What does a Paralegal do
A paralegal is a profession that assists lawyers with tasks regarding cases. They play an essential role in cases by assisting lawyers with nearly every aspect of their work, and improve the efficiency of legal services. They can’t give legal advice or practice law independently, instead, they typically use their expertise of the law to conduct in depth legal research on cases, draft legal documents, organise and manage case files, interview clients, and so much more.
In short, they’re essentially a lawyer’s right hand man – they handle a majority of the behind the scenes work that keeps legal cases running smoothly.
Why Should I Become a Paralegal?
A paralegal is the perfect job for somebody who enjoys working within the legal field, but doesn’t necessarily want to go to law school or present cases to the jury/judges. Someone who enjoys researching complex issues and solving puzzles while maintaining a highly organized extensive case load would thrive as a paralegal.
Working a paralegal means you’ll be working within the legal system to help build cases that directly impact people’s lives. It’s a stable career with growing demand and you can specialize in a variety of areas including:
- Family law
- Criminal law
- Corporate law
- Read estate
- Immigration
- Government
- And more
One of the top reasons to become a paralegal is that it’s a high paying job that you can get without having to go into debt in law school. Most paralegals earn between $60,000 to $80,000.
Step 1: Education
The first step to becoming a paralegal is to get an education. You don’t need to go to law school, but you’ll need a solid grasp of understanding how the legal system works as well as learn how to draft and analyze legal documents, conduct legal research, and use professional ethics and confidentiality standards.
There are two ways you can go about this route:
- Any Bachelor’s Degree + Paralegal Certification
This is a great route for graduates who want to specialize. You get a standard degree in the field that you’re interested in, and then complete a paralegal certification.
You’ll qualify for higher level specializations and can make a competitive salary this way.
PBA offers degree programs that pair exceptionally well with a paralegal certification.
And you can pair any of these with:
- Bachelor’s Degree in Paralegal or Legal Studies
This route is for people who want a deeper more academic understanding of law, or plan to possibly move into management or attend law school. You’ll learn everything from legal theory to case analysis. This is ideal for those who want more career flexibility and advancement.
Step 3: Get Experience
Once you have your degree, you’ll want to develop skills that can assist you in you paralegal career. You’ll most likely gain this through work experience. You can intern during your studies, or work entry level roles like legal assistant, administrative assistant or file clerk.
You’ll develop skills like basic legal knowledge and research, how to write legal documents, how to manage case files, and the basics of communication and client interaction.
Step 4: Get certified
If you choose to, you can get a further certification. This shower employers that you’re serious about your career.
Certifications can include:
- NALA: Certified Paralegal
- NFPA: Registered Paralegal
- NALS: Professional Paralegal
- Any ABA approved school certification
Step 5: Choose a Specialty and Continue Learning
If you haven’t yet, you can choose to specialise in your field! Specializations are great because they allow you to have a more competitive salary, work in a field that you enjoy, and help people that may not be able to be helped otherwise.
Alongside this, continue learning and developing as your career progresses, and you’ll find a lifetime of a fulfilling career.
