Paralegals are crucial for the properly functioning of any law office or any other company that employs lawyers. Paralegals undertake a variety of tasks to support lawyers in nearly every component of the legal profession. While common tasks include organizing files and maintaining databases, the bulk of a paralegal’s work is directly related to law instead of clerical duties. Conducting legal research, writing reports on legal precedents, and drafting legal documents, such as motions, are common legal responsibilities a paralegal tackles. Paralegals are found in a variety of workplaces too. They often work in law firms, government agencies, and legal departments of corporations.
There are two main methods of becoming a paralegal. The first method is to attain either an associate’s degree or a certification in paralegal studies. Community colleges and continuing education programs at four-year universities will offer these courses. The second method is to attain a bachelor’s degree. Some college graduates choose to enter in a paralegal certification course after graduation in order to get a better competitive edge in the job market. Law firms will often hire college graduates with no law experience and provide them on-the-job training instead.
After working for a few years, many paralegals will choose to specialize in one field of law, similar to what lawyers do. Common fields paralegals specialize in include criminal, immigration, real estate, intellectual property, corporate, and family. The amount of freedom a paralegal has depends on the law office he or she works for. Some paralegals have almost as much freedom as attorneys do, while others are more restricted. The average salary of a paralegal varies by region. In general, paralegals who work in larger cities, such as New York City and Chicago, earn more money than those who live in smaller ones. Salaries will also vary depending on specialization. For example, the average salary of an intellectual property paralegal is $59,000, which is much higher than the national average, while a paralegal working in immigration law may earn, on average, $44,000.
Paralegals are crucial for attorneys to work quickly and efficiently. The job outlook for paralegals is strong as the field is rapidly expanding.
