Criminal Justice Careers: Paralegal, Law Enforcement and Forensics

One of the top criminal justice careers today is paralegal. To complement our Paralegal Resource Center, here are some articles that will give you insight into starting a career as a paralegal.

• Entry-Level Paralegal Jobs

Learn how to get a paralegal job right out of school and without prior work experience.

• Top Paralegal Certificate Programs

If you already have a bachelor's degree and are thinking of changing careers, learn about getting a paralegal certificate and get on the job market sooner than you think.

• Paralegal Training in a Tough Economy

When the economy's down, the determined job hunters find the jobs. Learn how to improve your chances of landing the perfect paralegal job.

•  Top 10 Reasons to Pursue your Paralegal Studies Online

Students are going online in record numbers for their studies – for at least 10 good reasons. Read why online paralegal training may be in your future 

• Legal Ethics in Your Paralegal Studies and Beyond

Avoid unauthorized practice of the law by learning about legal ethics for paralegals.

• Civil Litigation For Paralegals

Civil litigation is the field chosen by more paralegals than any other. Here are the basics of litigation that you'll study in your paralegal program.

• Contract Law and Paralegal Training

Not every paralegal wants to work in litigation. Contract law is a great specialty option for paralegals.

• Trademark Law and Paralegal Training

Filing for trademark protection with the US Patent and Trademark Office is a fascinating paralegal specialty that might fit your career goals.

• Supreme Court Cases in Your Paralegal Studies

These important Supreme Court cases demonstrate how our legal system works.

• Paralegal Study Guide: Legal Latin

After the medical field, the legal profession is the one that uses the most Latin. Take this quiz to see how much legal Latin you know.

Law enforcement is the central component of criminal justice careers. Law enforcement and crime prevention offer a wide variety of career options. Read these fun and insightful articles and interviews to learn more about what law enforcement jobs are really all about.

• What You'll Learn at the Best Criminal Justice Schools

All criminal justice schools are not created equal. Learn what you'll study at the best criminal justice schools.

• Fighting Drug Abuse: Careers in Criminal Justice

Criminal justice professionals need to know about drug abuse to perform their jobs well. Whether you're a police officer, a probation officer or a corrections officer, learn what you need to know to combat this societal problem.

• Top Careers in Criminology

Police force jobs just scratch the surface of the careers you can pursue with a degree in criminal justice. Become a university professor, work in corporate security, and more.

• Law Enforcement Training Requirements

Find the law enforcement training requirements for these top jobs, including some of the high-level courses you'll take.

• Law Enforcement Jobs for Veterans

• Many veterans return to civilian life every year, with skills that are well suited for jobs in law enforcement. Find out which jobs might be a good fit for you, as well as how to make the transition.

• Interview with a veteran FBI Agent

• A real FBI agent answers questions about the most challenging parts of this legendary job, and offers recommendations for people who want to join the FBI.

• Interview with a Private Investigator

• Private investigation seems exciting, but what training and licensing do you need to begin, and what are the challenges of the job? Read this interview to find out.

• The Ten Most Wanted Serial Killers

• What's your criminal justice IQ? Take this quiz to see how much you know about some of the most infamous killers in history.

• The Ten Best Criminal Justice Movies

• From film noir to classic Hitchcock, with a little dose of comedy, check out our list of top ten criminal justice films. Which ones have you seen?

• Interview With an Online Criminal Justice Teacher

• Online teachers ensure that their courses are of consistently high quality. If you're considering flexible online education for your criminal justice degree, read this interview to find out how to excel at your online studies.

• Parole Officer vs. Probation Officer: What's the difference?

• Are parole and probation officers the same? Read this article to find out.

Helping the legal community with their scientific and psychological expertise, forensics experts also play a great role within the major criminal justice careers. And Forensic science is one of the most intriguing careers around. Read on to discover the variety of specialties that forensics offers.

• Forensic Pathology: The Body Farm

• How do forensic pathologists determine how long a corpse has been dead? Learn this—and more—in our article about an outdoor forensic laboratory.

• DNA or Fingerprinting: Which is more reliable?

• Fingerprint and DNA identification have both improved the science of criminal justice. But which one is better at identifying criminals?

• Forensic Scientist Interview

• Learn about the most common misconceptions about forensic science, as well as the skills needed, job satisfaction and common challenges in this interview with a forensic scientist.

• Criminalist vs. Criminologist: Are they the same?

• People often confuse criminalists (aka forensic scientists) and criminologists. But they're very different. Read more...

• Forensic Psychology

• Learn what forensics psychologists do in this overview of the profession: education and training, job description, and salary.

  For a complete list of criminal justice careers, visit the All Criminal Justice Schools homepage for more career options.