Where Your Paralegal Certification Will Take You
Paralegal certification will open up a broad range of employment choices for you – from working in high-energy corporate law firms to socially-conscious non-profit legal offices – or anywhere in between. With a wide variety of paralegal jobs available to choose from, you'll be able to customize your career to fit your own personal preferences and working style.
In a corporate law firm, you may be dealing with mergers and acquisitions, whereas a criminal defense attorney may have you interview witnesses and write legal documents. Each work environment has different requirements and provides different opportunities. Read on to learn more about different types of paralegal jobs and discover which one may be right for you.
Where Paralegals Work
With your paralegal certification in hand, you'll be qualified to do most of the same work as an attorney, with the exception of activities that are defined as "practicing law," such as presenting court cases, giving legal advice or setting legal fees. However, your legal knowledge and skills will put you in demand in the job market. You'll most likely find work with one of the following three kinds of employers:
Law firms – The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that about 70 percent of paralegals work in law firms. Your specific duties in a law firm job will vary, depending on the type of law you specialize in; however, one common denominator is that these jobs can be highly demanding. They often require working long hours to meet deadlines.
Corporate legal departments – Paralegals who work in corporate environments assist their companies in formulating employee benefits plans and contracts, ensure that their companies are operating within government regulations, and perform a wide array of duties that arise at the intersection of business and law. Corporate paralegal jobs are much more likely than law firm jobs to come with a standard 40-hour work week.
Government – The top three paralegal employers within the federal government are the U.S. Department of Justice, the Social Security Administration and the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Like corporate jobs, government paralegal jobs usually have a 40-hour work week.
Get the Paralegal Certification to Help You Meet Your Career Goals
If you have a paralegal certificate or associates degree, you will qualify for entry-level positions in the field, assisting lawyers in law firms, legal departments, banks, insurance companies or government agencies. A paralegal bachelor degree will allow you to compete for jobs at larger law firms or in corporate legal departments. A bachelors degree will also increase your earning potential.
Seeking paralegal certification through the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) can also be a great career move, since some employers prefer to hire certified paralegals.
Finding Your Paralegal Career Niche
As you gain paralegal career experience, ask yourself what your working style is and where you might use your skills most effectively. Do you mind working long hours? Do you enjoy doing independent research, or would you rather work with people in a more social setting?
Experienced paralegals are in demand in all of areas of the legal field. If you know your own strengths, you are more likely find a place where you enjoy the company culture and you can be satisfied with your job.
