Are you looking for a paralegal degree program to help start your career?
Here’s what you should know…
Many people who are interested in a career in the legal system wonder, “what does a paralegal do?” The short answer is: almost everything in a law office except tasks that can only be performed by a licensed lawyer.
Paralegals help lawyers prepare for trials, closings, hearings and corporate meetings. They may investigate cases and ensure all information about a case is organized and easily accessible. They research laws, judicial decisions, legal articles and other materials to provide information for cases. If an attorney at their firm files a lawsuit, paralegals may help prepare arguments, draft motions, obtain affidavits and generally assist preparation for court. A paralegal may draft contracts, mortgages or separation agreements.
Most positions for paralegals are in law firms, corporate legal departments or in a government office. A paralegal may specialize in a certain area of law such as employee benefits, litigation or real estate. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, positions in the paralegal and legal assisting field are expected to grow by over 18% between 2010 and 2020.1 Formally trained paralegals should have good employment opportunities, especially if they have an associate degree in paralegal studies or a bachelor’s degree in another field with a certificate in paralegal studies.
Earning a paralegal degree
There are many programs available for paralegal training. A common path into the profession is earning an associate degree in paralegal studies. If you already have a bachelor’s degree, there are also certificate programs available. There are some bachelor’s or masters programs in paralegal studies, but they are less common.
Most employers do not require certification, but it may improve your chances on the job market. For example, the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) has established standards for certification that require various combinations of education and experience. Those who pass the exam may use the Certified Legal Assistant (CLA) or Certified Paralegal (CP) credential. The American Alliance of Paralegals, Inc., offers the American Alliance Certified Paralegal (AACP) credential and National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) offers the Registered Paralegal (RP) designation to paralegals with a bachelor's degree and at least two years of experience.2
What kinds of classes will I take in a paralegal training program?
Most paralegal programs include courses that develop crucial research, organization and critical thinking skills. Other typical courses may include topics in business law, criminal law, legal writing, legal research, or interviewing for investigation and ethics. Paralegals also need to learn legal terminology and how to use the databases used for legal research.
Upon successful completion of a paralegal program, you should be able to describe basic law and court structure, prepare legal documents, utilize legal technology, review processes for legal investigations and demonstrate high ethical standards.
Westwood College offers a career-focused paralegal associate degree program that builds marketable skills while providing well-rounded general education courses administered by faculty members with experience in the legal field. To learn more, visit our paralegal degree page.
1 http://www.bls.gov/emp/ep_table_102.htm; visited 04/18/12
2 Westwood prepares graduates for certification. Graduates wishing to attain certification must take and pass any applicable tests/exams.