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 November 30, 2009
With all the paralegal degrees and programs available out there, how do you choose a paralegal degree program is suited to your needs? Depending on many factors such as your past experience, education, your interests, and your schedule-the type of program you choose may vary.
The best thing to do is get acquainted with the various programs available and which one is the best fit for you and your needs.
Here is a list of paralegal degrees and programs available for you to consider.
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by Liz Morgan on November 28, 2009
There are many schools that offer online paralegal degrees and programs for those looking to get into the paralegal field, which is one of the fastest growing professions within the United States! In fact the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects growth within the paralegal field at much faster than average through 2014. The paralegal and legal assistant positions ranked second among all professions only to high-tech jobs.
You’ve probably heard derogatory jokes about the number of attorneys that are coming out of law schools in the United States. The fact that the United States is the most litigious countries in the world, and this lends itself very well to the paralegal and legal assistant profession.
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