| Looking for information about paralegals? A | | | | Most law firms and legal offices need to hire |
| paralegal is the assistant who does most of the | | | | paralegals to help with the work load. You can also |
| delegated legal work that happens in a law office. | | | | find paralegals and legal assistance working with |
| Paralegals are frequently called legal assistants, | | | | corporations and in government offices. Corporate |
| and they often perform many of the same tasks | | | | legal assistants usually work a normal corporate |
| that a lawyer will perform on a daily basis. Read | | | | work week, but paralegals who work in smaller |
| on for more information about what to expect | | | | law offices can sometimes end up working much |
| when you become a paralegal. | | | | longer hours during busy times of the year. |
| What Paralegals Do | | | | What Education to Get |
| A paralegal has the primary job duty of helping | | | | There are a few colleges out there who offer |
| the lawyers they work with get ready for court, | | | | bachelor's and master's degrees in paralegal |
| corporate meetings, and other responsibilities. A | | | | studies, though finding a program like this can be |
| legal assistant does a lot of the preparation and | | | | difficult. Associates degrees are available in |
| investigation work that a lawyer needs ready | | | | paralegal studies for people who are interested in |
| before a trial starts. They may also handle most | | | | getting into the field quickly. For someone who |
| of the organization for a law office and work on | | | | already has a bachelor's degree it is possible to |
| the written reports, plans, and arguments that an | | | | take a shorter training program that hands out a |
| attorney needs to make an argument. Many | | | | paralegal studies certificate. Sometimes someone |
| paralegals work on drafting a lot of the more | | | | will be hired and trained without taking a formal |
| regular paperwork an attorney has to handle as | | | | paralegal studies program first. |
| well. | | | | Getting a Job As a Paralegal |
| Paralegals can end up working in just about any | | | | The job market for paralegals and legal assistants |
| area of law, though once someone has been | | | | tends to get larger and smaller with the business |
| working as a legal assistant for awhile they may | | | | market in general, though it is currently a job that |
| end up specializing in the the specific area their | | | | is in high demand. It is safe to assume that |
| employer covers. The job of a paralegal will | | | | paralegals will continue to be in demand as long as |
| depend largely on the kind of company they are | | | | the population continues to rise, and the need for |
| working for. A paralegal working for a corporation | | | | paralegals out side of law firm jobs is growing |
| can end up working on employee contract issues | | | | steadily as more and more corporations realize it |
| and financial concerns, for example, while a | | | | is cheaper to keep their legal department in house. |
| paralegal working for the government may end | | | | Some paralegals are able to work freelance as |
| up writing material that explains policies that the | | | | well by selling legal services to businesses and |
| agency they work has in place. | | | | corporations that need it. |
| Who Employs Paralegals? | | | | |