1Responsibilities of a Paralegal (Legal Assistant)

Paralegals are an indispensable part of the legal system even though the career is not at the same level as a lawyer. Like many other intensive careers, becoming a legal assistant requires one to start out early and put in a lot of time and effort. Qualified and adept paralegals are responsible for much of the work that goes into legal cases. Here are several examples of the responsibilities of a paralegal.

• Assisting lawyers as they prepare for hearings and trials in court, client and office meetings, as well as closings

• Preparation of written reports

• Monitoring developments in terms of government regulations and the reviewing laws

• Managing and organizing of legal files

• Carrying out extensive research

2Required Skills to Become a Paralegal

Basically, those who intend to work as a paralegal should learn as much as possible about the legal profession. This can be done by:

• Reading of relevant books

• Conducting online research

• Learning from people already in the profession to gain real world experience

• Participating or attending debate sessions

3Educational Requirements For a Legal Assistant Career

There isn’t a specific, predetermined career path to become a paralegal. The type of paralegal career that you want is what will really determine what your educational credentials should be. The competitiveness of your specific career path should also determine your educational background. The better educated and trained you are the more appealing your resume will be to potential employers.

As a prospective legal assistant, you can take the following educational options:

• Pursuing a Paralegal Studies 2-year Associate’s degree in a community college. This will require you to take general courses, electives, and specific legal courses. Some of the classes that you may study include business law, estate planning and probate, litigation, and legal writing and research

• A 4-year bachelor’s degree at a college or university. Paralegal Studies majors and minors are now being offered in many universities and colleges. In many four-year programs, the early coursework covered is much like what is offered in the first two years of the associate’s degree program; the last two years are spent on specializing in several advanced legal courses.

As you choose which colleges or universities to consider, it is advised to ensure that their paralegal programs are approved by the American Bar Association. There is no requirement that degrees must be obtained from institutions approved by the Association but credentials from approved schools will certainly be more appealing to potential employers.

4Gaining Legal Experience

If you want to be ahead of your competition, gaining some kind of actual job experience will be a tremendous benefit. This will certainly help with your confidence as well.

Here are several ways to gather meaningful experience:

• Become an intern – This is usually part of the coursework in a 4-year degree

• Working an entry level position at a law firm – This can be done during summers while you are in college

• Working as a research assistant – Many students and professors in universities require help with research work. While you are still in college you can take up such positions; they have proven quite effective in teaching the skills of organization and research

5Obtaining Paralegal Certification

After obtaining a degree, you may also want to pursue a certification program. Similar to the ABA approved degree from above, this is not required to obtain employment, but it will certainly help you to stand out from the crowd of other resumes.

Certification programs mainly last between four and five months but some go up to two years. In these programs the coursework includes classes on Litigation, Corporations, Real Estate, and Estate Planning & Administration. Obviously, it is imperative to join a certification program that is relevant to the paralegal career you want to pursue.

6Finding Jobs as a Legal Assistant

While most paralegals find employment in private law firms, there are many other places where jobs can be secured including:

• Jobs in the private sector – You can find employment in hospitals and assorted healthcare establishments, in insurance firms, in professional trade associations, and in trust departments and estate departments of large banks

• Jobs in the public sector – You can find employment with city attorneys, public defenders, and with federal and state government agencies