Find Out How to Become a Paralegal
Before diving into just how to become a paralegal, the position of a paralegal should be made clear. They are legal professionals who do a lot of the same work that attorneys do, although a paralegal is restricted by law and ethical standards from conducting certain tasks reserved for licensed attorneys. For example, a paralegal is not able to give clients legal advice or present cases in a courtroom. While the majority of paralegals work in law firms, there are also paralegals who work in corporations, governmental agencies, and non-profit organizations.
There used to be a time when an attorney would train his or her legal secretaries to do paralegal work, but this is no longer the case because most attorneys do not have the time or the resources to properly train would-be paralegals. Law firms and corporations typically expect candidates to have either a background in law or a paralegal certificate, and sometimes both.
There are two main ways to become a paralegal. One route is to gain an entry-level position in a law firm, or the legal department of an organization, and work your way up. The second route is to earn a certificate and obtain employment as an entry-level paralegal.
Many paralegals may start off working in another type of administrative role and eventually transition into the position of a paralegal. Certain employers may be willing to send an employee to obtain the proper training and education needed to conduct paralegal tasks. Other individuals may take initiative and obtain the skills and experience necessary to move up to paralegal when the opportunity arises. Overall, many paralegals have found their way into the role through being promoted and moving up in an organization. This route may be long, and is certainly not guaranteed, but working in the legal field prior to committing to earning a paralegal certificate can help you assess whether the profession is ultimately right for you.
The second most-common way to become a paralegal is to earn a paralegal certificate so that one can become qualified to land an entry-level paralegal job. A paralegal certificate will give aspiring paralegals a good foundation in the study of law with which to build upon. A certificate program teaches its students the basics of legal research and analysis, the judicial process, legal ethics, and other essential skills necessary for being a competent and effective paralegal.
Paralegal certificate programs are offered at community or junior colleges, vocational schools, online paralegal programs, and 4-year universities. If you are currently enrolled in a 4-year university, and working toward an unrelated degree, then you might consider checking to see if your school offers a minor option in legal or paralegal studies. If you are considering a career as a paralegal, but are still unsure, then perhaps you can take a couple of courses required for a certificate program just to gain some insight into whether the profession is right for you.
These are just two examples of how to become a paralegal, and many professional paralegals have found their own path to be different, but for those who are just starting out, these are the two most common paths.
Gloria Franklin runs http://www.paralegalcareerpath.com, a comprehensive website that seeks to answer the questions revolved around the paralegal profession. She cover topics related to paralegal salaries, common paralegal duties, paralegal education, and more.
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