Paralegal certificate programs are offered at most colleges and Universities, but does one need a certificate program to become a Paralegal? This is a question many aspiring paralegals want to know. Paralegals are an essential part of any law firm, government organization or corporation large enough to have a legal department. As we’ve stated in several previous articles, paralegals have many responsibilities that allow the organization they work for to operate in an effective manner and the attorneys to focus on client acquisition.
While the National Federation of Paralegal Association recommends obtaining a Bachelor’s degree for paralegals, only about 50 percent had one in 2001 according to a national survey. Obtaining a four year degree is however rapidly becoming the standard measure of competitiveness in the job market.
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One common thread I see both online and offline is the apparent barrier to entry for those seeking entry level paralegal jobs. If you’re new to the legal industry, I’m sure you’ve encountered this in other professions as well. Unfortunately, there really is no easy way of transitioning to a lateral position in a new industry. To a certain extent you are “starting over”.
On the other hand, with the economic and job climate so volatile these days, it’s imperative to be as nimble as possible – in other words, have the ability to quickly adapt to a new professional environment and learn quickly once placed.
If you are attempting to get an entry level paralegal job without some sort of paralegal degree, you have a tough road ahead of you. But fear not! There are many accredited paralegal degree programs that only take a matter of months to complete. However, the more advanced paralegal degrees take up to 2 years of course.
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Do you have an interest in the law and the legal field? You’re not alone. Many people are looking at the legal field as a new avenue to pursue a career. And for good reason – the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects stunning growth in the legal assistant and paralegal fields through the year 2014. With the overall job outlook significantly more bleak, becoming a paralegal is a fantastic career choice.
However, what is the paralegal job description and what to they do all day? A paralegal typically has no set “typical day”. Their work varies widely and includes activities such as, legal research, document preparation, litigation preparation, file organization, real estate closing assistance – anything a typical lawyer would do besides representing clients, giving legal advice, or presenting cases in court.
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