How to Become a Paralegal
Paralegals assist attorneys by conducting research, writing reports and doing other preparatory work related to closings, hearings and trials. Education and certification are highly valued in this career.
- Difficulty:
- Challenging
Instructions
Things You'll Need
- Career Counseling
- Computers
- Legal Software Programs
- Online Career Search
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1
Ask your high school guidance counselor for recommendations of institutions offering paralegal certificates and degrees.
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2
Obtain the school catalogs and check whether the paralegal programs are approved by the American Bar Association (ABA); some are not. If most of the lawyers in your area prefer ABA-approved college programs, don't even consider other offerings.
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3
Decide whether to complete a paralegal certificate program for high school graduates, or a two-year or four-year college paralegal program. Be aware that many paralegals today are receiving at least a bachelor's degree, especially if they want to work for larger organizations.
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4
Visit several schools you are considering. Be certain that they're known for being able to arrange a variety of internships for their students.
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5
Choose an area of legal specialty if you would like to work for a large law firm or the government. Possibilities include corporate law, criminal law, patent and copyright law, and real estate law.
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6
Become proficient in online computer research and legal software programs. A good portion of your work will be done in front of a computer screen.
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7
Plan to eventually become certified by the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) through a Certified Legal Assistant (CLA) designation. This will put you on a faster career track. Visit the NALA Web site (nala.org) for certification information. Note: Don't confuse this with a certificate program offered in a school.
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Tips & Warnings
If you already have a bachelor's degree in another field, you can enter a short-term paralegal program that is designed for college graduates. Such programs are offered at universities through continuing education programs.
Consider receiving a double major if you want to specialize in a particular nonlegal field.
Expect to occasionally work up to 90 hours a week during trial preparations, especially during the early years of your career.
A paralegal is not legally permitted to give anyone legal advice.
Related Searches
Comments
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michaelbustle
Sep 30, 2010
hi my name is michael bustle. i live in long county (ludowici) georgia. i live on john wells-moody road. right behind alex torres. i have a couple cars in my driveway. i go to alternative school at long county. i am bald. real skinny. i am writing because i had an incident last year . i wanted to go to the fruit stand to see a lovely girl named crystal. she didnt wanna go. she was not feeling it. so i decided to become gay. anybody who is single, male, and looking, come get at me. -
crystalgreene11
Sep 30, 2010
bustel didnt get it!
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michellec1000
Apr 23, 2009
I would not underestimate PurpleZinnia's comment about how key it is to know someone in the legal market who can definitely get you a job. If such a person doesn't have that kind of pull then undertaking a paralegal certificate may be a losing proposition depending on where you live and you may end up like over half of San Diego paralegal program graduates who never get to become a paralegal.With that said, every market is different. I have a lot of experience in the San Diego legal market and it's terrible. All other California markets suffer from many of the same downfalls from my experience in speaking with other California paralegals, monitoring the job field, and applying for jobs throughout the state. I myself have a BA, an ABA approved paralegal certicate, a CLA, and a whole host of other credentials. It does not matter there are too many pitfalls related to becoming and stayin
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lchez66
Aug 28, 2007
i totally disagree with the comment about not getting paid commensurately. I am a litigation paralegal for a fairly decent size law firm. I have an AS in Paralegal Studies and my CLA. I currently earn $5,000 less than an associate attorney that our firm just hired (FYI: he has 5 years experience). Every individual is different. If you are smart and aggressive, it can be a great career.
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PurpleZinnia
Aug 16, 2007
BEWARE. A 2-year paralegal degree will get you nothing but debt. A 4-year degree is a must plus knowing someone in the legal profession. I recommend taking office technology courses that will help you become a legal secretary. Many legal secretaries make the leap to paralegal more easily than people who trained specifically to become a paralegal. I got suckered by my community college. I jumped out a pre-education track onto the paralegal track because I wanted to work in a professional office environment to earn money for school rather tnan continue with customer service. I believed that I could earn more money as a paralegal. Now, I deliver newspapers 7 days a week, scrimp and save, and dodge calls from creditors.
