Paralegal

821 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Quizlet paralegal

As defined by the National Federation of Paralegal Associations, paralegal is a person qualified through education, training or work experience to perform substantive legal work that requires knowledge of legal concepts and is customarily, but not exclusively, performed by a lawyer. This person may be retained or employed by a lawyer, law office, governmental agency or other entity or may be authorized by administrative, statutory or court authority to perform this work. [1]
Education. It is not necessary to have a degree to work as a legal assistant or legal secretary. After years of experience it is possible to advance to a Paralegal position but it would be very difficult to get hired into this type of position without either a degree or years of experience. [5] The National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) reports that currently 25% of all Paralegals have an Associate’s degree, 50% hold a Bachelor’s degree and almost 10% have a Master’s degree or J.D. (law) degree. About 85% have received Paralegal training through a certification program. Paralegals can also get certified as a CP (Certified Paralegal) or CLA (Certified Legal Assistant) by taking the state Certified Paralegal Exam and meeting additional education and experience requirements. [2]
Projected Job Growth. The job market for Paralegals is currently stable and is on an upward motion with a projected growth rate of 22% through the year 2016. Paralegals are ranked as one of the 10 fastest growing careers for the 21st century. [3] The average salary for an experienced Paralegal is around 40,000 in the private sector but could be around 50,000 if you work for the federal government. The salary for entry level or unexperienced employees in this field usually s...

... middle of paper ...

...different types of experience. The Paralegal field has a great outlook with a 22% growth increase predicted it makes for a solid choice for anyone interested in the legal field.

Works Cited

http://www.bls.gov/ooh/legal/paralegals-and-legal-assistants.htm [1]

Institute for Career R. Career As A Paralegal : Legal Assistant [e-book]. [Chicago, Ill.]: Institute for Career Research; 2010. Available from: eBook Collection (EBSCOhost), Ipswich, MA. Accessed March 10, 2014. [2]

Gillam S. Law And Justice [e-book]. New York, NY: Ferguson; 2010. Available from: eBook Collection (EBSCOhost), Ipswich, MA. Accessed March 10, 2014. [3]

Fins A. Opportunities In Paralegal Careers [e-book]. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2005. Available from: eBook Collection (EBSCOhost), Ipswich, MA. Accessed March 10, 2014. [4]

http://paralegaltoday.com/issue_archive/features/feature1_jf04.htm [5]

Show More
Related

  • A Review of John Pagan’s "Anne Orthwood’s Bastard"

    1304 Words  | 3 Pages

    Pagan writes a captivating story mingled with the challenges of the Eastern Shore legal system. This book gives a complete explanation backed up by research and similar cases as evidence of the ever-changing legal system. It should be a required reading for a history or law student.

    Read More

  • Peter Paralegal 's Legal Arrangements

    998 Words  | 2 Pages

    Peter Paralegal is employed by Honest Law Firm and has been instructed by his supervising attorney to prepare and conduct initial interviews with two potential clients to see if a conflict of interest is present. Big Box and Value Mart are competitors and are requesting representation by Honest Law Firm on matters that are unrelated to one another. Peter Paralegal was also asked to perform tasks related to the cases such as; prepare questions and conduct initial interviews, explain legal fees arrangements, establish the attorney-client relations, draft initial pleadings and responses, interview witnesses, draft and sign initial case evaluation letters.

    Read More

  • Becoming a Physical Therapist Assistant

    539 Words  | 2 Pages

    The profession of a physical therapist assistant is a demanding and rewarding career. Physical therapist assistants work under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist. Physical therapist assistants have the pleasure of helping patients regain movement and manage pain caused by injuries, illnesses or surgeries. There are a vast array of subjects to study on the road to become a physical therapist assistant. Palliative care, pediatric care and geriatric care, are endearing specialty areas for the physical therapist assistant.

    Read More

  • Paralegals: Regulations and Licensing

    2561 Words  | 6 Pages

    Paralegals are continuing to assume new responsibilities in legal offices and perform many of the same duties as attorneys. Through formal education, training and experience, paralegals have knowledge and expertise regarding the legal system and law procedures, which qualify them to work under the supervision of an attorney. Along with preparing legal documents, contracts and other legal materials, a paralegal can also interview witnesses, and conducting legal research. The most important task a paralegal may have is helping an attorney prepare for hearings, trials, and meetings. Although a paralegal is trained to perform the same tasks as attorneys, they are explicitly prohibited from carrying out duties considered to be within the scope of the practice of law, such as setting legal fees, giving legal advice, submitting signed documents to court, and presenting cases in court. Paralegals are an essential part of today’s legal practice; furthermore, a competent paralegal can improve a law office’s profitability and the delivery of legal services. With these new responsibilities comes a higher level of demand and respect. In turn...

    Read More

  • Paralegal Case Study

    746 Words  | 2 Pages

    To properly protect the evidence a paralegal will need to put documents together properly and securely. Put important documents, photographs and other evidence in plastic. This protects the evidence yet can still be viewed through the plastic. A paralegal should put all the case file and evidence in a clearly marked box and make backups and copies of all evidence gathered.

    Read More

  • Certified Medical Assistant

    754 Words  | 2 Pages

    The only requirement needed before taking a Certified Medical Assistant program is to obtain a high school diploma or have a GED. Job requirements change all the time and employers tend to lead towards hiring individuals that have an associate degree or more. In order to be able to ...

