The United States is a litigious society that requires a
large number of lawyers to sift through the law through court and
administrative hearings to resolve issues. As legal costs increase, paralegals
have been trusted with a larger number of duties, tasks and responsibilities.
As a result, the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics
has identified the paralegal career as a field with rising demand for
employment and a great potential for career growth.
Paralegals (also called legal assistants or legal
secretaries) support attorneys with basic legal paperwork, documentation and
tasks. These include preparation of depositions, affidavits, arguments,
reports, pleadings and motions for hearings. Legal assistants conduct basic
background research into case law, judicial decisions and relevant published
material.
Lawyers depend on paralegals to perform the basic footwork
looking into the initial details of cases and evidence collection. Organizing
documents for all stages of the legal process will be a key task for the legal
assistant. While some legal assistants engage in more office management
functions like answering phones, maintaining financial office records,
coordinating legal staff, interviewing clients and witnesses and correspondence;
others have more legal duties like drafting contracts and mortgages, assisting
in preparing tax returns, executing wills and closing real estate deals.
While certificates and associate degrees are common, it is
unusual for schools to offer online bachelors paralegal degrees and online
masters paralegal degrees.
The Advantage of Online Degrees
In our technology-laden times, online education is an
increasingly attractive way to learn. Distance learning allows students to
learn at their own speed, on their own schedule. Don’t be held back by slower
students – complete your education when you want to.
Continue to work or take care of your family by taking an
online course. Learn in the convenience of your home or office. Perhaps, your employer
will help you add a paralegal degree to increase your value to the firm. Propel
your career into the future with an online paralegal degree.
What Coursework Must I Complete?
1.) Legal coursework includes the following: Administrative
Law, Advanced Legal Analysis, Bankruptcy, Civil Law, Constitutional Law,
Criminal Law, Drafting Contracts, Employee Benefits, Employment, Environment,
Ethics, Family Law, Immigration Law, Intellectual Property, Labor Law, Laws of
Evidence, Legal Document Preparation, Legal Research, Litigation, Patents,
Trademarks and Copyrights, Personal Injury, Property, Torts, Trusts and
Estates, White Collar Crime and Wills.
2.) Non-legal coursework includes the following: Accounting,
Economics, English Literature, History, Marketing, Science, Sociology and
Writing.
Paralegal Skills
Legal assistants must have a basic working knowledge of the
legal process, including the ability to analyze facts and evidence, along with
the ability to conduct research on legal precedents. Paralegals must have great
communication skills. They are involved in all dimensions of document
preparation – typing, writing, drafting, updating, editing, reviewing and
scanning.
Paralegals will work with computers, databases, software and
the Internet to research cases. Paralegals must enter, retrieve, organize,
index, sort and update data. Thus, solid organizational, computer and basic
office equipment skills are a requirement for this job.
Paralegals must also assist in financial organization,
including keeping track of billable hours.
Paralegal Employment Opportunities
The Bureau of Labor Statistics views the paralegal
profession as a growing field estimating that 7 out of 10 paralegals work at a
law firm. Many different organizations hire entry-level paralegals, including
law offices, courts, corporations, insurance companies, banks, government
agencies and non-profit organizations.
Corporate paralegals work on contracts, employees benefits,
annual reports, financial records, stockholder meeting minutes and ensure
government regulation compliance.
Government paralegals prepare agency records, collect
meeting minutes, present evidence and ensure regulations compliance.
Non-profit paralegals file forms, prepare documents and
conduct research for the disadvantaged.
Paralegal wages vary greatly with the highest salaries achieved
in corporations and the Federal Government.
Paralegals work in challenging, fast-paced office
environments with firm time deadlines performing tasks delegated by lawyers.
Many paralegals put in long hours preparing, documenting and organizing cases.
Paralegals are prohibited from performing such legal duties
as setting legal fees, giving legal advice and presenting cases in court.
Related legal careers that are potential avenues for
advancement include law clerk, legal research assistants, administrative
assistants, attorney and judges.
Paralegals are increasingly in demand as legal firms
delegate more duties to these legal assistants to reduce attorney workload and
lower costs. The legal field is complex and provides great challenges for
exciting careers. Online distance learning is a great convenience with
affordable classes tailored to specific education needs.
Basic coursework will introduce paralegals to the basics of
the legal process while developing skill sets that can be used for preparing
documents, reviewing evidence and researching precedents for legal cases.
Employment options are expected to increase. Courses change rapidly. Consider
accreditation by checking with the American Bar Association regarding a
school’s paralegal degree. Get a valuable paralegal degree and propel yourself
into a bright, successful legal career.
