What is a Paralegal?

If you've ever wondered, "What is a paralegal?" you'll find some of your answers here.

If you are interested in legal work but don't have several years to devote to law school, a paralegal career may be right for you. While attorneys assume ultimate responsibility for their legal services, paralegals (or legal assistants) assist them in almost every aspect of their work.

As one of the fastest growing careers in the US, you'll find plenty of entry-level paralegal jobs in every part of the country.

What Do Paralegals Do?

The only legal services that paralegals can't perform are presenting cases in a court, giving legal advice, setting fees and accepting cases. That leaves a wide variety of legal duties that paralegals can perform. In general, paralegals assist attorneys in preparing for closings, hearing, trials and corporate meetings in many ways:

• Researching legal documents
• Drafting contracts, mortgages, separation agreements and trust instruments
• Helping prepare legal arguments, draft pleadings and motions
• Investigating cases
• Locating witnesses
• Obtaining affidavits
• Providing trial assistance
• Organizing and tracking case files

Depending on where you choose to work, your paralegal or legal assistant duties can vary widely. See Paralegal Practice Areas and Specialties for more information about the duties performed by paralegals and legal assistants working in specialty fields.

As demand for paralegals increases, trained paralegals will enjoy a broad selection of job opportunities and options for professional growth. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), paralegals hold jobs in one of the 30 fastest growing fields in the US through 2014.

Paralegal Workplace

Paralegals and legal assistants held about 230,000 jobs in 2006. Private law firms employed almost three out of four paralegals; most of the remainder worked in government jobs and corporate legal departments. Within the federal government, the US Department of Justice is the largest employer, followed by the Social Security Administration and the US Department of the Treasury. A small number work as freelance paralegals, contracting services to attorneys or corporate legal departments.

Most paralegals spend their time at their computer or doing research in a legal library. In law firms, paralegals typically enjoy private offices and well-appointed surroundings. Government or corporate paralegals may work in a cubicle or shared office space.

Paralegal Education and Training

Paralegal programs usually include courses that introduce students to law and legal research methods. Furthermore, you may study a specialized legal area, such as employment or real estate law. Private employers may prefer applicants with this type of training, since their firm may focus on a specialized field.

There are several options for study when pursuing a paralegal career. The most common are an associate's degree or certificate program offered through private and community colleges. Associate's degree programs typically last two years when attended full time, and certificate programs can range from three to 24 months. A small number of schools also offer bachelor's and master's degrees in paralegal studies. And, while some employers still train paralegals on the job, this practice has become less prevalent as the career has evolved and paralegals have taken on increased responsibilities.

Paralegal Licensing and Certification

Paralegal certification is voluntary, but certified paralegals may be viewed more favorably by some employers. Certification is granted by three professional organizations:

• National Association of Legal Assistants – Grants the Certified Legal Assistant/Certified Paralegal (CLA/CP) designation.
• National Federation of Paralegal Associations g – Grants the Registered Paralegal (RP) distinction.
• American Alliance of Paralegals – Administers the American Alliance Certification Program (AACP).

Each type of certification requires a different combination of education and experience. CLA/CP and RP certifications require paralegals to pass a standardized exam. More information on specific certification requirements is included in Paralegal Certification.

Paralegal Salary

According to the BLS, the average annual salary for paralegals was $45,460 as of May 2006. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $27,450 annually, while the highest 10% earned more than $67,540. The largest employer of paralegals is the legal services industry, where paralegal salaries averaged $43,950 annually.

Salary data published by Salary.com indicates that paralegals enjoy excellent earning potential as they gain experience. November 2007 data indicates that paralegals with less than two years' experience averaged $42,798 annual salary, paralegals with two to five years' experience earned $52,133, paralegals with five to eight years' experience earned $56,016, and paralegals with more than eight years' experience earned $66,576.

Demand for paralegals will increase as employers reduce costs and increase efficiency by hiring paralegals and legal assistants to perform tasks formerly carried out by younger lawyers. Competition for jobs will continue as many people enter the paralegal profession, but formally trained paralegals will have the best opportunities and earn the highest income.

Hopefully, you now know the answer to your question: "What is a paralegal?" For more information, check our Paralegal Career Center, which will answer more of your paralegal questions.

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