by Liz Morgan on December 10, 2009
Paralegal certificate programs are offered at most colleges and Universities, but does one ned a certificate to become a Paralegal? This is a question many people wanting to become a paralegal ask about. Paralegals are an essential part of any law firm, government organization or corporation large enough to need a legal department. As we’ve stated in several previous articles, paralegals have many responsibilities that allow the organization they work for to operate in an effective manner and the attorneys to focus on client acquisition.
While the National Federation of Paralegal Association recommends paralegals to have a bachelor’s degree, only about 50 percent had degrees in 2001 according to a national survey. Paralegals obtaining a four year degree is however, rapidly becoming the standard to be competitive in the job market.
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by Liz Morgan on December 4, 2009
One common thread I see both online and offline is the apparent barrier to entry for those seeking entry level paralegal jobs. If you’re new to the legal industry, I’m sure you’ve encountered this in other professions as well. Unfortunately, there really is no easy way of transitioning to a lateral position in a new industry. To a certain extent you are “starting over”.
On the other hand, with the economic and job climate so volatile these days, it’s imperative to be as nimble as possible – in other words, have the ability to quickly adapt to a new professional environment and learn quickly once placed.
If you are attempting to get an entry level paralegal job without some sort of paralegal degree, you have a tough road ahead of you. But fear not! There are many accredited paralegal degree programs that only take a matter of months to complete. However, the more advanced paralegal degrees take up to 2 years of course.
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by Liz Morgan on December 2, 2009
Do you have an interest in the law and the legal field? You’re not alone. Many people are looking at the legal field as a new avenue to pursue a career. And for good reason – the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects stunning growth in the legal assistant and paralegal fields through the year 2014. With the overall job outlook significantly more bleak, becoming a paralegal is a fantastic career choice.
However, what exactly is a paralegal, and what do they do all day? A paralegal typically has no set “typical day”. Their work varies widely and includes activities such as, legal research, document preparation, litigation preparation, file organization, real estate closing assistance – anything a typical lawyer would do besides representing clients, giving legal advice, or presenting cases in court.
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