists today, he/she would pick becoming a paralegal because:
- CNN Money ranks it the 27th best job in the USA.
- You get to work in the legal field without the stress associated with being a lawyer.
- Although you cannot offer legal advice or work without the supervision of a qualified attorney, you know almost as much or even more about the law as any student who graduates from law school.
- Your responsibilities depend on your employer, and you may be asked to take on administrative, research and other consolidation duties that are not too taxing when compared to a lawyer’s work.
- You don’t need any kind of formal education although a degree and/or certification from the National Association of Legal Assistants as a Certified Legal Assistant do help in securing quality employment and rapid advancement in your career.
- You earn between $35,000 and $40,000 annually.
Becoming a paralegal is not a difficult task – all you need are the desire to work in the legal field and an aptitude to learn quickly and competently. Some paralegals begin working as legal secretaries who are then promoted on the job. Others prefer to come armed with an associate’s or bachelor’s degree when they start their job hunt. And yet others grab internship positions at law firms and learn all they can on the job.
If you’ve decided to become a paralegal, it’s in your best interests to get enrolled in a school that’s accredited and has programs that are approved by the American Bar Association (ABA). You would also do well to brush up on your ability to undertake research using a computer and familiarize yourself with some of the legal software that is used in a law firm.
Some paralegals choose to specialize in one particular field of law, like family, criminal or real estate. This increases their chances of gaining and retaining employment because they are more knowledgeable – it is preferable to be as master of one than trade than a jack of all of them.
Paralegals enjoy comfortable working hours with decent salaries; they are also paid for work done outside of regular office hours; and some of them are even able to work on a freelance basis, from home or from their own offices, for lawyers who hire their services for a particular fee.