    Read More

  • Charles Dickens and Lawyers in the Early Nineteenth Century

    1121 Words  | 3 Pages

    Lawyers. In today's culture, just the word alone is enough to inspire countless jokes and endless sarcastic comments. Far from being the most loved profession, lawyers have attained a very bad image despite the importance of their work and the prestige and wealth that usually accompanies it. Were lawyers seen in this fashion when Charles Dickens was writing his magnificent pieces of literature? The image of lawyers of that time may not seem so different to the people who are about to enter the twenty-first century.

    Read More

  • Paralegal Essay

    952 Words  | 2 Pages

    Paralegals are professionals who assist or support lawyers with their work (Westwood College). Supporting qualified lawyers includes a variety of tasks. When an attorney’s case goes to court, paralegals prepare motions and pleadings, in addition to organizing and cataloguing relevant trial documents (Westwood College). Paralegals also locate and interview witnesses; conduct investigations; conduct legal research; and summarize depositions, interrogatories and testimony (The National Association of Legal Assistants). In addition, the Business and Professions Code Section 6450(a) states that “Tasks performed by a paralegal include, but are not limited to, case planning, development, and management; legal research; interviewing clients; fact gathering and retrieving information; drafting and analyzing legal documents; collecting, compiling, and utilizing technical information to make an independent decision and recommendation to the supervising attorney; and representing clients before a state or federal administrative agency if that representation is permitted by statute, court rule, or administrative rule or regulation” (Business and Professions Code Section 6450(a)).

    Read More

  • Paraprofessional Essay

    1694 Words  | 4 Pages

    The occupations that I have chosen to analyze using the three elements for this assignment are paraprofessional, what I am currently, and a teacher, what I am going to college to become. Teachers and paraprofessionals work side by side, collaborate, plan, and share many of the same experiences. However, paraprofessionals are often not treated as equals and has created some ethical judgement regarding treatment of the paraprofessionals from other teachers and administrators in the business of education. I want to use this assignment as an opportunity to distinguish the true professional using the elements designed for this course.

    Read More

  • The Florida Registered Paralegal Bill

    1106 Words  | 3 Pages

    Paralegals have become an essential part of today's legal system, and as the profession becomes one of the leading and fastest growing occupations in the U.S. economy; these individuals perform delegated tasks under the supervision of attorneys. Education has played an important part on this matter; it has facilitated this development by allowing lawyers to use these skills professionals as agents to delegate specific tasks such as legal research, gathering of information and the drafting of specific legal documents under the supervision and final approval of their principals. This has been very significant because now; we can enjoy a speedy process in a cumbersome legal system. From en economic standpoint, it has also been beneficial by decreasing the substantial amount of the legal cost a firm could incur if only lawyers were allowed to perform this kind work.

    Read More

  • Becoming A Paralegal Essay

    919 Words  | 2 Pages

    First have an excellent LinkedIn account (a social networking site for professionals), make sure all aspects of it is very strong, appealing, and unforgettable especially the profile (first seen). Then get an internship or volunteer in a law office. According to George, “When you finally get inside a law firm observe, read the letters, peruse the files, listen to what is happening around the office. Listen to attorneys and paralegals, offer to drag the files to court for trial, take documents to the printer for trial exhibits, and drive witnesses to deposition or to a hearing. Finally, make coffee and copies (all the time reading what is being copied) and learn why so many copies are needed and who they are being given

    Read More

  • Pro Bono Work Essay

    531 Words  | 2 Pages

    Today, more law students are doing pro bono work than ever; a LawWorks report (2014) shows that about 70% of UK law schools offer legal services

    Read More

  • Examples Of Professional Identity In Nursing

    1500 Words  | 3 Pages

    Professionals are people who have equipped themselves with the knowledge and skills in a given field. The interest of improvement of the professional identity is an evidence of how high standards are placed upon the professionals in the community (Johnson et al., 2012). Each profession creates its norms, values and scope of practice that distinguishes it from any other profession. Different legal ethics are upheld and everyone needs to work as per the stipulated ethics in the field to be part of the profession. People in the field are expected to be knowledgeable and independently use decision

    Read More

  • The Paralegal Profession

    1465 Words  | 3 Pages

    The paralegal profession developed as legal secretaries assumed additional duties to help attorneys with their workload. The paralegal performs legal tasks under the supervision of an attorney that maximizes attorneys' productivity and cost efficiency in the delivery of legal services. Paralegals work in many different types of law firms, corporations or government agencies in many areas of law (Hollingshead). All duties performed by a paralegal are under the supervision of an attorney who is responsible for the paralegal’s conduct. In fact, the American Bar Association Standing Committee on Paralegals define paralegals or legal assistants [used synonymously] as a person qualified by education, training or work experiences, who is employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, corporation, government agency, or other entity who performs specific delegated legal substantive work for which a lawyer is responsible (ABA). In class, we learne...

    Read More

  • Professionalism And Etiquette Essay

    1105 Words  | 3 Pages

    In this assignment we as a team will discuss how to effectively plan for success in careers. Including which strategies can be employed for professional growth, such as continued learning by staying up to date on current information in your field or earning a higher degree, taking advantage of training and development opportunities through your employer. Gain certifications and endorsements; join professional organizations, clubs and or societies, volunteer for opportunities that will help you build your skills and knowledge, watch for ways to lead, seek out promotions, also knowing when to leave and move on to other opportunities. We will also cover how professionalism and etiquette can affect career success, starting with a description of

    Read More

More about Paralegal

Open Document