How to Become a Paralegal in a Changing Legal Market

The recession that began in late 2008 caused a drastic change in the legal market. The demand for legal services dropped, and law graduates saw fewer employment opportunities. In truth, few people have the resources to devote to expensive legal services during an economic downturn. As a result, fewer employers are hiring lawyers. Instead, many employers seek paralegals with a good mix of education and experience. Employers aim to make sound financial decisions by hiring paralegals who would require less in salary than lawyers who have completed seven years of education.

Instructions

1. Obtain a bachelor's degree. Although, some employers do not require their paralegals to have bachelor's degrees, it will make you more competitive than those paralegals who only have associates degrees. Focus on programs of study that require writing, such as English or journalism. As a paralegal, you will complete a variety of writing assignments for your employer, and he will present many of these assignments to a judge. Take electives focused around word processing, because as a paralegal, you will spend a significant amount of time in front of a computer. You should take at least 24 semester hours in a paralegal studies program or the equivalent of legal specialty courses to make yourself competitive in the paralegal job market.

2. Get some experience. If you pursue an undergraduate degree, visit your undergraduate institution's career center. Ask your career adviser about internship opportunities in the legal field. You could end up working for a lawyer doing the work that his full-time paralegal assigns to you. Your undergraduate institution may also offer course credit depending on the number of hours you work in the legal office. By doing an internship, you can gain experience, learn about the legal field, gain professional contacts, learn and understand legal jargon, and improve your communication skills.

3. Earn your paralegal certification. After you have received your bachelor's degree, enroll in a paralegal program where you can earn a paralegal certificate. Your legal employer will require you to maintain client files, conduct legal research and draft legal documents. Paralegal certificate programs train you in the specific skills that legal employers look for when searching for paralegal employees. The types of employers that need paralegals include lawyers, law offices, government agencies, and administrative and statutory courts.

4. Continue your legal education. Lawyers must take continuing legal education classes throughout their careers, and although paralegals do not have this requirement, you will find that you will be more competitive in the job market if you continue learning as your career progresses. As paralegals increase their roles in delivering affordable legal services and as employers cut costs, you will enter the market as a very attractive paralegal candidate.

Tips & Warnings

• A cheaper option would be the associate's degree route.

• Do research to find schools that best fit your career goals.

• A bachelor's degree, paralegal certificate and continuing legal education classes can be expensive.

References

• The University of Georgia Career Center: Internships
• "San Diego Paralegal Association Newsletter"; Recession and Paralegals; Luciana B.A. Cas; 2008
• Emory University: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions About the Emory Paralegal Certificate Program
• National Federation of Paralegal Associations; Paralegal Responsibilities; February 1996