In recent years, huge numbers of prospective students have been seeking rewarding careers in paralegal services and, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics (BLS), paralegals are very much in increasing demand.
Any of the many potential aspiring paralegals out there might wish to be clear on: what exactly a paralegal is, what day-to-day job paralegals have, what compensation and benefits might a paralegal expect, and what level education you need to start this career?
It is sometimes easy to overlook the important roles that paralegals can play to the work which lawyersas well as legal professionals do. Paralegals can provide support, research, and administrativehelp to other legal staff,and they can play a whole bunch of roles in assisting not just the lawyers and attorneys but also their clients. Doing paralegal work involves a lot more tasks than performing legal executive or administrative assignments for attorneys and people working in the same firm. Obviously, it is important for aspiring paralegals to be interestedin law, legal ethicsand standards.
While there are no standard qualifications or educational certificates necessarily required for a career in paralegal industries – some paralegals have begun their careers with the benefit of in-house training after gaining an entry level position in a legal firm – comprehension of legal processes, principles and standards is naturally essential. Seeking employment in the legal field can be quite competitive, and the better the education a candidate has behind them, the better chance they will naturally have at success.
Sometimeslaw graduatesmay wantto apply for legal assistantvacancies once they have graduated from their education programs or universities, not simply to pay the bills and support their families, but also to gain crucial experience. It is also possible for a graduate of another course to apply for a certificate program, a short-termcourse, etc.containing paralegal studies curriculum, meaning thatstarting as a paralegal isunattainable for most people.
Typical daily work of paralegal can involve administrative work, research, interviewing witnesses, working with clients, paperwork preparation, recording and filing of information. Paralegals also occasionally attend court and look after own casesas they develop. Naturally, paralegals are privy to sensitive and confidential information, so being impartial and understanding confidentiality and legal ethics is paramount. There are also specialist areas for paralegals to work in, from patent law paralegals, immigration and bankruptcy paralegals.
It is perhaps important to consider that it is not just independent law firms who hire paralegals. Corporate firms often need paralegals for dealing withpartner contracts, employee agreements, legal issues as brought up by a human resources department, and stock plans, etc. Cooperate paralegals can sometimes be responsible for the annual financial reports preparation and researching of federal regulatory rulesabout specific business case.Insurance companies often hire legal assistants to work with attorneys and lawyerson caseslike injury claims, liabilities, and legal researches on insurance coverage for specific clients.
Based on (More info can be found on these sites):
http://www.jwindow.net/paralegal-training/
https://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/about-us/careers/paralegal-career-opportunities/