Are you skilled in the art of research? Do you enjoy spending time reading books, studying the fine print on a wide variety of topics? If so, you might be interested in exploring a career in the legal profession, or more specifically, becoming a paralegal. Paralegals, also referred to as legal assistants, help assist lawyers in the day to day activities that lead up to a day in court. In fact, they are able to perform most of a lawyer's duties, with the exception of presenting cases in court, offering legal advice or setting legal fees. This page will provide you with the necessary information enabling you to start your path to becoming a paralegal today!

The key to success in most careers is starting out early and investing a lot of time and hard work. This is especially true of becoming a paralegal. Although not given the distinction that is passed on to lawyers, paralegals are able to perform most of the tasks that lawyers do, and are an integral part of the legal system. A vast majority of the time and research put into legal cases, whether criminal or municipal, is carried out by a proficient and qualified paralegal. Some of these duties include, but are not limited to:

1. Helping lawyers prepare for court hearings, trials, office and client meetings and closings
2. Preparing written reports
3. Keeping track of the latest government regulations and reviewing laws
4. Tracking and Organizing legal files
5. Performing extensive research

Once you have decided to pursue a career as a paralegal, you should begin to learn all you can about the legal profession. You can do this by:

1. Reading books
2. Performing research online
3. Talking to anyone you or your family may know that is employed in the legal field. Learn from these people. It is the real world experience that will help you to gradually develop your skills.
4. If your high school has any joint programs with a local college or offers any type of class that is associated with law, the government or research, enroll!
5. Join the debate team, or at least attend debates

There are many educational options available to aspiring paralegals, as there is no definitive path that you are required to take. Your educational credentials will come into play more in reference to the type of paralegal job you will be seeking, and how competitive that particular area of the profession is. Keeping that in mind, the more background education and training you receive, the more qualified you will be, and therefore more appealing to potential employers. Here are some options that will be available to you:

1. A two-year Associate's degree in a Paralegal Studies program can be aquired through a community college, or through a four-year university. The program entails you taking general courses, electives and legal specialty courses. Some classes that may be offered include legal writing and research, business law, litigation, estate planning and probate, etc.
2. A Baccalaureate degree from a four-year university. Many colleges and universities now offer both a major and a minor in Paralegal Studies. Most four-year programs offer the same types of courses as the Associate's degree during the first two years, and then allow the student to spend the last two years in more advanced courses, including an emphasis in several areas of legal specialization. If the college does not offer an actual major in a Paralegal or Legal Studies Department, you will likely find similar courses and disciplines in Criminal Justice, Political Science, etc.

When you are initially researching potential colleges or universities, you may want to find out if their paralegal program has been approved by the Amercian Bar Association. Paralegals are not required to have degrees from an ABA approved institution, but if the school is approved, it will make the degree all the more respectable to potential employers. You can go here for a list of those schools that are approved by the ABA.

Gaining experience is key for those seeking a career as a paralegal. It will give you a 'leg up' on the competition when you are applying for a position, as well as help boost your confidence when beginning a new job. There are several ways to gain experience, including:

1. Interning. This is a great introduction into the legal field, and is usually offered as part of a four-year degree.
2. Working for a law firm at an entry level position. You can do this during the summers while you are attending college.
3. Become a research assistant. You can do this while in college, as many university students and professors often need help performing research. This will give you an opportunity to practice organization while learning all the latest trends in various aspects of research.

In addition to receiving a college degree, you may want to consider a certification program as well. Again, the purpose of receiving a certificate is similar to that of receiving a more intensive four-year degree from an ABA approved school. It lends more credibility to you as a potential employee. Certificate programs usually last from four or five months or up to two years, and may require you to have already completed at least a year-and-a-half of college. Some people may opt to enter a certificate program after they receive their associate's degree rather than attend a four-year college program. Some of the specialty classes that are often offered in these programs include:

1. Estate planning and Administration
2. Litigation
3. Real Estate
4. Corporations

Before entering a certification program or even a college or university, make sure you perform preliminary research. Having in mind the type of position you want to hold in the field will be beneficial in helping you focus your education and certification needs. The goal is to gain knowledge and experience, but also to train in those areas that will be most appealing to potential employers.

Now that you are armed with specialty skills, training, and an official degree or certificate, it is time to seek employment. Most paralegal jobs are found in private law firms, but these are not the only places that hire paralegals. Other places to consider seeking employment may include:

1. Private sector jobs:
   1. Hospitals and other health care related organizations and facilities
   2. Insurance companies
   3. Professional trade associations
   4. Trust and estate departments in larger banks
2. Public Sector jobs:
   1. City attorneys
   2. State and federal government agencies
   3. Public defenders

If possible, seek employment help from the college or university you attended, or through references and contacts you may have acquired while interning. Put your paralegal skills to use and research, research, research! The job opportunities are out there, so work hard and be persistent.

If you enjoy studying the laws that govern society, and are willing to spend long hours poring over legal documents and the fine print, then you may want to consider becoming a paralegal. Although the pay will not be that of a lawyer, you will at least get to take on the same types of tasks, and will be able to start your new career much quicker since you will not need to attend law school. By following the above steps, you should have a basic idea of what it will require to begin your new profession.