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