| Are you interested in legal work, but not law | | | | associate's degree programs offered at |
| school? You might want to consider a paralegal | | | | community colleges or specialized schools. These |
| degree. Attorneys are ultimately responsibility for | | | | are generally 2-year programs. There are also |
| the legal services they provide their clients; | | | | certificate programs and online paralegal programs. |
| paralegals - also known as legal assistants - help | | | | Certificate programs are an equally popular |
| attorneys in almost every aspect of their work. | | | | paralegal training option. Most certificate programs |
| Being one of the fastest growing careers | | | | are intended for students who have an associates |
| nationwide, those with paralegal training will be able | | | | or bachelor's degree. Some certificate programs |
| to find jobs in every part of the country. | | | | only call for a high school diploma or GED for |
| The American Bar Association (ABA) defines the | | | | admission. Certificate programs are generally |
| role of a paralegal or legal assistant as an individual | | | | completed in several months. There are also a |
| that is capable by education, training or work | | | | small number of schools that offer 4-year |
| experience who is employed or retained by a | | | | bachelors and/or master's degrees in paralegal |
| lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental | | | | studies. |
| agency or other entity who performs specifically | | | | Paralegal degree and certificate programs usually |
| delegated substantive legal work for which a | | | | include courses that introduce students to law and |
| lawyer is responsible. | | | | legal research methods. Some students might |
| Paralegals provide valuable assistance to attorneys | | | | choose to study a specialized legal area such as |
| by helping them prepare for closings, hearing, trials | | | | probate or real estate. Paralegals in small to |
| and corporate meetings. Paralegals also assist | | | | medium-size law firms typically carry out duties |
| attorneys at trials, draft contracts and | | | | that require general law comprehension. Paralegals |
| agreements, and assist in estate planning. The | | | | employed by large law firms, government |
| valuable employees also maintain office financial | | | | agencies, and corporations, are generally likely to |
| records, and coordinate the activities of law office | | | | be specialized. The legal assistant/paralegal |
| employees. Their duties can also include | | | | occupation is expected to grow by 33% during |
| researching legal documents, finding witnesses, | | | | the first 10 years of 2000, according to the |
| getting affidavits, and tracking case files. | | | | Bureau of Labor Statistics. With projections of |
| Depending on where you choose to work, your | | | | growth, now is a good time to earn your paralegal |
| paralegal duties can vary widely. | | | | degree. |
| The most common paralegal programs are | | | | |