Paralegals help make lawyers look organized. They typically
sort, prepare, photocopy, and index documents, while also
interviewing witnesses or conducting hearings. Most beginning
paralegals should have a bachelor's degree, according to the
National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA).
Roughly 50 percent of paralegals do, with about 25 percent
having two-year associates degrees. However, trends indicate
that most potential employers expect entry-level paralegals to
have a four-year college degree. Any additional training a
paralegal might have, whether it be in medicine, another
science, or social work, will help a paralegal to specialize and
possibly make more money.
Programs exist to train paralegals. NFPA recommends a formal
paralegal education program, which approximately 84 percent of
current paralegals have. Training programs consist of 24
semester hours in legal studies. NFPA offers the Paralegal
Advanced Competency Exam to establish and recognize high
standards in the paralegal profession. In order to qualify for
the exam, a paralegal must have a bachelor's degree, have
completed an accredited paralegal program, and have at least two
years of paralegal experience. Paralegals who pass the exam are
recognized professionally as a "PACE Registered Paralegal."
For a small fee, a potential paralegal can obtain a directory of
paralegal education programs from the NFPA.
The amount of training needed for a paralegal job can depend on
the organization for which the paralegal will work. It may be
useful to contact local law firms about their paralegal hiring
practices. Some positions require a paralegal certificate, which
requires additional training after a four-year degree program.
Online directories allow registered users to search for hiring
law firms, and most local libraries have a copy of Martindale
Hubbell, an index of every lawyer in the country organized by
city and law firm.
In general, the level of education needed to become a paralegal
depends the kind of paralegal work desired and the length of a
paralegal career. A recent college graduate, for example, who
wants to be a paralegal in order to help her chances of getting
into law school, may not want to seek additional training. A
person wishing to become a career paralegal, on the other hand,
would benefit from the additional training.
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Paralegals Info
provides detailed information about paralegal jobs, schools,
training, courses, certificates, and services. Paralegals Info
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