Education and Training

In order to earn a paralegal degree, you will need to complete either a two year associate degree’s program or a four year bachelors degree. In order to complete a paralegal degree, you will need to complete coursework in various aspects of the law. You will also learn about drafting mortgages, contracts, separation agreements, and other legal documents. You will also learn how to use the computer for legal applications, including how to perform research on the Internet.

Employment Opportunities

After earning your paralegal degree, you will be able to pursue a career as a paralegal. Most paralegals are employed by lawyers, where they help perform clerical tasks and research for the cases. For this reason, they are commonly referred to as legal assistants.

Although your paralegal degree gives you the ability to provide a number of tasks for lawyers, you are not allowed to actually practice the law. For this reason, you may not give legal advice, establish legal fees, or present a case in court. You can, however, help the lawyer prepare for hearings, closings, trials, and corporate meetings. You may also investigate facts on behalf of the lawyer and point out judicial decisions, laws, and legal articles that may be relevant to the case.

In addition to being employed by law firms, paralegals may also be employed by government offices or corporate legal departments.

Job Outlook and Salary

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment opportunities for individuals with a paralegal degree are expected to grow much faster than the average occupation. This is largely because of the growing need for corporations and other organizations to utilize legal experts while saving money. The Bureau states that the median annual salary of paralegals in May 2004 was $39,130.

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