What is a Paralegal Job Like?
You see them working side-by-side with lawyers in courtroom dramas, perhaps discovering the key piece of evidence that breaks a case or poring over investigation records. The work looks exciting, but what is a paralegal exactly? What does a paralegal do all day, and what sort of training and education do you need to become a paralegal?
What is a Paralegal?
Paralegals perform many of the same duties as attorneys, with the exception of setting and collecting legal fees, accepting and presenting cases, and giving legal advice. On a general level, their jobs include helping attorneys prepare for closings, hearings, trials and corporate meetings. This work may involve a number of specific tasks:
- Researching legal documents
- Investigating case facts
- Drafting contracts, mortgages, separation agreements and trusts
- Helping prepare legal arguments, draft pleadings and motions
- Organizing and tracking case files and documents
- Locating witnesses
- Obtaining affidavits
- Providing trial assistance
If you choose to specialize in a particular area of law, such as estate planning, corporate law or government, your specific paralegal duties will vary. You will also find differences in what paralegals do at smaller, general practice law firms, where tasks change based on the client's needs, and larger law firms, where the work typically focuses on one or two specialty areas.
What Skills Help Paralegals Succeed?
Paralegals who demonstrate the following abilities are well on the path toward success:
- Computer literacy, including the ability to retrieve, track and research information using relevant software applications and the Internet
- Strong investigative skills
- Exceptional interviewing and writing skills
- Commitment to continuously expanding legal knowledge through continuing education
How to Become a Paralegal
Students learn how to become a paralegal through a number of educational paths. Here are different paralegal degree programs to consider:
- Paralegal Certificate programs—offered through community colleges, four-year colleges and business schools are ideal for students who already hold an associate's or bachelor's degree. Paralegal certificate programs generally include course work in legal research and the law, paralegal procedures and other fundamentals; longer programs will also include general education classes.
- Paralegal Associate degree programs provide paralegal training plus a foundation in liberal arts and science topics, such as English and math. You will find associate's degree paralegal programs at two-year community colleges and at some four-year universities and business schools. An associate's degree appeals to many students because they can transfer the credits toward a bachelor's degree.
- Paralegal Bachelor degree programs deliver in-depth training for students looking for positions in law firms or seeking the credentials they need to increase their opportunities for promotion. Four-year colleges and universities may offer paralegal studies as a major, a minor or a concentration within a major. A bachelor's degree can help students with an associate's degree expand their career opportunities. They can also prepare students who plan to pursue a master's in paralegal studies.
- Paralegal Masters degree, available at traditional universities, colleges and graduate schools, involve advanced training in the law and legal administration or legal studies. Some schools design their paralegal master's programs for the purpose of delivering the highest quality paralegal training, while others offer master's programs to help people working in other professions gain legal training to advance their career.
Is a Paralegal Career For You?
A paralegal's job involves significant responsibility and a wide range of challenges that play out in various ways from case to case. With a solid education in paralegal studies, a commitment to research and a passion for details, you can pave the way to your success in one of the fastest growing careers in the country.
