Do You Need Training to Be a Paralegal?
Attorneys receive assistance from paralegals to complete legal work. A paralegal is also called a legal assistant. A person in this position does many job functions that a lawyer does such as researching cases and writing up findings, preparing documents and maintaining legal records. The restrictions are that a paralegal cannot establish fees, present a case in court or give legal advice. No specific education requirements are necessary to become a paralegal; however, training is important to fulfilling duties of the job.
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On-the-Job Training
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A paralegal does not have specific certifications or requirements. A person can be trained for the position by an employer such as a law firm. A person may work her way into a paralegal position by taking another role at a law firm such as a filing clerk or administrative assistant. To move up into the position, the person must be able to learn easily from others and be self-motivated. Other people who move into a paralegal position may have training in a field that complements the legal field. For example, an accountant may have complementary skills.
Training
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You can self-study to learn many skills to work as a paralegal; however, the learning process may be easier if you take more-formalized classes. Many online schools and community colleges offer a certificate program for a person who shows proficiency in the skills required to be a legal assistant. Typically, after a course of study, an exam is given and you receive a certificate. You can get much of this knowledge without formal courses by reading books and practicing the required skills.
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Degrees
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Many paralegals learn skills by obtaining an associate's or bachelor's degree. An associate's degree is typically focused heavily on related training such as office administration and using technology as well as legal studies. A bachelor's degree may be part of a broader degree program such as criminal justice. Hiring managers will assume that a person with formal training has a good grasp of the basics.
Choosing a Path
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Choosing to pursue a position as a paralegal without a certificate or degree has positive and negative aspects. A person who can manage to obtain a paralegal position without formal education does not have student loan responsibilities. The person can also go into the job force sooner than a person attending school. The downside is that a person without training may need to work at a lower-paying role such as a legal receptionist to gain the skills to do the paralegal job.
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References
- Photo Credit young lawyer image by Alexey Stiop from Fotolia.com
